In the near future I will be introducing legislation to repeal Section 6108 of Title 18, which prohibits an individual from open carrying a firearm in a city of the first class, unless they have a concealed carry license.

Philadelphia is the only city of the first class in our Commonwealth and the only place where it is illegal for an individual to open carry a firearm without a concealed carry license. Every other area of our Commonwealth allows individuals to open carry a firearm, provided that they are at least 18 years of age.

The Second Amendment of the Unites States Constitution provides in pertinent part that, “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed upon.” Further, Article One Section 21 of the Pennsylvania Constitution provides, “[t]he right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.”

Both of these provisions make it clear that Section 6108 of Title 18 is clearly a constraint on our constitutional rights. The Superior Court of Pennsylvania recently held in Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Riyaadh Sumpter, that Section 6108 of Title 18 was “unconstitutional on an equal protection biases as applied to the Appellant.”

It is essential that we repeal this section and provide Pennsylvanians the rights they are guaranteed under both the United States Constitution and Pennsylvania Constitution, regardless of geographical location.

Please consider co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation.