Rep. Ryan Warner (R-Fayette) voted against four gun control bills considered in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives this week, citing concerns about constitutionality and effectiveness.
“These bills are unconstitutional and unnecessary. They will do NOTHING to stop gun violence in our Commonwealth,” Warner said. “If our Democrat colleagues were serious about stopping illegal guns, they’d be helping to fight against illegal immigration – a significant source of those illegal weapons.”
Warner also questioned the logic behind restricting legal gun owners’ rights as a means to improve public safety. “The same people who want to go after legal gun owners because criminals use guns to commit crimes are also out there advocating for policies to make it easier for people with violent felony records to get out of prison and back on our streets and in our communities,” he said. “These policies present a far, far greater risk to our citizens.”
Of the four bills up for vote, three did not pass: House Bill 1859 (the Red Flag law), which would have allowed confiscation of firearms without due process; House Bill 1099, aimed at limiting materials used in firearm construction; and House Bill 1866, which proposed banning machine gun conversion devices.
The chamber passed only one measure—House Bill 1593—which would expand background check requirements to include private sales of long guns. Warner expressed disappointment at its passage but suggested it may not advance further: “While I am disappointed in the passage of this bill, it is unlikely it will be considered in the Senate,” Warner concluded.
A video featuring Rep. Warner discussing these bills is available on his website.
