PA CCW Laws

[strat81]

I've been looking into moving to the Keystone State and have been investigating their CCW laws. I've checked the common sources, and the information is either unavailable or, it doesn't exist because it's not against the law. Nebraska's CCW law is pretty long, detailed, and stupid.

From what I understand:
-No test. Just fill out the form, bring some pictures, and pay your gun tax.
-No CCW in schools and other certain .gov buildings.
-No duty to inform LE such as during a traffic stop.
-State firearm laws have preemption. Bully cities can't impose their own rules on CCW.

Can you carry in bars or restaurants that serve alcohol?

Can you carry in liquor stores (state stores)?

Can you carry in churches?

Can businesses post signs disallowing CCW on the premises? (I.e., will their "no guns allowed" signs carry the weight of law?)

Is the consumption of alcohol permitted while carrying? If so, is there a limit as with driving? (I'm not looking to get drunk, just curious.)

Anything else I need to know?

 

[Knucklehead2]

Dear Strat81, I have a PDF file of the PA gun laws if you want I will email it to you.


Link to PA State Police:

http://www.psp.state.pa.us/psp/cwp/view.asp?a=4&q=175983

 

[Steve in PA]

1) Yes

2) Yes

3) Yes

4) Yes they can post signs. No they do not carry any legal weight. However, you are required to leave if asked.

5) Yes. No limit, however get caught being drunk and the sheriff will probably receive a letter requesting your license be revoked.

 

[kevindsingleton]

Check out www.pafoa.org, for all the sordid details. PA is one of the best states for firearms rights.

How many drinks does it take to get curious?

 

[lil ski]

I have never told a LEO that I was carring a gun in the car but I do hand him my CCW with my drivers licence just so there no surprises when I open my console to get out the rest of my info. Most LEOs would like to know up front. Just food for thought.

 

[strat81]

How many drinks does it take to get curious?

LOL, touche.

I enjoy alcohol but I don't ever mix it with firearms. It'd be nice to have a glass of wine at a steakhouse while carrying, but it's not worth it to me. However, I don't think other citizens should be deprived of their right to self-defense just because they choose to *responsibly* indulge in alcohol.

My current state disallows any consumption of alcohol while carrying and we can only carry in places that derive less than 51% of their "income" from the sale of alcohol. The statute does not define income as gross revenue, gross income, net income, or any measure inbetween.

There's also no rule for 51% establishments to identify themselves as such. I'm sure asking a proprietor for their most recent audited financial statements with revenue and gross income broken out by alcohol sales and non-alcohol sales would be met with some odd looks.

The NE CCW law is a disaster full of stupidity and ambiguous language.

 

[Airman193SOS]

Be forewarned that some localities take longer than others and have different fees and application requirements. They can't capriciously deny you if you're clean, but they can make it a little more difficult to obtain. Cumberland County, where I live, has 28 days to run the check, asks for $45 up front (non-refundable if you're denied) and asks for two non-family references, both of whom need to be clean and over 21 and have to live within the county. For a new resident, that last one is a tall order.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

For someone moving into PA from out of state, it might make better sense to obtain a PA non-resident permit before moving, since that allows you to choose which county you apply to. Once you're a resident of PA, you would then just be converting an existing permit. I don't know if that's as routine as notifying the issuing sheriff of a change of address, or if you would have to re-apply in the county of your (new) residence. Even if the latter, I'd hope that it would be easier to convert an existing permit than to get a new one.