In a statement to the PA Legislature regarding his veto of PA constitutional carry bill, SB 565, Governor Wolf said the following:
“This legislation removes the requirement that an individual obtain a license, and with it, the ability of law enforcement to conduct a background investigation. Removal of the licensing background investigation will hinder the ability of law enforcement to prevent individuals who should not be able to carry a firearm concealed from doing so. Domestic abusers and other dangerous criminals should not have the ability to carry hidden weapons in our communities.
“In states without concealed carry licenses, there is an 11 percent higher rate of homicide than those states who require a license. The Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association and the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association both oppose this legislation and there are no law enforcement organizations in Pennsylvania that support this bill. I stand with them, domestic abuse survivors and advocates, responsible gun owners, and victims of gun violence who have expressed their opposition to this dangerous bill.
This veto is not a move to restrict rights of lawful gun owners, as they can still conceal carry when they apply for a permit and successfully pass a background check. So far in 2021, nearly 360,000 license-to-carry background checks were completed and nearly 11,000 were denied. This is a veto against harmful legislation that puts public safety at risk across the commonwealth.”
While claiming his veto would not restrict the rights of law-abiding gun owners who can still seek permission to carry a firearm using the state permitting process, he rambled off a gun control wishlist he claimed would actually address gun violence. His list included ERPO’s, (red flag laws) storage requirements, theft reporting requirements, among others, that do nothing to stop crime but instead infringe on the rights of law-abiding citizens.
There are not enough votes to overturn the veto.
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