Philadelphia to Begin Enforcing Law Requiring the Reporting of Lost Firearms

Mayor Nutter and City Counsel plan to announce that enforcement of a controversial gun law will begin in early August of 2008. The law, which requires gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms within 24-hours of discovering their disappearance, was one of a bundle of five laws signed by Mayor Nutter in April. Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Jane Cutler Greenspan struck down two of the laws, citing them as unconstitutional, however ruled that groups such as the NRA, local gun-owners, and other plaintiffs, had no standing to challenge the remaining three, which included the requirement to report lost or stolen firearms.

The remaining three laws will not only require the reporting of lost and stolen firearms within 24-hours, but also establish criminal penalties for the failure to do so and restrict gun ownership from unstable individuals or those subject to an order of protection. Judge Greenspan’s ruling, which struck down two of the five laws, is currently being appealed in Commonwealth Court. Meanwhile, the NRA has threatened to seek an immediate injunction if the City of Philadelphia begins enforcing the reporting law.

It is expected that the final decision regarding Philadelphia’s gun laws will be made by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Recently, the United States Supreme Court struck down a handgun-ban in Washington D.C.; however Mayor Nutter believes that the Supreme Court’s decision still leaves some room in its opinion for local regulation of handguns.

With gun laws ever changing both locally and nationally, it is extremely important to seek the expertise of an experienced criminal defense attorney when charged with a gun-related offense. An experienced criminal defense attorney has the skill to interpret the changing laws and develop the best available defense to your charges. If you have been charged with a gun-related offense, contact the Law Offices of Marc Neff immediately.