A constitutional carry bill that would eliminate Pennsylvania’s concealed firearm permit requirement cleared the state Senate Judiciary Committee on May 6, advancing to the full Senate as supporters press for a floor vote.
Senate Bill 357 would allow lawful Pennsylvania gun owners to carry a concealed firearm without obtaining a License to Carry Firearms (LTCF) or paying the associated fee. The bill keeps the LTCF available as an optional license for residents who want reciprocity when traveling to states that require a permit. It does not change who is legally prohibited from possessing firearms under existing state and federal law.
The committee approved the measure on a 9-5 vote. The bill received first consideration the same day, but has not yet been scheduled for a full Senate vote.
If enacted, Pennsylvania would become the 30th state to allow permitless carry, joining a list that has grown rapidly over the past decade as more state legislatures have rolled back permit requirements following the 2022 Bruen decision.
Supporters press for floor vote
Gun Owners of America, which is lobbying for the bill, told members in a news release that the current permit system amounts to a tax on a constitutional right.
“For too long, the anti-gun elite in Harrisburg have forced law-abiding gun owners to pay a ‘permission tax’ just to exercise their right to defend themselves, and it is a clear infringement on our constitutionally protected rights,” GOA wrote. “Currently, 29 states have already embraced permit-less carry and have seen their citizens become safer and freer. It is time for Pennsylvania to join its ranks by passing SB 357 without delay.”
Pennsylvania Gun Rights distributed a member alert the same week, encouraging gun owners to contact senators and sign a petition supporting the measure.
“Law-abiding gun owners should not have to beg for government permission or pay outrageous fees to exercise their Second Amendment rights,” the alert stated. “With 29 states already recognizing Constitutional Carry as law of the land, it’s long past time for Pennsylvania to become the 30th Constitutional Carry State.”
Opposition lines up
The Pennsylvania House, controlled by Democrats, is widely viewed as the steeper climb for the bill even if it clears the Senate. Governor Josh Shapiro, also a Democrat, has previously expressed support for stricter gun regulations and would be expected to veto a constitutional carry bill if it reached his desk.
What’s next
The bill awaits a full Senate vote, with no date set. If it passes the Senate, it would move to the House, where it faces longer odds. A separate pro-gun measure, Senate Bill 822, is also under consideration in the state Senate. That bill would strengthen Pennsylvania’s firearms preemption law by establishing that the General Assembly occupies the entire field of firearm regulation in the state — a measure aimed at preventing local jurisdictions from passing gun ordinances that exceed state law.
