2010 Pennsylvania Code
Title 18 - CRIMES AND OFFENSES
Chapter 61 - Firearms and Other Dangerous Articles
6106 - Firearms not to be carried without a license.

     § 6106.  Firearms not to be carried without a license.
        (a)  Offense defined.--
            (1)  Except as provided in paragraph (2), any person who
        carries a firearm in any vehicle or any person who carries a
        firearm concealed on or about his person, except in his place
        of abode or fixed place of business, without a valid and
        lawfully issued license under this chapter commits a felony
        of the third degree.
            (2)  A person who is otherwise eligible to possess a
        valid license under this chapter but carries a firearm in any
        vehicle or any person who carries a firearm concealed on or
        about his person, except in his place of abode or fixed place
        of business, without a valid and lawfully issued license and
        has not committed any other criminal violation commits a
        misdemeanor of the first degree.
        (b)  Exceptions.--The provisions of subsection (a) shall not
     apply to:
            (1)  Constables, sheriffs, prison or jail wardens, or
        their deputies, policemen of this Commonwealth or its
        political subdivisions, or other law-enforcement officers.
            (2)  Members of the army, navy, marine corps, air force
        or coast guard of the United States or of the National Guard
        or organized reserves when on duty.
            (3)  The regularly enrolled members of any organization
        duly organized to purchase or receive such firearms from the
        United States or from this Commonwealth.
            (4)  Any persons engaged in target shooting with a
        firearm, if such persons are at or are going to or from their
        places of assembly or target practice and if, while going to
        or from their places of assembly or target practice, the
        firearm is not loaded.
            (5)  Officers or employees of the United States duly
        authorized to carry a concealed firearm.
            (6)  Agents, messengers and other employees of common
        carriers, banks, or business firms, whose duties require them
        to protect moneys, valuables and other property in the
        discharge of such duties.
            (7)  Any person engaged in the business of manufacturing,
        repairing, or dealing in firearms, or the agent or
        representative of any such person, having in his possession,
        using or carrying a firearm in the usual or ordinary course
        of such business.
            (8)  Any person while carrying a firearm which is not
        loaded and is in a secure wrapper from the place of purchase
        to his home or place of business, or to a place of repair,
        sale or appraisal or back to his home or place of business,
        or in moving from one place of abode or business to another
        or from his home to a vacation or recreational home or
        dwelling or back, or to recover stolen property under section
        6111.1(b)(4) (relating to Pennsylvania State Police), or to a
        place of instruction intended to teach the safe handling, use
        or maintenance of firearms or back or to a location to which
        the person has been directed to relinquish firearms under 23
        Pa.C.S. § 6108 (relating to relief) or back upon return of
        the relinquished firearm or to a licensed dealer's place of
        business for relinquishment pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 6108.2
        (relating to relinquishment for consignment sale, lawful
        transfer or safekeeping) or back upon return of the
        relinquished firearm or to a location for safekeeping
        pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 6108.3 (relating to relinquishment
        to third party for safekeeping) or back upon return of the
        relinquished firearm.
            (9)  Persons licensed to hunt, take furbearers or fish in
        this Commonwealth, if such persons are actually hunting,
        taking furbearers or fishing as permitted by such license, or
        are going to the places where they desire to hunt, take
        furbearers or fish or returning from such places.
            (10)  Persons training dogs, if such persons are actually
        training dogs during the regular training season.
            (11)  Any person while carrying a firearm in any vehicle,
        which person possesses a valid and lawfully issued license
        for that firearm which has been issued under the laws of the
        United States or any other state.
            (12)  A person who has a lawfully issued license to carry
        a firearm pursuant to section 6109 (relating to licenses) and
        that said license expired within six months prior to the date
        of arrest and that the individual is otherwise eligible for
        renewal of the license.
            (13)  Any person who is otherwise eligible to possess a
        firearm under this chapter and who is operating a motor
        vehicle which is registered in the person's name or the name
        of a spouse or parent and which contains a firearm for which
        a valid license has been issued pursuant to section 6109 to
        the spouse or parent owning the firearm.
