legally Gun Trust Lawyers and Purchasing Firearms in Pennsylvania
Gun laws across the county and in Pennsylvania have become more vigorous. Nevertheless, purchasing Class 1 or Class 2 firearms in Pennsylvania for hunting or personal protection is still easy at a licensed firearms dealer. You must fill out an application that gives you the necessary information and determine if any circumstances prevent you from purchasing a gun. Here are some of the qualifications for buying a gun in Pennsylvania.
You must
- be at least 18 years old;
- not be an undocumented alien;
- never been
- convicted of a violent crime or three separate DUIs within five years;
- declared mentally ill by the court;
- a drug addict;
- a fugitive from justice; and
- lastly, the subject to an active protection from abuse order.
The firearms dealer charges a fee of $20 for handguns and $25 for rifles or shotguns. The dealer enters your information online with the Pennsylvania Instant Check System and will usually get a response within minutes.
Purchasing Firearms Online
You can’t buy a firearm online and deliver it to your home. Instead, you must go through a federally licensed firearms dealer and follow the same registration procedure.
Purchasing Firearms Privately or at a Gun Show
If you purchase your gun from a federally licensed dealer at the gun show, the process is the same as if you bought the gun in the dealer’s shop. If you buy your firearm from a friend, a third party, or at a gun show from a non-licensed seller, the process depends on the type of firearm. A handgun requires that a licensed firearms dealer complete the purchase. No registration paperwork is required if the firearm is a long gun, i.e., a rifle or a shotgun.
Pennsylvania Rules Regarding Carrying a Firearm
You can carry your firearm in public if it is in plain view. You cannot have a concealed weapon on your person or in a vehicle without obtaining a Concealed Carry License. Find out more about Carrying Firearms in Pennsylvania.
How to Get a Concealed Carry License
- You must be at least 21 and submit a Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms Application to any Pennsylvania County Sheriff’s Office.
- The sheriff has 45 days to investigate to determine the applicant’s eligibility. The investigation includes the Pennsylvania Instant Check System. The sheriff may also deny the License to Carry if he discovers that the individual’s character and reputation would make carrying a concealed weapon dangerous to the public.
- A License to Carry Firearms allows you to carry a concealed firearm on or about your person or in vehicles in Pennsylvania. It is valid for five years unless sooner revoked.
Call our Gun Trust Lawyers to find out how establishing a Gun Trust can expedite the purchase of firearms and protect your privacy. Our attorneys can also be helpful if you feel that you have been wrongfully disqualified from making a purchase or obtaining a license.
How Setting up a Gun Trust in Pennsylvania Can Help You
A Gun Trust is a legal entity designed to purchase, acquire, and bequeath legal firearms in Pennsylvania.
There are many advantages to setting up a Gun Trust.
- A Gun Trust allows multiple household members to use the same firearm. With a Gun Trust, you can assign everyone in your family who is over the age of 18 to be a trustee. A Gun Trust allows every adult in your home to possess and use the firearm if needed. In contrast, when you purchase a gun individually, without a trust, only the person with lawful ownership of the weapon can use it.
- You can control where your firearm goes if you are incapacitated. Your Gun Trust ensures you safely and legally pass your guns on to your heirs. Passing on firearms following the law is crucial since violations of Firearm Laws can lead to 10 years in jail and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.
- You won’t have to submit to as many demands to acquire certain firearms. You will not be photographed or fingerprinted by authorities. And you won’t have to get a signature from a local CLEO. Gun Trusts can reduce the complications, costs, and time it can take you to procure a firearm.
- Lastly, you maintain your privacy. When you purchase some firearms classes as an individual, you must inform your local CLEO and authorities. However, Pennsylvania law doesn’t require knowledge of firearm ownership to be made public. Therefore, the purchase remains entirely private when you acquire a firearm through a Gun Trust.
Consult With Our Proven, Experienced Gun Trust Lawyers
You must acquire and pass on firearms legally and correctly. As mentioned earlier, mistakes can lead to imprisonment and costly fines. A Gun Trust can be one way to effectively control the possession of a firearm in your household in a time-effective and legal manner. But you have to do it right. The best way to make sure everything is legal and in order is to consult with an experienced, proven Gun Trust Lawyer.
Our Gun Trust Attorneys have 40+ years of experience assisting residents in Berks County around Reading, PA, legally acquire and bequeath firearms. We know what we’re doing, and we will protect you. Contact Us Online or Call Us at 610-670-9000 today. You can get all the facts during your initial consultation before deciding about your subsequent firearms acquisition.
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