Co-Sponsorship Memo Details

The Advisory Committee on Violence Prevention, created by the Joint State Government Commission, issued a report in 2013 that concluded lost or stolen firearms should be reported promptly to law enforcement. Specifically, the report concluded:
“Although it may appear that requiring lawful gun owners to report losses and thefts to law enforcement places the onus on law-abiding citizens for the acts of criminals, reporting these thefts and losses allows police to more accurately trace how these weapons come to be in illegal hands and hopefully prosecute those who participate in illegal markets, as well as allowing the missing weapon to be returned to its rightful owner when recovered.” According to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, laws that require firearm owners to report lost or stolen firearms serve several law enforcement and public safety functions. These laws help prevent gun trafficking and discourage straw purchasing, as well as assist lawful gun owners by facilitating the recovery of their lost or stolen property. For this reason, we will be introducing legislation that would require any owner or other individual lawfully in possession of a firearm who suffers the loss or theft of a weapon to report it to law enforcement within 72 hours of the discovery. If an individual fails to do so, they will be charged with a summary offense. Furthermore, the legislation would permit Pennsylvania to join a growing list of other states such as Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Rhode Island, as well as the District of Columbia, which require the reporting of lost or stolen firearms. It is vital that we protect the people of Pennsylvania and deter firearm-related crimes.

Please join us in co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation that will assist law enforcement across the state and help curb our current epidemic of gun violence.