HARRISBURG – Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Franklin/Adams) re-introduced the Pennsylvania Right to Bear Arms Act to reaffirm the state’s historic stand for freedom and protect a right that predates even the United States Constitution.
The bill would prohibit the enforcement of any new federal restrictions, prohibitions or registration requirements on firearms, magazines and ammunition in the Commonwealth. It would also prevent state or local resources from being used to enforce what he termed unconstitutional federal mandates. Finally, it would ensure that law-abiding citizens can continue to exercise their Second Amendment rights without what Mastriano called fear of overreach or persecution.
“From the battlefields of the American Revolution to the homes of modern-day Americans defending their families, the right to bear arms has stood as a pillar of the right to self-defense, self-preservation and liberty,” Mastriano said.
Long before the Second Amendment was ratified in December 1791, Pennsylvania had already enshrined the right to bear arms in its own constitution twice. It states unequivocally:
“The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.”
Politicians are pushing for restrictive firearm policies that would make law-abiding gun owners criminals overnight, Mastriano claimed.
“The right to bear arms is not just a constitutional issue; it is a fundamental human right. If history has taught us anything, it is that disarming people is the first step toward oppression,” Mastriano said.
He decried what he said were former President Joe Biden’s calls for “bans on commonly owned firearms.” Biden called for bans on assault weapons and high capacity magazines, and he wanted to require background checks for all gun sales. New York and California have already implemented what Mastriano called “draconian restrictions, infringing upon their citizens’ Second Amendment rights.” Gun registration databases are being proposed, threatening to turn a constitutional right into a government privilege.
“The Pennsylvania Right to Bear Arms Act isn’t simply a piece of legislation. It is a declaration that the commonwealth will always stand for freedom,” Mastriano said.
