Pennsylvania House passes bill to allow permitless concealed gun carry

A bill to allow people to carry concealed weapons without a permit was passed by a divided Pennsylvania House on Tuesday, but it faces a veto threat from the governor.

The parties were split in the vote, as occurred in the state Senate last week, with Republicans mostly supporting it and Democrats mostly opposed.

Supporters said getting concealed carry permits under current law can be subject to the whims of county sheriffs and that concealed carry permit holders can forget when their licenses expire and therefore unknowingly violate the law.

Opponents pointed out the proposal is unlikely to be enacted, as Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s office said he will veto the legislation, and argued the bill would make people less safe by making guns more readily accessible.