Four Anti-Gun Bills Race Toward Vote in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania lawmakers are moving quickly on four major gun control bills, sparking outrage from gun rights advocates who say the measures trample on constitutional freedoms.

House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D-191) is pushing the package, which cleared the Judiciary Committee this week on strict party lines—14 Democrats in favor, 12 Republicans opposed.

A final floor vote could come as early as next Tuesday.

• HB 1099 (Undetectable Firearms): Would make it a third-degree felony to make, sell, or even possess a firearm built entirely of non-metal parts. Critics note so-called “ghost guns” are largely a myth and say the law is designed to scare rather than solve real problems.
• HB 1593 (Universal Registration Checks): Would outlaw the private sale of long guns unless approved through a government background check. Opponents argue this lays the groundwork for a de facto firearm registry, expanding what already exists for handguns in Pennsylvania.
• HB 1859 (Red Flag Gun Confiscation Orders): Creates “extreme risk protection orders” allowing guns to be seized after one-sided hearings where the accused has no right to face their accuser until after firearms are taken. GOA slammed the bill as unconstitutional and ripe for abuse.
• HB 1866 (Glock Switch Ban): Seeks to “triple ban” machine gun conversion devices like Glock switches. Second Amendment groups say this is meaningless virtue-signaling since the devices are already federally illegal, and criminals intent on mayhem will ignore another ban.

Gun Owners of America blasted the effort, calling it pure “virtue signaling.” In a statement, the group urged Pennsylvanians to flood lawmakers with opposition, warning that if passed, the bills would erode fundamental rights under both the state and U.S. Constitutions.

Republican lawmakers echoed that stance during committee debate. “It’s not the gun, it’s the criminal,” one lawmaker said, comparing the proposals to blaming cars for drunk drivers.

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Rep. Stephanie Borowicz (R-76) was among the most vocal, arguing that the state should be focused on restoring values, not stripping rights.

“It’s people’s hearts… we need to teach kids not to murder. The Ten Commandments need to be back in our schools,” she said, as reported by ABC 27 News.

Democrats insisted the bills are common-sense measures meant to prevent tragedies. They cited the recent killing of three York County detectives as a reminder of the stakes.

Tim Briggs (D-Montgomery), who chairs the Judiciary Committee, dismissed GOP arguments as out of touch, while groups like CeaseFirePA promised to keep pushing until the bills reach the governor’s desk.

Gun Owners of America is calling this a make-or-break moment: “These bills can still be stopped—but only if gun owners take action.”

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