Concealed Carry in Philly?

[Uncle Richard]

I will be going on a weekend trip to Philadelphia with the family. Is Philly ccw friendly? We will probably go to a museum, Rocky statue, and the Liberty Bell. Any unusual restrictions in Philly? I have a ccw permit in WV and reciprocity with PA.

 

[Ranger30-06]

Philly tends to have a large group of carriers from what I've seen and heard. I believe you do legally have to follow the "No Weapons" signs, but they have to be posted near the door to count (ie. if you see a sign behind the counter, it doesn't have any legal weight). Other than that, don't try and go into the Liberty Bell area or any other significant historical area because they will remove anything that might possibly be a weapon.

 

[Sam1911]

I believe you do legally have to follow the "No Weapons" signs,

Nope! PA has preemption so if you're following the state rules (look at www.handgunlaw.us) you'll be fine.

You have to have a LCTF to OPEN carry in Philly, but there's nothing strange about concealed carry there.

If you have to pass through metal detectors, of course you can be refused entry. That's a trespass issue. If you are entering a federal building, including national park buildings staffed by government employees, you cannot carry there.

The park area around the liberty bell is fine (in fact, there have been open carry group visits there) but the bell itself is housed inside a structure (so is off-limits) and there is a security screening to get to it, so no. (Read this: http://forum.pafoa.org/concealed-carry-145/139655-concealed-carry-liberty-bell.html)

Otherwise, I've carried around Philly, in museums, restaurants, and much of the usual touristy stuff, without any problems at all.

Have fun!

 

[Rob G]

As Sam said the actual building that houses the Liberty Bell and most of the Federally contolled spaces (think Independence Hall etc.) are no gun zones. The rest of the city is pretty much open to carry though as long as there aren't metal detectors in place, which are pretty much there to stop you. I lived in Philly for years and carried all over the place with little problem.

Do be aware of encounters with Philly PD while carrying though. Some of them believe that there are some really draconian laws in place in regards to firearms and will try to enforce them. I've found that remaining calm and respectful while urging them to look up the laws in question (they mostly all have a book in their cruiser) defuses those situations pretty effectively.

 

[Uncle Richard]

Thats right, ccw are allowed on federal parks lands but not within buildings/shelters in which federal employees work. I will investigate closer to see where I can carry. I probably can't even carry my pocket knife in the LB housing.

I have to say its agravating wanting to carry concealed when vacationing due to varaible laws.

My boss recently moved from NJ to WV. He's shocked of how un-restriceted we are in WV with regards to firearms. Specifically, we had to acquire a permit and get finger printed just to buy a firearm in NJ; however, you don't have to be finger printed to get a CCW permit in WV.

Sam,

Have a recommendations with regards to a good Philly Cheese Steak? I ate at Pat's a long time ago, but thought it was over rated.

 

[Sam1911]

Sorry, Uncle Rich, I'm not a real local Philly sort -- just an occasional visitor.

I always thought Pat's and Geno's were THE TWO, but read this for a lot more info than I could give: http://www.visitphilly.com/articles/philadelphia/top-10-spots-for-authentic-philly-cheesesteaks/

 

[Uncle Richard]

Sorry, Uncle Rich, I'm not a real local Philly sort -- just an occasional visitor.

I always thought Pat's and Geno's were THE TWO, but read this for a lot more info than I could give: http://www.visitphilly.com/articles/philadelphia/top-10-spots-for-authentic-philly-cheesesteaks/

Sam,

I noticed that you participate in IDPA and near central Pa. Did you attend the Patriot Match last year at Lewistown near State College?

 

[Rob G]

I have to say its agravating wanting to carry concealed when vacationing due to varaible laws.

Definitely true. My experiences living there were that during the daytime around the big historical monuments was really safe. It's different at night though and definitely stay away from the area around Temple University (broad street, north of downtown) at any time of day.

Have a recommendations with regards to a good Philly Cheese Steak?

Almost any street vendor will turn out a good Cheese Steak but if you're in the area of South Street at any point you should stop in to Jim's on the corner of South and 4th.

