As One Man Was Arrested For Carrying Gun Without License, PA Lawmakers Seek License Repeal

LOWER MORELAND, PA — A Michigan man was recently arrested by local police after he revealed to officers during a stop that he had been carrying a concealed firearm without a valid license.

Anthony Matthews was charged with firearm not to be carried without a license after Lower Moreland officers were called to the Wawa at 2500 Philmont Avenue on Aug. 22 around 7 p.m. for a report of a disturbance, according to a report from the Lower Moreland Township Police Department.

Upon arrival at the Wawa, officers met with Matthews and three vehicle passengers, during which Matthews admitted to police that he was carrying a handgun with no license.

In Pennsylvania, individuals must obtain a License To Carry Firearms in order to carry concealed anywhere in the commonwealth. Open carry of a handgun, where the firearm is visible on one's person, is legal in the 66 counties outside of Philadelphia with no license; in Philadelphia, a license is required to both conceal and open carry.

However, a license is required anywhere throughout the commonwealth if one is going to be carrying a loaded handgun within the confines of a motor vehicle.

Court records show that Matthews had a preliminary arraignment on Aug. 23 before Magisterial District Judge Jay S. Friedenberg. Matthews was subsequently remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility because he was unable to post $25,000 bail.

In Pennsylvania, firearm not to be carried without a license is a first-degree misdemeanor.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 13.

Research shows that in Michigan, where Matthews hails from, a license or permit is also required in order to carry a concealed handgun.

As of June, there were 21 states in the U.S. that have what has been dubbed 'Constitutional Carry,' or permitless concealed carry. Some lawmakers in Pennsylvania are looking to join those states, with legislation currently pending in the General Assembly seeking to repeal concealed carry licenses for individuals who are already able to legally own and possess firearms.

The Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee has already voted to move Senate Bill 565 to the full Senate floor for consideration, according to legislative records. There is also a companion bill in the state House, which was previously reported on by Patch.

The Morning Call newspaper of Allentown recently published a piece in which individuals weighed in on the proposal to do away with carry licenses.

In a sponsorship memorandum from January, Pennsylvania State Sen. Cris Dush, R-25, said that his proposal is designed to eliminate a redundancy in state law; those who can legally pass a background check in order to legally purchase a handgun shouldn’t need additional permission to carry it, he says.

“Citizens who pass a criminal background check to purchase a new firearm are the least likely to commit an offense with a firearm,” Dush wrote. “It is patently unjust and constitutionally questionable to add layers of bureaucratic regulations on these law abiding citizens just because they prefer to carry their weapon concealed.”