An anti-gun measure introduced in the Pennsylvania legislature by a Democrat lawmaker from Philadelphia is—like most anti-gun legislation—simply a solution in search of a problem.
Pennsylvania Rep. Amen Brown introduced former HB 1563 in the state House of Representatives on January 9. This measure requires anyone attending a gun show in the state to present identification. The gun show owner must keep a copy of the ID for five years and provide it to the state attorney general, any county prosecutor or any municipal police department upon request, with no limitations on the reason.
According to Brown’s memo detailing the measure, he is advocating for the legislation to help tackle what he perceives to be a “ghost gun” issue in the state.
“‘Ghost guns’ have become a very real problem in Pennsylvania,” Brown wrote. “These guns often begin as DIY gun kits that can be legally purchased without a background check, feature no serial number, and when constructed, produce fully functioning firearms. Having seen firsthand how easy it is to purchase a ghost gun kit at a gun show, I recognize that we must take legislative action to keep these weapons out of the hands of criminals.”
The issue with that claim, according to a report at ammoland.com, is that no 80% kits have been sold at any gun show in the Keystone State since the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) passed its final rule against unfinished frames.
“Even though there was an injunction against the rule, SCOTUS stayed the decision until they could rule on it in the Vanderstok case,” John Crump, NRA instructor and constitutional activist, wrote in the report.
According to Crump, Rep. Brown has long opposed gun shows, even persuading Eagle Arms to stop any displays at shows by JSD Supply, owned by Jordan Vinroe. Vinroe later undermined Brown’s plan by purchasing the gun shows, renaming them Eagle Shows, and once again starting to display his products there.
Now that Brown has launched his latest attack on gun shows, Vinroe is calling him out for violating various aspects of the U.S. Bill of Rights.
“Such measures will infringe on First Amendment rights by deterring lawful assembly and participation in constitutionally protected activities,” Vinroe told AmmoLand News. “The requirement to scan and store attendees’ identification will violate Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, as it imposes an unwarranted intrusion into personal privacy. Additionally, the broad discretion granted to law enforcement to access these records raises Fourteenth Amendment concerns regarding equal protection and potential misuse of data, further threatening civil liberties.”
The pro-freedom group Gun Owners of America reports it is tracking nearly 40 anti-gun bills already introduced this session. This suggests a busy session for GOA and other pro-gun activists who will be opposing punitive 2A legislation.
Incidentally, while Democrats hold a slim one-vote majority in the state House of Representatives, the State Senate maintains a strong pro-gun majority, according to the GOA. As a result, it will likely be an uphill battle for gun control advocates to get any of their measures passed and sent to the governor for consideration.
