Jun 13, 2022 - News

Charted: How Pennsylvania gun laws compare

Data: Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence; Cartogram: Jacque Schrag/Axios

Protesters marched through West Philadelphia on Saturday as part of a nationwide push for action to prevent gun violence, coordinated by March for Our Lives.

State of play: Pennsylvania's minimum age to buy and possess handguns and long guns — 18 — is mostly in line with surrounding states.

  • The minimum age to purchase and possess handguns is 21 in New Jersey, while 18-year-olds can buy and have long guns.
  • And in Delaware, a juvenile can possess a handgun and there's no age limit for possessing a long gun.

The big picture: In the wake of several mass shootings in recent weeks, Congress and some state legislatures are weighing new gun control legislation.

  • Yes, but: Pennsylvania's Republican-controlled House of Representatives has resisted attempts by Democratic lawmakers to put in place new firearm legislation for years.

Zoom in: Philly is unable to enact its own gun laws, per state law.

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