PA Shall Issue...Right?

[jonnyc]

I was just looking through my Montgomery Cty. Sheriff's page and noticed this:
"If the PICS check is approved and the subject is of good character, the sheriff may issue a License to Carry Firearms."
I don't recall seeing it before. Shouldn't that read shall issue?
Is this his mistake, or am I reading too much into the "legalese"?

 

[v35]

23 Pa.C.S § 6109 (d) describes the Sheriff's responsibilities. If an applicant meets the criteria specified under that part the Sheriff shall issue a license.

Paragraph (h) states a license may be denied on the basis of the investigation conducted under that part.

Shouldn't that read shall issue?

Whether your Montgomery Cty. Sheriff's page should be corrected or not is a question for a judge or legislator to determine but I believe it's a moot point.

 

[lemaymiami]

Learned more than I ever wanted to know about local government in my years in law enforcement... Just because there's a law on the books - getting and keeping it enforced might take some doing (and a lawyer or two - and of course the money to fund their response on your behalf...).

That same principle goes up and down government in my experience... The best quick example I can think of is how our current president has been treated since he was elected in 2016.. Wish it weren't so...

No I'm not a member of any particular political party - but my politics are probably somewhere to the right of Attila the Hun...

 

[George Dickel]

Learned more than I ever wanted to know about local government in my years in law enforcement... Just because there's a law on the books - getting and keeping it enforced might take some doing (and a lawyer or two - and of course the money to fund their response on your behalf...).

That same principle goes up and down government in my experience... The best quick example I can think of is how our current president has been treated since he was elected in 2016.. Wish it weren't so...

No I'm not a member of any particular political party - but my politics are probably somewhere to the right of Attila the Hun...

Atilla was a sissy!

 

[ilbob]

there is no law that says he has to tell the truth about the situation, but it is a good bet if you apply for a license you will be issued it if you are not prohibited from getting one.

I would not get real excited about what their web site says.

 

[jonnyc]

Not excited or worried.....I have previously renewed my LTC here, but that was under a previous sheriff. I was just reading up in anticipation of my next renewal and noticed the odd wording.

 

[lemaymiami]

Nothing like finding out the hard way... Seriously, hope that the new sheriff obeys your state's laws. These days, from what I see on the tube - that's not a given at all...

 

[Craig_AR]

I fear you are getting caught by the difference between legal and general conversational definitions. The sheriff's web site uses may to indicate he is allowed to. His staff is, I am sure, quite aware that Penn. is a shall-issue state, and will comply easily if all criteria are met by an applicant.

 

[Landric]

Interestingly, Montgomery Co PA issued me a LTC as a non-resident entirely through the mail. This was in the late 90s, before LEOSA and before reciprocity was what it is now. I traveled to PA semi-regularly and wanted to be able to carry. Most counties in PA either wouldn’t issue to non-residents or required in-person application and/or pickup.

I renewed it once, I don’t remember how many years it was good for, maybe four? Before it expired again LEOSA happened and I didn’t need the permit anymore.