Gun measure formerly deemed unconstitutional back in Pa. House

A gun law thrown out by the Commonwealth Court last year has been reintroduced and is moving through the Pennsylvania House.

It aims to discourage municipalities from enacting gun ordinances that are more restrictive than state law.

When the legislation was being passed last year, it was packaged with a separate, irrelevant bill about the theft of metals. That two-for-one style legislation is unconstitutional.

Before it was tossed, several cities faced lawsuits and a Keystone Crossroads analysis found it prompted nearly 100 municipalities to ease their local gun laws.

Now it’s back, in nearly identical form.

The measure is sponsored by Rep. Mark Keller, R-Perry. It specifically would allow gun owners — and organizations including the NRA — to sue their local municipalities over restrictive gun laws.

Keller said there is a good chance it could be passed this session.

“It will be tight. It’ll be very tight to get it accomplished,” he said. “But you know, hopefully we get a floor vote before the end of October.”

Gov. Tom Wolf has said he won’t support the bill in its current form.

But Keller said he is cautiously optimistic the proposal may win strong enough support for a veto-proof majority.