On Monday, February 2, the Pennsylvania House voted 104–94 to approve legislation that amounts to disguised gun control. House Bill 1909 was originally promoted as a measure to crack down on repeat restraining order violators. However, as the legislative process unfolded, it became clear that this was not the case.
The intent of HB 1909, while seemingly well intentioned, pertains to protection from abuse orders (PFAs) and violations of those orders. However, this legislation elevates an expansive range of non-violent infractions and misdemeanors to a level that results in lifetime firearm prohibitions. Protective orders have evidentiary standards well below what is required for even the lowest level criminal conviction. Additionally, PFAs can be issued ex parte, meaning the restrained party would not be present.
Current law already addresses violations of protective orders. However, this legislation increases the grading of the offense to a higher misdemeanor that results in a lifetime prohibition on firearm ownership. The surrender of Second Amendment rights was always the intended purpose of this bill, and this entire effort appears motivated by election-year politics rather than public safety.
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