Councilman calls for end to Florida gun loophole
A Philadelphia City Councilman says he wants to see a loophole in the gun laws closed in the city. If the loophole is closed it will almost certainly be challenged in court.
A Philadelphia City Councilman says he wants to see a loophole in the gun laws closed in the city. If the loophole is closed it will almost certainly be challenged in court.
Reciprocity rules give those who hold a Florida gun carry permit the ability to carry a concealed handgun in Philadelphia, even if they had a permit application here rejected. City Councilman Darrell Clarke says he wants that practice ended.
“Our concern is the laws governing concealed weapons and the background checks in Florida are much less strict than they are in the state of Pennsylvania. We don’t think it’s appropriate for us to have to essentially authorize people to do that here without conducting stringent background checks conducted by the state police in the state of Pennsylvania.”
Councilman Clarke believes if the bill is approved gun rights supporters will challenge it immediately. Even though state laws on reciprocity trump local ones, Clarke expects it the bill would prevail in court. Similar legislation in Harrisburg has been stuck in neutral.
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