Gun owners in the Northeast: Part 2 of 4 12
Mike's guns -- Top left to right: Colt Commander Series 80 .45 ACP, Berretta FS-92 9mm pistol, Glock 26 9mm pistol. Middle left to right: Smith & Wesson Model 629 .44 Magnum revolver, Smith & Wesson Model 10 .38 revolver, Smith & Wesson Model 40 double-action only revolver. Bottom left to right: Smith & Wesson Model 637 Airweight, Berretta .25 ACP Bobcat.
In following online forums and comments, we noticed crime stories around the Northeast often lead to discussions about gun ownership. In this four-part series, we’ll hear from four Northeast residents on why they own guns, and their beliefs surrounding gun laws. You can read part one here.
This is Mike. The 45-year-old Fox Chase resident owns nine guns.
NEast Philly: How long have you been a gun owner?
Mike: Thirty-one years.
NEP: Why do you own a guns? Was there a specific event that motivated you to get one?
M: No specific event motivated me to buy a firearm, as I grew up with them. I was taught the fundamentals of shooting and firearm safety at an early age. My dad bought my brother and me a .22 bolt-action rifle when we were kids and taught us how to target shoot. We further learned about rifle and shotgun safety when my brother and I were in the Boy Scouts and participated in the S.P.O.R.T. (Sportsmen Policing Our Ranks Together) program. I didn’t acquire my first handgun until nine years ago.
NEP: Are your guns registered?
M: Yes.
NEP: Have you ever had to use, or come close to using your guns?
M: Fortunately, I haven’t.
NEP: Does owning guns make you feel safe?
M: Owning a firearm alone doesn’t make me feel safe. Owning a gun in addition to being aware of my surroundings, places to avoid, observing anything that looks out of place, and keeping my property secured does. I see a firearm as a tool that I’d rather have and not need than need and not have. I would only use my weapon after I exhausted all other options and believed my life was in grave danger.
NEP: Is owning guns relevant to where you live? Would you not own one if you lived someplace else?
M: Not necessarily. Anybody can be a victim of violent crime regardless of whether one lives in the city, suburbs or country.
NEP: Do you keep your guns loaded?
M: Yes.
NEP: Do you keep your guns locked?
M: Yes.
NEP: How accessible are your guns when they’re not on you?
M: It’s available at a moment’s notice
NEP: Do you carry in the house, or in the street?
M: Sometimes in the house. On the street, yes. I do have a conceal-carry permit issued by the City of Philadelphia. (Note: Mike lives in the house with his wife.)
NEP: Would you encourage others to own a gun?
M: Yes, provided they don’t have any physical or psychological problems that may prevent them from safely owning or handling a firearm. I also encourage anyone considering firearm ownership to take gun safety courses taught by qualified instructors and learn the fundamentals of shooting. I especially encourage women, as they can often be targets of perpetrators physically much larger and stronger than themselves.
Why do gun owners always make excuses about personal safety? Mike has *nine* guns. He just likes guns. Why not just come out and say it?
You think if he didn’t like guns he would own them? I like to shoot, yet that’s not the reason I carry a gun – it’s for the protection of not only myself, but my wife and daughter, should the need ever arise.
There isn’t anywhere in the article that alludes to this person owning 9 guns for safety alone.
I have three myself, I am in the process of renewing my conceal carry permit. I don’t know where you live but safety is an issue in Mayfair and in every neighborhood of the city. I’ve have never had to use my weapon but have to agree with Mike, I’d rather have it and not use it than to need it and not have it! todays criminals don’t just want to rob you they want to kill you afterwards! I just want a fighting chance.
it isn’t a “concealed carry permit”. it’s a liscence to carry firearms. which means, if you so desire, you may carry your firearm OPENLY.
Well Let this be known and remembered to own or not own a hand gun is a choice one can make to carry or not carry is also a personal choice, If you choice to carry a gun please make sure that the BAD guy don’t take it away from you. For those of you that have more then one loaded gun in the house what are thinking that the Army of the BAD guys are going to invade your house. I really wonder if these people really think that their homes are totally safe from being broken into when they and their gun is not home to protect their other LOADED guns. remember have a safe and nice day
You need a different permit to carry openly for jobs like police officers, sheriffs, guards etc, and you have to be qualified for that use, ordinary citizens must carry concealed.
