PRINTER'S NO. 309
No. 277 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY BISHOP, BLACKWELL, CURRY, DONATUCCI, FRANKEL,
JAMES, JOSEPHS, MELIO, PARKER, SOLOBAY, WILLIAMS, YOUNGBLOOD
AND MYERS, FEBRUARY 6, 2007
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 6, 2007
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, providing for trigger locks and for
3 handgun identification requirements.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
7 Statutes is amended by adding sections to read:
8 § 6127. Trigger locks required.
9 (a) General rule.--Every handgun except an antique handgun
10 shall be equipped with a trigger lock.
11 (b) Definition.--As used in this section, the term "trigger
12 lock" means a metallic device operated with a key or combination
13 lock which prevents a firearm from being discharged while the
14 device is attached to the firearm. The term includes a device
15 which obstructs the barrel or cylinder of the firearm and a
16 device which immobilizes the trigger.
17 § 6128. Ballistics identifier required.
18 (a) General rule.--No person registered or licensed as a
1 manufacturer, wholesale dealer of firearms or retail dealer of
2 firearms may transport into this Commonwealth, sell, expose for
3 sale, possess with the intent of selling, assign or otherwise
4 transfer a handgun other than an antique handgun unless a
5 ballistics identifier for that handgun has been obtained and
6 made part of a qualified database.
7 (b) Penalties.--A person that violates the provisions of
8 subsection (a) shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less
9 than $7,500 nor more than $15,000 and a fine of not less than
10 $500 nor more than $1,000 for each handgun.
11 (c) Regulations.--The Attorney General shall promulgate
12 regulations to effectuate the purposes of this section.
13 (d) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
14 words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
15 subsection:
16 "Ballistics identifier." A digitized or electronic image of
17 a bullet and shell casing fired by a handgun which:
18 (1) clearly shows the distinctive firing pin, ejection,
19 extraction and land marks for that particular handgun; and
20 (2) can be utilized, through comparative computer
21 analysis, for investigative and prosecutorial purposes by law
22 enforcement agencies.
23 "Qualified database." A database established and maintained
24 by a Federal or State law enforcement agency which:
25 (1) contains individual handgun information, such as the
26 handgun's make, model, caliber, manufacturer's serial number
27 and ballistics identifier; and
28 (2) is made available to, and may be utilized by, law
29 enforcement agencies in this Commonwealth for investigative
30 and prosecutorial purposes.
20070H0277B0309 - 2 -
1 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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