Carrying a firearm for self-defense comes with a lot of responsibility. Knowing the laws where you carry is just one important task you must undertake as an armed American. To help with that, we’ve provided a comprehensive overview of Pennsylvania gun laws Learn about the most important things to know when carrying in the Keystone State below.
Can You Carry a Gun in Pennsylvania
Open carry is legal in Pennsylvania without a permit for anyone who is at least 18 years old and who can legally possess a firearm. Concealed carry is legal with a Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms (LCF) or a permit/license from a state with which Pennsylvania has reciprocity. The state only honors resident concealed carry licenses from states with which it has a reciprocity agreement.
Pennsylvania Concealed Carry Permit
Pennsylvania LCFs are issued to both residents and non-residents who have a permit to carry in their home states. The initial permit to conceal carry in Pennsylvania is $20. It can take up to 45 days to process and is good for five years. The cost to replace a lost or stolen permit is $5.
Pennsylvania Self-Defense Laws
In Pennsylvania, there is no duty to retreat your residence or any place you have a legal right to be if confronted with a deadly weapon. Under the law, the use of force against another person is justifiable if the person who acts in self-defense believes that the use of force is: “immediately necessary for the purpose of protecting himself against the use of unlawful force by such other person on the present occasion.”
There are a number of variables that come into play in regard to self-defense. Under Pennsylvania law, the use of force against another person is justifiable if the person who acts in self-defense believes that the use of force is: “immediately necessary for the purpose of protecting himself against the use of unlawful force by such other person on the present occasion.”
Per 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 505(2.1) “An individual is presumed to have a reasonable belief that deadly force is immediately necessary to protect himself against death, serious bodily injury, kidnapping or sexual intercourse compelled by force or threat if both of the following conditions exist:
(i) The person against whom the force is used is in the process of unlawfully and forcefully entering, or has unlawfully and forcefully entered and is present within, a dwelling, residence or occupied vehicle; or the person against whom the force is used is or is attempting to unlawfully and forcefully remove another against that other’s will from the dwelling, residence or occupied vehicle.
(ii) The actor knows or has reason to believe that the unlawful and forceful entry or act is occurring or has occurred.”
Basically, it is important to remember that a gun can be used in self-defense, not stuff defense, in the case of an intruder.
Gun Purchase and Handgun Registration Requirements
A permit to purchase a handgun is not required in Pennsylvania. Private party transfers of handguns must be conducted through a licensed dealer or at a county sheriff’s office. A background check is required. A purchaser must be at least 21 years old to buy a handgun. There is no firearms registration or waiting period for handguns. It is illegal for any person to possess KTW Teflon-coated bullets or other armor-piercing ammunition with the intent to use the ammunition in a crime.
*2024 Update: On Oct. 15, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling that Pennsylvania could not prevent residents under the age of 21 from openly carrying firearms in public during a declared state of emergency. The Supreme Court provided no explanation for its decision, and no dissents were noted.
Does Pennsylvania Have Ammunition and Magazine Restrictions?
Although the City of Pittsburgh had a large-capacity-magazine ordinance for a period of time, the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas decided against the City of Pittsburgh in Anderson v. City of Pittsburgh. The court found that Pittsburgh’s attempt to impose local gun-control measures was a clear violation of state preemption law. Therefore, Pennsylvania has no law restricting large-ammunition-capacity magazines.
Be aware that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court a decision in Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Darren Montgomery, 234 A.3d 523 (PA 2020), holding that sometimes a visible firearm is a concealed firearm. This decision has created uncertainty about the definition of open carry. Less-Lethal Legal Self-Defense Weapons
Stun guns and Tasers are legal to purchase and possess without a permit for anyone legally entitled to carry a firearm. These devices can be used in the exercise of reasonable force in defense of the person or the person’s property.
Where Can You Carry Concealed in Pennsylvania?
Understanding where you can and cannot carry a firearm is crucial for staying compliant with Pennsylvania’s gun laws. The state has specific locations where carrying a concealed handgun is allowed and places where it is strictly prohibited, even for permit holders. Familiarize yourself with these regulations to ensure you are always carrying legally and responsibly.
Locations where a concealed handgun may be carried include:
- Restaurants that serve alcohol (unless posted)
- State/national parks
- State/national forests
- Wildlife Management Areas
- Roadside rest areas
Locations where concealed carry is prohibited, even for permit holders, include:
- The buildings and grounds of elementary and secondary education schools and school buses
- Courthouses (off-limits areas must be posted)
- Detention facilities and correctional institutions
- Mental hospitals
- The public areas of One Penn Center, 2601 North Third Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, under the jurisdiction of the Department of State. This includes the interior offices of the Department of State, Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation, State Athletic Commission, and leased offices and facilities related thereto
- City of Philadelphia-owned buildings and parks (although this disregards state preemption laws)
- Secured areas of airports
- Any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal or state law or regulation
Can You Carry a Gun in Your Car in Pennsylvania?
A district court ruled the law banning the carry of firearms in a vehicle without a permit was unconstitutional. The judge enjoined Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Col. Christoper Paris from enforcing these provisions.
Ready to Learn More About Pennsylvania Gun Laws?
It is your responsibility as a gun owner to know and understand the laws regarding your concealed carry rights. The USCCA’s Concealed Carry Reciprocity & Gun Laws Map has been designed to help inform and educate armed citizens like you. To learn more about Pennsylvania’s concealed carry permit application process, concealed carry restrictions and training requirements, visit the Pennsylvania gun laws page now.
In addition, continued firearms training is crucial to protecting your family. Find a shooting range in Pennsylvania through our “Find a Shooting Range” resource — made possible by our partnership with the National Shooting Sports Foundation and WhereToShoot.org.
The information contained on this website is provided as a service to USCCA, Inc. Members and the concealed carry community, and does not constitute legal advice. Although we attempt to address all areas of concealed carry laws in all states, we make no claims, representations, warranties, promises or guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information disclosed. Legal advice must always be tailored to the individual facts and circumstances of each individual case, and laws are constantly changing. As such, nothing contained on this website should be used as a substitute for the advice of a lawyer.
