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Need General Info about open carry

Smoktya

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I just received my CCW license in the mail about a month ago. I did not know that open carrying was allowable, but i am very interested. If i have a CCW license, can i Open Carry or is this something totally different. i am a little confused and any help would be great, especially for where i can open carry
 

imperialism2024

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If you got a CCW license, then it's not issued by the state of Pennsylvania :D

It's a License to Carry Firearms, and makes no distinction between open and concealed carry. If you have a LTCF, you can carry anywhere in the state, open or concealed, except past the secure areas of courthouses and on Federal property. In some other areas, like casinos and state parks, carrying a firearm is a ticketable offense. But essentially, with your LTCF, you can carry openly wherever you can carry concealed.

Even if you didn't have a LTCF, you could openly carry under certain circumstances. A LTCF gives you the flexibility to carry concealed, open, or anywhere in between, and allows you to carry in cars, in Philadelphia, and within 1000 feet of K-12 school property (Federal law).

Also, "no guns" signs posted at businesses do not hold legal weight in Pennsylvania. But if you are asked to leave, whether because you're carrying a gun or for some other reason, and you refuse, you can be cited for trespass.


More information and citations at http://www.paopencarry.org/
 

Smoktya

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thanks for clearing that up. My friend got me into guns about a year ago and i have been stuck on them ever since. i currently have a Beretta Px4 storm. 40cal s&w and sometimes it is hard to conceal. He is all about concealment and i thought that it what my license was for, but like you said, it says License to Carry Firearms on my card. So to sum things up, i can carry thisgun basically anywhere (except where you said not too and i have read up about those areas), open or concealed. this makes me very happy.





Thank you and by the way, i live in Salisbury Township. it is neat talking to someone so close.
 

Farmer Troy

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I'm surprised you got your LTCF in the mail.

In Allegheny County, I had to pick it up in person, very inconvienient to have to go into Pittsburgh twice, once to renew, and once to pick it up (plus pay for parking).

In the old days you only had to go in once, since it was issued on the spot.
 

Tucker6900

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Hello from MI here!

Let me try and get this right. If I were to travel to PA, which I plan on doing in the near future, will my Michigan CPL carry over to PA? And if so, will I also be allowed to open carry? Or do I need to keep it concealed? Thanks for the info!
 

Statkowski

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Pennsylvania honors your Michigan CPL, so you'll be able to Concealed Carry if you desire. You'll also be able to transport your loaded handgun in your car. In Pennsylvania, there is no obligation to inform a police officer you're carrying if stopped.

Yes, you can also Open Carry. Anyone can, as long as they're not a Prohibited Person. It's not limited to Pennsylvania citizens only, 14th Amendment and all that stuff.
 

imperialism2024

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Statkowski wrote:
Pennsylvania honors your Michigan CPL, so you'll be able to Concealed Carry if you desire. You'll also be able to transport your loaded handgun in your car. In Pennsylvania, there is no obligation to inform a police officer you're carrying if stopped.

Yes, you can also Open Carry. Anyone can, as long as they're not a Prohibited Person. It's not limited to Pennsylvania citizens only, 14th Amendment and all that stuff.
Correct, but also remember that your Michigan CPL is not recognized as valid for carrying within 1000 feet of school property in any state except Michigan:

(A) It shall be unlawful for any individual knowingly to possess a firearm that has moved in or that otherwise affects interstate or foreign commerce at a place that the individual knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is a school zone.

(B) Subparagraph (A) does not apply to the possession of a firearm—
(i) on private property not part of school grounds;
(ii) if the individual possessing the firearm is licensed to do so by the State in which the school zone is located or a political subdivision of the State, and the law of the State or political subdivision requires that, before an individual obtains such a license, the law enforcement authorities of the State or political subdivision verify that the individual is qualified under law to receive the license;
(iii) that is—
(I) not loaded; and
(II) in a locked container, or a locked firearms rack that is on a motor vehicle;
(iv) by an individual for use in a program approved by a school in the school zone;
(v) by an individual in accordance with a contract entered into between a school in the school zone and the individual or an employer of the individual;
(vi) by a law enforcement officer acting in his or her official capacity; or
(vii) that is unloaded and is possessed by an individual while traversing school premises for the purpose of gaining access to public or private lands open to hunting, if the entry on school premises is authorized by school authorities.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/922(q).html
[My emphasis]

*Edited to correct formatting
 

imperialism2024

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Statkowski wrote:
Ah, yes, I forgot, thedreaded 1,000-foot school zone federal law for which no person has ever been prosecuted since the Supreme Court overturned it the first time around.

Is this really a problem in Pennsylvania, or anywhere?
I just figured I'd point it out... I'm not even sure local LE can enforce the law, but it seems useful to point out as a "just in case".
 

Tucker6900

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Sweet! Thanks for the information gentlemen. I'll be heading to visit my dad in Quakertown in a few weeks. Ive never been to PA, but I hear its a beautiful state. Thanks again!
 
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guys I can tell you that if you have a valid permit from ANY state that no LEO is going to give you a hard time for carrying. I know that the AG has reciprocitywith certain states but we are trained that if the person has a valid out of state license to carry then don't bother them because they are legal.

That is just my 2 cents worth and in no way am I saying if PA doesn't show the state as reciprocating with us then do it anyway, I am just telling you what we are taught. You could be from SC (who doesn't reciprocate with PA) and it wont be a problem unless you are being a problem or you don't have a valid license. PA is very lenient on that.

Thats just my two cents worth and in NO way am trying to say "hey he said we can carry here even though my state doesn't reciprocate", just telling you what we are taught, that if you carry any states VALID license to carry then they are ok.
 

Statkowski

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Even with a PA LTCF we get a "hard time" for carrying.
Correction to the preceding: Some people might get a "hard time" for [open] carrying.

To date I've had no problems whatsoever: Indiana Wal-Mart & First Commonwealth Bank main branch, Northern Cambria Giant Eagle, Johnstown Amtrak station, borough council meetings, etc.
 
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