Dan,
You are correct in that a different certification is needed to carry openly for WORK purposes (ACT 235,120 etc. ) but regular citizens are permitted to carry openly in the state of Pennsylvania. A single license is issued to any Pa. resident, it is called a Licence to Carry A Firearm. Nowhere on this permit does the word “concealed” show, because there is no state law against open carry. The only time a permit is needed to carry openly is while traveling in a vehicle, or while in a city of the first class (Philadelphia).
This isn’t to say that if you openly carry a weapon you won’t be harassed by police, but I assure you it IS legal.
Here is a link that will give you all of the proper information :
http://paopencarry.org/pdfs/Pennsylvania_Gun_Rights.pdf
Thank for the info Eric, it appears you are right about the legality to open carry in Phila. with a ltcf and anywhere else in the state without one. However the detectives when issuing th e permits here always stress carrying concealed because they may not agree with the law and will probably try charging you disturbing the peace and try to revoke you permit. I don’t know how they can be allowed to do that!
I’m glad to hear that the gun laws of PA are tweeked a bit for large cities like philadelphia.
I’d like to take the opportunity to correct a few statements that were made (Eric’s mostly) and also expound upon others.
1. Eric is correct that the Commonwealth issues a “License to Carry Firearms”, not a permit. There are important legal distinctions between the two, but IANAL. However having one WILL NOT allow you to carry a firearm openly in the County and City of Philadelphia, as open carry is ILLEGAL, pursuant to Commonwealth law. You WILL be arrested (most likely at gun point) and your license WILL be revoked. As I said, the only reason this is enforceable is that it is a Commonwealth law and NOT a City ordinance. Under the Commonwealth’s Firearms Preemption Law, NO political subdivision may enact firearms laws and Philadelphia is a political subdivision. That doesn’t mean Philadelphia won’t keep trying.
2. Open carry in the Commonwealth’s other 66 counties is perfectly legal and NO license of any kind is needed. That being said, if you carry openly near urbanized areas, do not be surprised if you get stopped and harassed by the local police. Unless you’re acting in a threatening or dangerous way, you’ve broken no laws. But, many local cops don’t like the idea that you CAN carry open and will harass you since they can’t arrest you. As you travel to more rural areas, your openly carried sidearm seems to become more and more invisible. Concealed carry of a firearm ANYWHERE in the Commonwealth REQUIRES a license.
3. The Commonwealth considers the carrying of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle of any kind (car, truck, bus, train or boat) to be concealed carry. If you want to carry a loaded HANDGUN in a vehicle, whether openly or concealed, you MUST have a license. With certain exceptions during the various hunting seasons, by licensed hunters and in recognized hunting locations, carrying a loaded long-arm (rifle or shotgun) in easy reach in your vehicle is NOT legal, even if you DO have a License to Carry Firearms.
4. A License to Carry Firearms is for private use only and it is NOT good for any type of employment where you need to be armed. To add to Eric’s list:
PA Act 2 covers Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs
PA Act 44 covers PA State Constables
PA Act 120 covers Municipal Police Officers
and
PA Act 235 covers Private Security Guards
I’m not sure which act covers PA State Police.
5. Maltydog, you are completely wrong. With the sole exception of that ONE Commonwealth law prohibiting open carry in Philadelphia, the laws are NOT “tweaked” for large cities, they are EXACTLY the same. That’s what the PA Uniform Firearms Law means, UNIFORM.
Sorry, if it seems that I cam down hard on you, Eric, but many of you “statements of fact” were simply wrong. I’ve had a PA LTCF since 1998 and I’ve gone out of my way to make sure I know the applicable laws so I never break them. If you have a valid license an want to carry openly in Philadelphia, be my guest. But, don’t say you weren’t warned when you wind up in a legal “jackpot”.
For the record, I grew up and still live in Oxford Circle. Over the years, I have seen this neighborhood (and much of the Northeast) change, both demographically and socio-economically, and not for the better. And, before anyone gets their back up, I am not a bigot or a racist. I’m a realist.
I never leave my house without a sidearm, usually my trusty .357 Mag snubbie. As voiced by several others, I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Thank the heavens, so far, I’ve never fired any of my firearms except at the range, either practicing or competing. I hope it stays that way. Carrying a weapon of deadly force is a responsibility not to be taken lightly.
I DO, however, believe in “Gun Control”: hitting your target with the first shot. Be safe out there. Semper vigilantis.
cracks me up how people love to prove everyone wrong on comment pages. Did it make you feel like you had the biggest dick in the room to tell me I was completely wrong dad cat? I didn’t think i’d made any statements of fact, only commenting on what i’d read from other readers. lol. get over yourself