Bill > SB47

This bill amends Pennsylvania's firearm sale and transfer laws to expand criminal and civil liability for licensed firearms dealers and manufacturers. Specifically, the bill modifies existing statutes to remove the current language requiring a dealer to have "reason to believe" a firearm will be used in a crime, and instead establishes that any person who knowingly and intentionally sells a firearm in violation of state law will be criminally liable for any crime or attempted crime in which that firearm is used. Additionally, the bill stipulates that such dealers will be civilly liable for the full amount of injuries suffered by victims in crimes involving the illegally transferred firearm. This change effectively broadens the legal accountability for firearms dealers by removing the previous "reason to believe" standard and creating more direct responsibility for potential criminal misuse of firearms they sell. The bill will take effect 60 days after its enactment, providing a short transition period for firearms dealers to understand and comply with the new legal requirements.