Baker supports extension to license to carry firearm permits

WILKES=BARRE — The Pennsylvania State Police Wednesday announced that Gov. Tom Wolf has granted an extension to license to carry firearms permits.

Permits expired on March 19, 2020, or later have been extended to May 30, 2020. The extension is necessary due to the closure of some county courthouses and sheriff’s offices, as well as other protective measures being taken to limit the spread of COVID-19.

In Pennsylvania, an individual 21-years-old or older may apply for a license to carry firearms by submitting a completed application to the sheriff of the county in which they reside or, if a resident of a city of the first class, with the chief of police of that city. The sheriff has 45 days to investigate and determine an individual’s eligibility to be issued a license, which is valid for five years.

A license to carry firearms is required to carry a firearm concealed on one’s person or in a vehicle. 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 commits a felony of the third degree.

Sen. Baker agrees

Following concerns expressed by county sheriffs and law-abiding gun owners, Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township, sent a letter to Gov. Wolf requesting that existing license to carry permits be extended until Pennsylvania’s state of emergency is lifted.

In the letter, Baker said there is wide recognition that decisive steps must be taken by state officials to try to contain the spread of coronavirus. At the same time, people are quickly realizing that broad restrictions adopted out of concern for public safety can create complications for individual needs and rights in unanticipated ways.

Baker said several local officials and residents had alerted her to such a complication arising from the closing of county courthouses.

“This presents a problem for the many Pennsylvanians who wish to renew their license to carry permits,” Baker wrote. “A few sheriffs have reportedly been able to arrange off-site processing, but the majority have not because of a variety of logistical difficulties born of health cautions.

Baker suggested extending existing LTC permits until the state of emergency is lifted, which would prevent law abiding permit holders from being arbitrarily stuck in unfortunate and unnecessary legal limbo.

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