This morning, the House Judiciary Committee continued its push for gun control by passing House Bill 1872, legislation which would ban many firearm accessories. This follows the passage of HB 2227, legislation which would allow the seizure of firearms with little or no access to due process. The committee did vote down House Bill 1400, legislation that sought to ban all private transfers of firearms in Pennsylvania.
Leadership in the House of Representatives has fast tracked anti-gun HB 2227 for a vote on the House floor tomorrow. At this time, House Bill 1872 has not been scheduled, however it is more important than ever that you contact your state Representative and strongly urge their opposition to HB 2227 and HB 1872.
House Bill 2227 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. Under House Bill 2227, a law-abiding gun owner could lose their right to own or possess a firearm and then have the burden placed on them to prove the false nature of the petition in order to have their firearms returned. This legislation does nothing to improve public safety, and allows for an extremely broadly definition of who can petition to remove someone's Second Amendment rights.
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 your state Representative and strongly urge them to OPPOSE House Bill 1872 and House Bill 2227.