Today, the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee passed House Bill 2227, legislation that creates so-called “extreme risk protection orders” whereby a hearing would be held, firearms would be seized and constitutional rights suspended with little to no due process. At the same time, the committee postponed consideration of House Bill 1400 and House Bill 1872 until tomorrow. It is imperative that you contact members of the House Judiciary Committee and strongly urge them to OPPOSE House Bill 1400 and House Bill 1872.
House Bill 1400 is a “universal” background check bill that would ban the private sale or transfer of rifles and shotguns in the Commonwealth. These measures place undue burden on law-abiding gun owners when criminals, by definition, do not follow such laws. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, “universal” background checks “effectiveness depends on…requiring gun registration.”
House Bill 1872 would make it a crime to knowingly possess an “accelerated trigger activator” that is designed or functions to accelerate the rate of fire of a semi-automatic firearm. The broad and overreaching provisions in this legislation could potentially criminalize firearm modifications such as competition triggers, and ergonomic changes that are commonly done by law-abiding gun owners to make their firearms more suitable for self-defense, competition, hunting, or even overcoming disability.
Again, please contact members of the House Judiciary Committee and strongly urge them to OPPOSE House Bill 1400 and House Bill 1872.