If you want to take your gun on a trip to Pennsylvania, it is best to check out Pennsylvania gun laws ahead of time. Laws in the state allow visitors to carry their firearms only under certain circumstances.
Pennsylvania recognizes
handgun carry permits from 30 states, including Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Visitors from these states with conceal carry permits are allowed to carry their guns in Pennsylvania.
ALERT: Should Obama Have More Control Over Guns? Vote Now
Non-residents can also apply under Pennsylvania gun laws for a
non-resident license to carry a firearm. To qualify, gun owners have to already have a conceal-carry permit from their home state. They must apply for a non-resident license in Pennsylvania. To qualify, a visitor has to be able to pass all the same requirements, background checks and waiting periods as a resident.
According to the Pennsylvania Firearms Owners Association, some counties in the state will not process the permits. They provide a list of counties that will and will not process the permits.
Pennsylvania gun laws mandate that carrying a firearm without a license is a misdemeanor for people eligible for a license. It's considered a felony for people who would not be eligible for a license.
It is illegal for travelers going state to state to carry loaded weapons. Firearms must be transported unloaded with ammunition stored in a separate compartment from the driver or in a locked container other than the glove box.
In Pennsylvania, travelers also should be aware that some 30 municipalities have enacted local gun laws that are much stricter than statewide statutes.
This article does not constitute legal advice. Check the current gun laws of your state and destination before travel.
VOTE NOW: Should All Fully Automatic Rifles Be Banned?
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.