Pennsylvania Firearms Retailers Sue Philadelphia

NEWTOWN, Conn. -- Today the Pennsylvania Association of Firearms Retailers (PAFR), the National Shooting Sports Foundation -- the trade association of the firearms industry -- and several individual retailers filed suit against the City of Philadelphia. The aim of the suit is to stop the city from enacting local laws to regulate the lawful commerce of firearms.

After a series of gun-control bills failed to pass out of the state assembly earlier this year, the Philadelphia City Council passed similar legislation that would ban law-abiding citizens from purchasing more than one handgun a month, ban certain firearms based upon cosmetic appearance -- as part of an “assault weapons” ban -- and turn victims of crime into criminals by failing to report a missing or stolen firearm within 24 hours.

This legislation, if allowed to stand, would invalidate the current preemption protections in Pennsylvania. Preemption laws stop localities from passing more stringent gun control laws, ensuring that the state has a uniform system of laws governing firearms and ammunition.

“It is imperative that the court strike down these gun control bills,” said Joe Keefer, president of the PAFR. “This legislation will do nothing to curb violent crime and will set a dangerous precedent, allowing municipalities to enact whatever gun-control regulations they see fit.”

Lawrence G. Keane, senior vice president and general counsel of NSSF, added, “If this flagrant disregard for the rule of law is not struck down, Pennsylvania could end up with thousands of new laws affecting firearms retailers and gun-owners from one local jurisdiction to another.”

Also filing suit today were the National Rifle Association, The Firing Line Inc. and Colisimo’s Inc.

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Formed in 1961, the National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®) is the trade association for the firearms and recreational shooting sports industry. NSSF's mission is to provide trusted leadership in addressing industry challenges and delivering programs and services to meet the identified needs of its members by measurably advancing participation in and understanding of hunting and the shooting sports. For more information, visit www.nssf.org.