How to Obtain a Gun License in Pennsylvania
In order to carry a gun concealed on your person or in your vehicle in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, you will need to have a valid license, issued by the county sheriff or chief of police. You do not, however, require a license simply to keep your firearm at home or at a fixed place of business. Carrying a concealed firearm without a license, whether it's on your body or in a vehicle, is punishable as a third-degree felony.
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Things You'll Need
- Recent passport-style photograph
- 2 character references (non-family members)
- Valid PA driver's license or photo ID
Instructions
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Pick up a License to Carry Firearms (LTCF) from your local county sheriff's office. The sheriff's office must be in the same county in which you reside. If you live in the city of Philadelphia, go to the Philadelphia Police Department and ask to contact the Gun Permits and Tracking Unit in order to obtain your license.
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Fill out the gun license application. Some Pennsylvania counties will require you to fill out the application while you're at the sheriff's department. Others may allow you to take the application home and mail it in. To be safe, take your ID, the information for your character references and passport-style photograph with you (some departments may choose to photograph you using their equipment).
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Pay a small fee in order to process the application. The base fee is usually $19, but may vary from county to county.
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Allow at least 45 days for your application to be approved or denied. The sheriff is granted 45 days to conduct an investigation as to whether you are eligible to receive a license to carry a firearm. You will be notified of your approval or denial. Again, depending on your county, you may be required to pick up your license in person or it will be mailed to you.
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Tips & Warnings
You may wish to call the department ahead of time in order to establish its specific procedures. When you arrive, be prepared to answer some basic questions about why you're applying for a license to carry.
If approved, your license will be valid for five years. After five years, you will need to renew if you wish to continue carrying a firearm.
Even if you have a license, you cannot carry a firearm in a K-12 school or state or federal building, such as a courthouse.
Owning a license to carry a firearm does not mean you can purchase firearms without the requisite background check.
If you would like to see an example of an application to carry a firearm, click on the link under Resources entitled "Application for a Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms."
References
Resources
- Photo Credit gun image by dinostock from Fotolia.com
