Gun Safety for Every Pennsylvanian

“In just the past few months, Americans have born witness to gun tragedy after gun tragedy, leaving torn communities, mourning families, and broken trust behind. As legislators, we are obligated to use the power of the state government to make our commonwealth safer and prevent gun violence wherever we can. I am so heartened to see that my colleagues in the House are meeting this chaotic moment with commonsense, popular solutions to the scourge of gun violence destroying our shared sense of safety. I urge my Republican Senate colleagues in the strongest possible terms to take up these bills swiftly. Senate Democrats stand strong and united, prepared to deliver safe communities to all 67 counties in Pennsylvania. The time to rise above party and link arms in opposition to needless, senseless gun violence is now. Let’s get it done.”

SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER

JAY COSTA

Together, we can end gun violence.

Senate Democrats Kick Off National Gun Violence Prevention Month

Every Pennsylvanian deserves to live a life free from 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.

    Mental Health in Schools

    Recognizing the particular vulnerability that exists in our schools, we propose 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 the worst violence and to greatly improve school climate and student performance.

    Extreme Risk Protections

    Implementation of legislation to allow for courts to order public protection orders if a person is demonstrating dangerous mental health characteristics would provide much needed protection to the public. Such an order would temporarily suspend an individual’s access to firearms if there is documented evidence that a person is threatening to harm themselves or others. The person subject to that order must surrender their guns to police and will not be able to buy, sell, or possess other firearms with a judge determining the time frame of this suspension not to exceed one year.

    Safe Storage Requirements

    Too many firearm incidents happen because of improperly securing guns to prevent them from getting into the wrong hands, including children or unwell individuals. Requiring gun locks and safe storage are commonsense prevention options.

    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.

    Did you Know?

    In addition to innocent lives lost forever, gun violence costs us $280 billion per year.
    More than two Pennsylvanians die by gun suicide every day.
    Did you know? Between 70% and 90% of guns used in youth suicides, unintentional shooting among children, and school shootings perpetrated by shooters under the are of 18 are acquired from the home or homes of relatives or friends.
    Did you know? Nearly 25% of all gun owners report storing their guns in an unlocked location in the home.
    When mass shootings happen, we’re told now is not the time. There have been more mass shootings in 2025 than there have been days in 2025 – just like there were more mass shootings in 2024 than there were days in 2024 and more mass shootings in 2023 than there were days in 2023 – when is the time?
    Did you know? Did you know? On average, 21 guns go missing every day in PA
    Did you know? A study showed 33% of guns recovered at a crime scenes in Pittsburgh had been stolen.
    Did you know? 85% of non-gun owners & 72% of gun owners.
    A 2025 CeaseFire report stated that gun suicides account for 60% of gun-related deaths across PA and account for more than 80% across 44 rural counties.
    Did you know? 380,000 firearms are stolen form gun owners across the country every year.
    Did you know? 9 states plus D.C. have waiting periods that apply to the purchase of at least one type of firearm.
    Did you know? An estimated 54% of gun owners don't lock all of their guns.
    The number one cause of death for children and teens is guns.
    Did you know? Studies suggest that waiting periods laws may reduce firearm suicide rates by 7-11%.
    Did you know? Up to 80% of individuals considering suicide exhibit warning signs that they are considering suicide.
    Did you know? As many as 1 in 9 arranging to buy a firearm on the nation's largest online gun marketplace are people who cannot legally own a gun.

    Legislation to Save Lives & Make Pennsylvania’s Communities Safer

    Legislation to Save Lives & Make Pennsylvania’s Communities Safer

    Senate Bill 42

    This bill would amend Title 18 to ensure 3D-printed firearms are subject to the Uniform Firearm Act and would ensure a 3D-printed firearm is considered a firearm. In addition, the legislation would prohibit anyone from printing a firearm without a license from the Federal Government to manufacture firearms. (Hughes)

    Senate Bill 262

    This bill would empower families and police officers to petition a court to temporarily remove firearms from someone who is a threat to themselves or others. (Fontana)

    Senate Bill 769

    This bill would require gun owners to safely store firearms when not under direct control of the owner. (Santarsiero, Cappelletti)

    Senate Bill 43

    This bill would amend the Uniform Firearm Act to make it crystal clear that an undetectable firearm or a “ghost gun” is defined as a firearm. (Hughes)

    SB 348

    This bill would require lost or stolen firearms be reported to local law enforcement authorities within 24 hours. (Tartaglione)

    Senate Bill 770

    This bill would require safe storage of firearms when children are present in the home. (Santarsiero, Cappelletti)

    Machine Gun Conversion Device Ban

    This bill would prohibit the possession, use, sale, transfer, and production of machine gun conversion devices in Pennsylvania. (Tartaglione)

    Senate Bill 47

    This bill would amends the Uniform Firearms Act (“UFA”) to impose strict civil and criminal liability on any person, licensed importer, licensed dealer or licensed manufacturer who knowingly and intentionally sells, delivers or transfers a firearm in violation of the UFA if that gun is subsequently used in a crime or attempted crime. (Hughes)

    SB 559

    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. This legislation would bring Pennsylvania gun laws in line with Federal law regarding the minimum age of purchasing handguns.
    (Kane)

    Senate Bill 209

    This bill would require firearm owners to carry liability insurance for their weapons. (Cappelletti)

    Senate Bill 768

    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. (Santarsiero, Cappelletti)

    Senate Bill 798

    This bill would require firearms to be checked in and safely stored at municipal buildings in the Commonwealth. (Boscola)

    National Gun Violence Survivors Vigil

    Enough is Enough

    Gov. Tom Wolf Signs Executive Order on Gun Violence

    August 16, 2019: Governor Tom Wolf signs an executive order to make sweeping changes to executive branch agencies and programs to better target the public health crisis of gun violence. The executive order is the result of months of work by Governor Wolf and his administration to focus on substantive steps that can be taken to reduce gun violence and make communities safer. Governor Wolf was joined by Senators Jay Costa and Anthony H. Williams.  

    In Remembrance

    Senate Democrats Remember Victims of Gun Violence and Call for Action

    Senate Democrats join Gov. Wolf and U.S. Senator Bob Casey for a bipartisan event in remembrance of the victims of all gun violence and as a call-for-action after a weekend of mass shootings and a continued deaf-ear response from federal and state lawmakers to take up stricter gun laws.

    Gov. Wolf Hosts Bipartisan Remembrance of Victims and Call for Action Event Against Gun Violence at the Capitol