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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2025 - 2026
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 2, 2024 09:25 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Art Haywood and Sen. John I. Kane |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Requiring Background Checks to Purchase Ammunition |
| In the near future, we plan to introduce legislation that would require the Pennsylvania State Police to conduct a background check on any individual who wishes to purchase ammunition. Although Pennsylvania law bars an individual with a felony record from purchasing firearms or ammunition, the Commonwealth does not regulate the sale or purchase of bullets. Unlike in the purchase of firearms, background checks are not required for people to buy ammunition, resulting in devastating consequences for our communities. These consequences were made apparent during the September 2022 murder of 14-year-old Nicolas Elizalde as he left football practice at Roxborough High School. Four other teens were shot in the ambush but survived. According to police, the shooter simply walked into a Philadelphia gun shop and bought the ammo used in the shooting, despite being a convicted felon. Our legislation builds on protections that already exist within law by requiring their proper enforcement. Please join us in co-sponsoring this legislation to ensure Pennsylvania law is going far enough to prevent bullets from getting in the hands of those who should not be able to purchase them. |