 

[j1]

The only thing which I would like to add is when in doubt be upfront and open. In Washington DC I wanted to see the declaration of independance and there was a no weapons policy inside the building. I asked to speak to the head security person and stated that I was carrying a knife as I usually do. I asked if it was OK and he called me aside and asked to see it. He then said that I could go in and see everything. Nice tour and a nice man. I think that if it was discovered I would have been refused entry. Many buildings have little safes where you can put your items not allowed inside and I thought that they might have a similar setup. Honest and open is usually the best.

 

[Uncle Richard]

Definitely true. My experiences living there were that during the daytime around the big historical monuments was really safe. It's different at night though and definitely stay away from the area around Temple University (broad street, north of downtown) at any time of day.



Almost any street vendor will turn out a good Cheese Steak but if you're in the area of South Street at any point you should stop in to Jim's on the corner of South and 4th.

Rob,

Thanks for the advice. I will check out Jims on South/4th.

I don't plan on being downtown at night with my pregnant wife and 3year old son.

I was downtown Philly during my college days at night time partying (~8years ago) and it was a ruff place.

 

[Uncle Richard]

The only thing which I would like to add is when in doubt be upfront and open. In Washington DC I wanted to see the declaration of independance and there was a no weapons policy inside the building. I asked to speak to the head security person and stated that I was carrying a knife as I usually do. I asked if it was OK and he called me aside and asked to see it. He then said that I could go in and see everything. Nice tour and a nice man. I think that if it was discovered I would have been refused entry. Many buildings have little safes where you can put your items not allowed inside and I thought that they might have a similar setup. Honest and open is usually the best.

The former-Marine at the Empire State Building was upfront with security regarding checking in a firearm and ended up arrested.

Unfortunetly, being honest doesn't mater sometimes.

 

[NavyLCDR]

The former-Marine at the Empire State Building was upfront with security regarding checking in a firearm and ended up arrested.

Unfortunetly, being honest doesn't mater sometimes.

And don't forget the nurse at the 9/11 memorial. I find it's much easier to just discreetly turn around, exit, and lock the gun in the car if I come accross an unexpected security check point with frisking or metal detector.

And, yes, it happens in Philly, too:
http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/...ent-in-suit-against-philly-over-permitted-gun

 

[hoodfu]

Yep.

 

[Sam1911]

I noticed that you participate in IDPA and near central Pa. Did you attend the Patriot Match last year at Lewistown near State College?

Yes! I was one of the Safety Officers on the middle range down below.

 

[Uncle Richard]

Yes! I was one of the Safety Officers on the middle range down below.

There was a taller guy working with Kitty. Was that you? That was my first year in IDPA, so I wasn't one of the top performers. 3 of us from Morgantown, WV drove up to shoot the match

 

[Sam1911]

Embarassing to say, I can't remember who was on my SO squad, and who was in the bays nearby. I shoot and work a lot of matches and sometimes the details blur! :0 Kitty was there and Pat Cronin as well, but I don't remember who was working which stages.

I'm fairly tall, with a red moustache and glasses.

 

[steven58]

FYI: While CCW is perfectly legal in Philly, please keep in mind that the carrying of ANY kind of "cutting instrument", not incidental to employment, is strictly prohibited. So no pocket knives at all.

This is due to the fact that while PA's state preemption for firearms nullified all of Philadelphia's draconian gun laws, they did not speak to knives so all of those vestigial laws remain in effect.

 

[hoodfu]

Wow. No pocket knives in Philadelphia of any type, no matter the size. I'm kind of speechless. Yet I can carry a gun around with my permit.

http://www.handgunlaw.us/documents/USKnife2.pdf

 

[Hypnogator]

Yet I can carry a gun around with my permit.

Yep. Reminds me of back-in-the-day when I was getting on a commercial flight (don't remember where). Because I was a Federal LEO, carrying my .38 Spl was no problem. But because my credentials read, "Bearing of concealed firearms is authorized" they wouldn't let me on with my pocketknife. Had to mail it home before I boarded the plane with my loaded .38 Spl on my hip! :banghead::banghead::banghead:

 

[Uncle Richard]

Yep. Reminds me of back-in-the-day when I was getting on a commercial flight (don't remember where). Because I was a Federal LEO, carrying my .38 Spl was no problem. But because my credentials read, "Bearing of concealed firearms is authorized" they wouldn't let me on with my pocketknife. Had to mail it home before I boarded the plane with my loaded .38 Spl on my hip! :banghead::banghead::banghead:

What!? That’s ridiculous!