            (14)  A person lawfully engaged in the interstate
        transportation of a firearm as defined under 18 U.S.C. §
        921(a)(3) (relating to definitions) in compliance with 18
        U.S.C. § 926A (relating to interstate transportation of
        firearms).
            (15)  Any person who possesses a valid and lawfully
        issued license or permit to carry a firearm which has been
        issued under the laws of another state, regardless of whether
        a reciprocity agreement exists between the Commonwealth and
        the state under section 6109(k), provided:
                (i)  The state provides a reciprocal privilege for
            individuals licensed to carry firearms under section
            6109.
                (ii)  The Attorney General has determined that the
            firearm laws of the state are similar to the firearm laws
            of this Commonwealth.
            (16)  Any person holding a license in accordance with
        section 6109(f)(3).
        (c)  Sportsman's firearm permit.--
            (1)  Before any exception shall be granted under
        paragraph (b)(9) or (10) of this section to any person 18
        years of age or older licensed to hunt, trap or fish or who
        has been issued a permit relating to hunting dogs, such
        person shall, at the time of securing his hunting, furtaking
        or fishing license or any time after such license has been
        issued, secure a sportsman's firearm permit from the county
        treasurer. The sportsman's firearm permit shall be issued
        immediately and be valid throughout this Commonwealth for a
        period of five years from the date of issue for any legal
        firearm, when carried in conjunction with a valid hunting,
        furtaking or fishing license or permit relating to hunting
        dogs. The sportsman's firearm permit shall be in triplicate
        on a form to be furnished by the Pennsylvania State Police.
        The original permit shall be delivered to the person, and the
        first copy thereof, within seven days, shall be forwarded to
        the Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police by the
        county treasurer. The second copy shall be retained by the
        county treasurer for a period of two years from the date of
        expiration. The county treasurer shall be entitled to collect
        a fee of not more than $6 for each such permit issued, which
        shall include the cost of any official form. The Pennsylvania
        State Police may recover from the county treasurer the cost
        of any such form, but may not charge more than $1 for each
        official permit form furnished to the county treasurer.
            (2)  Any person who sells or attempts to sell a
        sportsman's firearm permit for a fee in excess of that amount
        fixed under this subsection commits a summary offense.
        (d)  Revocation of registration.--Any registration of a
     firearm under subsection (c) of this section may be revoked by
     the county treasurer who issued it, upon written notice to the
     holder thereof.
        (e)  Definitions.--
            (1)  For purposes of subsection (b)(3), (4), (5), (7) and
        (8), the term "firearm" shall include any weapon which is
        designed to or may readily be converted to expel any
        projectile by the action of an explosive or the frame or
        receiver of the weapon.
            (2)  As used in this section, the phrase "place of
        instruction" shall include any hunting club, rifle club,
        rifle range, pistol range, shooting range, the premises of a
        licensed firearms dealer or a lawful gun show or meet.
     (Oct. 12, 1973, P.L.283, No.81, eff. June 6, 1973; July 8, 1986,
     P.L.442, No.93, eff. July 1, 1987; Dec. 19, 1988, P.L.1275,
     No.158, eff. 180 days; Nov. 22, 1995, P.L.621, No.66, eff. imd.;
     Apr. 22, 1997, P.L.73, No.5, eff. 60 days; Dec. 20, 2000,
     P.L.728, No.101, eff. 60 days; Nov. 10, 2005, P.L.335, No.66,
     eff. 180 days; Oct. 17, 2008, P.L.1628, No.131, eff. 60 days)

        2008 Amendment.  Act 131 added subsec. (b)(16).
        2005 Amendment.  Act 66 amended subsec. (b) and added subsec.
     (e).
        1997 Amendment.  Act 5 amended subsecs. (a) and (b).
        1988 Amendment.  Act 158 amended subsecs. (b)(4) and (c).
        Cross References.  Section 6106 is referred to in sections
     913, 6106.1, 6107, 6108, 6109, 6118, 6122 of this title; section
     6108 of Title 23 (Domestic Relations).