Guns & Safety
Every Pennsylvanian deserves to live a life free from gun violence. When 1,600 Pennsylvanians die of gun violence every year and 3,000 more are injured, there’s no excuse for our legislature not to act. We must keep our communities safe from unnecessary gun violence. To achieve this, we must:
Ban Assault Weapons
We must prohibit ownership of assault weapons such as the AR-15, including its high-capacity ammunition feeding devices, and other accessories, that have become the tool of choice in mass murders.
Implement Extreme Risk Protections
Extreme Risk Protection legislation – or “Red Flag Laws” – would allow for courts to order public protection orders if a person is demonstrating dangerous mental health characteristics. Such an order would provide a much-needed protection to the public by temporarily suspending an individual’s access to firearms if there is documented evidence that a person is threatening to harm themselves or others.
Enact Safe Storage Requirements
Prioritize Mental Health in Schools
Recognizing the particular vulnerability that exists in our schools, the PA Senate Democratic Caucus proposes a new requirement that each school must provide school psychologists, school counselors, and school social workers to meet the mental health needs of their students. Offering these services will go a long way toward intervening with students that might commit acts of violence and greatly improve school climate and student performance.
Expand Universal Background Checks
While this should be common sense, expanding our current system of background checks to ALL firearm sales is a priority. Currently, certain gun show purchases and person-to-person sales do not require a basic background check. Every firearm sale in Pennsylvania needs to undergo a background check. Period.
Legislation
I am proud to have introduced and cosponsored legislation that would reduce gun violence in our Commonwealth and ensure every Pennsylvanians’ safety.
The following bills are proposed bills that have been formally introduced for the 2025-2026 Senate Session.
Local Regulation of Firearms
Senate Bill 489
Collett/Comitta
This bill would allow political subdivisions, by ordinance, the ability to restrict the presence and use of firearms at properties and facilities they own or operate. It will only apply if a political subdivision elects to restrict the presence or use of firearms and posts public notices of such restrictions at every public entrance to the facility or property.
Assault Weapons Ban
Senate Bill 200
Santarsiero/Kane
This bill would enact an assault weapons ban in Pennsylvania and broaden the scope of what the state classifies as assault weapon.
Safe Storage of Firearms
Senate Bill 768
Santarsiero/Cappelletti
This bill would require gun owners to safely store firearms if a person who cannot legally possess a firearm lives in the owner’s residence.
Repealing Pennsylvania's "Stand Your Ground" Law
Senate Bill 771
Santarsiero
This bill would re-establish its “Duty to Retreat” law, which states that a person facing a dangerous threat outside of their home must retreat or try to resolve the situation by non-violent means if it’s safe to do so, with the use of force only legally available as a last resort.
Establishing a 72-Hour Waiting Period for All Firearm Transfers
Senate Bill 208
Cappelletti
This bill would establish a 72-hour waiting period for all firearm transfers in the Commonwealth.
Lost & Stolen Guns
Senate Bill 461
Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee on March 14, 2023
This legislation would require lost or stolen firearms be reported to local law enforcement authorities within 24 hours. Requiring lost or stolen firearms be reported to local law enforcement authorities would help to limit the availability of illegally obtained weapons and ultimately make our communities safer.
Checking-In of Firearms in Municipal Buildings
Senate Bill 798
Boscola
This bill would require firearms to be checked in and safely stored at municipal buildings in the Commonwealth. Similar to the laws pertaining to courthouses, any buildings which house municipal administrative offices would have to provide a check-in location in which lawful firearms would be safely stored and then returned to the owner upon leaving the building.
Safe Storage of Firearms
Senate Bill 769
Santarsiero/Cappelletti
This bill would require gun owners to safely store firearms when not under direct control of the owner.
Reasonable and Responsible Firearm Purchasing Rules
Senate Bill 559
Kane
This bill would prohibit the sale or possession of assault weapons for individuals under the age of 21. Members of the armed services would be exempt from this law. The bill would bring Pennsylvania gun laws in line with Federal law regarding the minimum age of purchasing handguns.
Divestiture and Investment Prohibition from Assault Weapon Manufacturers
Senate Bill 178
Costa
This bill would prohibit future investments by the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS), the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS), the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System (PMRS), and the State Treasurer in any company that manufactures assault weapons (such as the AR-15), large capacity ammunition feeding devices, or assault weapon accessories (such as bump stocks).
Protect Children by Requiring Identification for Ammunition Purchases
Senate Bill 668
Kane/Haywood
This bill would require individuals to present a valid form of photographic identification when purchasing firearm ammunition in Pennsylvania. It would reinforce current law to ensure that firearm ammunition is not sold to underage children.
Safe Storage of Firearms
Senate Bill 770
Santarsiero/Cappelletti
This bill would require safe storage of firearms when children are present in the home. Failure to comply with this requirement would result in a felony of the third degree if the firearm is used in a crime, or if death or grievous injury is caused, or a summary offense (misdemeanor of the third degree if second or subsequent offense) if a child is found in unlawful possession of a firearm.
Lost and Stolen Gun Reporting
Senate Bill 348
Tartaglione
This bill would require lost or stolen firearms be reported to local law enforcement authorities within 24 hours.
Universal Background Checks
Senate Bill 122
Hughes/Santarsiero
This bill would require background checks for all firearm purchases and transfers in Pennsylvania, regardless of the firearm’s barrel length.