READ FIRST: Where you CAN and CANNOT Carry weapons in the State of Pennsylvania

[shefearsnothing]

Quote:
Originally Posted by LittleRedToyota
however, also notice that subsection (c) says it shall be a defense that the weapon is possessed for a lawful purpose.

legally carrying for self-defense is a lawful purpose.

I would not bet my house and freedom on that defense.

With all the violence and shootings in schools these days I don't know why not. It's sad but true.... remember the Amish schoolhouse shootings?

[knight0334]

Notice to everyone...

I'm gonna rewrite the info post of mine and refine/simplify things in the next couple days.

[recon]

Good site also!
http://opencarry.org/maps.html

[andrewjs18]

Originally Posted by knight0334

.

Folks with a PA LTCF would be exempt from the federal law within 1000ft of a school in PA. Those carrying under reciprocal agreement with a license from another state would NOT be exempt under the federal law.

PA's own law has a provision for other lawful purposes - but even PA LTCF persons risk arrest yet.

I didn't see this, but with that being said, are you able to go inside the school/college with your gun being holstered open or concealed?

[Statkowski]

"School" is defined as K-12. College is not mentioned in the law, so it's not illegal to carry there. It might violate their policies, but it's not illegal.

As previously mentioned, and will be again in the future, to date no LTCF carrier has ever been cited for carrying a firearm on school grounds. No district attorney wants to take something like that to court. Disorderly conduct, maybe (which would probably get thrown out). If discovered, you will be escorted off the school property most likely.

Of course, concealed means concealed.

[knight0334]

Originally Posted by andrewjs18

I didn't see this, but with that being said, are you able to go inside the school/college with your gun being holstered open or concealed?

As Statkowski mentioned..

I'd like to add also, when it comes to PA's off-limits places, our law doesn't distinguish between open or concealed. ..Just that the carrying of the firearm is prohibited.

For places that have their own private rules about carrying - carrying concealed is highly suggested to avoid any issues.

[Archiver]

This thread is more confusing than ANY that came before it. Several times our resident cop "Steve in PA" answered many questions from his LEO point of view with an in depth explanation of State Park Carry being only a summonable offense, which is just a fine and not a criminal offense and cant affect your LTCF. He touched on the lawful purpose school defense briefly as well.

People seem to be getting VERY confused in this giant thread....it was WAY better when you just did a search for "school carry" or " state park" carry rather than an incomprehensible promising all inclusive but in reality practically useless 14 page thread.

[knight0334]

Originally Posted by Archiver

This thread is more confusing than ANY that came before it. Several times our resident cop "Steve in PA" answered many questions from his LEO point of view with an in depth explanation of State Park Carry being only a summonable offense, which is just a fine and not a criminal offense and cant affect your LTCF. He touched on the lawful purpose school defense briefly as well.

People seem to be getting VERY confused in this giant thread....it was WAY better when you just did a search for "school carry" or " state park" carry rather than an incomprehensible promising all inclusive but in reality practically useless 14 page thread.

Thats why you ignore every post after #1. Post #1 has the correct data in it, and Jaybell made instructions on the first page that this thread is not to be a discussion thread.

[LittleRedToyota]

i actually think it is good to read the entire thread as a few of these issues are not actually cut-and-dried as they have never been tested in court...like the "other lawful purposes" defense to carrying in schools.

i agree that it does actually make CCing in schools with an LTCF legal, but several knowledgeable lawyers have opined that they wouldn't want to bet their houses on it in court.

(and, though, it has apparently never been directly tested, someone once posted a letter they got from their state representative quoting a PA judge opining as a side note in a case that CCing with an LTCF does not satisfy the condititon of *other* lawful purpose...basically, that judge interpretted "other lawful purpose" as meaning a "lawful purpose besides just lawfully carrying the gun". BS, imho, but the courts have been known to make BS rulings before)

it is good to know that something like the "other lawful pruposes" defense may not actually be as cut-and-dried in court as it is in the letter of the law. you only get that by reading these types of discussions.

so, imho, it is good to read the entire thread and end up a bit unsure...because, in some cases, you really cannot be sure.

just my 2 cents.

[knight0334]

We can say the same about "No Guns" type signs too. People get cited for trespassing on grounds marked "No Trucks" for parking a truck, for making turns from the lands marked "No Turns", for hunting on or using to gain access to other lands for purposes other than fishing on lands marked "Fishing Access Only", etc, just for violating the will of the property owner.

But to give advice on things that are not solid like the school thing without concrete law or caselaw(Supreme Court) - you must side to the more restrictive language of the matter.

So long as there is one 12 person jury or 1 judge so incline, which without a doubt there is - you can and most likely be found guilty of a crime while carrying on school grounds even with a license. Even with case law backing you can still be tried and found guilty of a crime as a challenge to prior rulings. That is why the info in the tips part of this thread is worded as it is.

The wording of PA is not that difficult to understand, the hardest part was finding the laws/regs until lately.

Hell, I'm still discovering "off-limits" places within the PACodes. ...like daycares - yep, theres a regulation about firearms in daycares too. However I'm still researching to see if it only applies as a professional standard(the business and employees) or to all.