HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – A package of firearm bills advanced in Pennsylvania’s House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday with Democrats controlling the show.

One bill would ban 3D-printed guns, another would ban ghost guns, and a third would ban bump stocks.

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This Week in Pennsylvania

“Devices that convert a gun to what is essentially an automatic machine gun and have caused countless and innumerable deaths and injuries in the United States,” said State Rep. Ben Sanchez (D-Montgomery).

Another bill bans assault weapons, which are difficult to define, let alone legislate.

“The type of rifles that are described here are the most popular weapon in my county and have been for a long time,” said Republican Representative Paul Schemel (Franklin).

The bills passed on partisan lines, with all Democrats voting yes and every Republican voting no.

When Rob Kauffman was Majority Chair he refused to bring gun control measures up for a vote and says Democrats are targeting votes.

“That is the politics of an election year, of talking about gun control, all the hot button issues that they think moves a certain number of electors,” said Kauffman (R-Franklin).

Gun rights advocates were at the hearing and insisted more laws only inconvenience law-abiding gun owners because criminals disobey them anyway.

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“We Second Amendment supporters, we don’t like the, you know, the violent criminals on the streets. But for us, the Second Amendment is a check and balance on government,” said Chris Dorr, the Executive Director of the PA Firearms Association. “We think we know that killer criminals are bad, but killer governments are far worse.”

In a statement, Senate Republican Leader Joe Pittman said the public safety focus should be on mental health initiatives and argues current laws are robust enough, just not enforced enough.

“Measures to increase safety and security are of chief importance to the Senate Republican Caucus,” said Pittman. “We remain steadfast in our ongoing support of law enforcement, leadership of school safety initiatives, and examination of ways to provide greater mental and behavioral health support to help protect our communities. Pennsylvania currently has robust laws in place pertaining to guns, which must be enforced in every corner of our commonwealth.”

Judiciary Chair Tim Briggs (D) said lawmakers will not stop discussing gun legislation solely because another party is blocking efforts.

“We’re going to keep having the conversation and try to find that sweet spot to get something done,” he said.

It’s unclear when the bills will go to the full House, which doesn’t return until mid-March.

Adam Garber, CeaseFirePA’s executive director, issued the following statement after the bills advanced.

“This is what it looks like to tackle the violent crime that plagues cities from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh and everywhere else in between. The PA House Judiciary Committee, led by Chairman Briggs, has again demonstrated its commitment to survivors and responding to the data by passing a package of life-saving bills targeting crime guns. If you cried when a kid lost their life in an unintentional shooting, watched in horror after Lewiston or Uvalde, or were stunned to learn of another deadly act in your community, your voice is needed right now–contact your State Representative today.”

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