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Pa. attorney general closes 'Florida loophole' on concealed-gun permits
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HARRISBURG -- Pennsylvania residents soon will not be allowed to hold concealed-carry gun permits from the state of Florida, after a revised agreement announced today by Attorney General Kathleen Kane.
The move closes the so-called "Florida Loophole," through which Pennsylvanians who were denied a concealed-carry permit here or had their in-state permit revoked could apply for one from the state of Florida.
Under an updated reciprocity agreement with Florida officials, Pennsylvanians with a Florida permit will have 120 days to obtain a concealed-carry permit from Pennsylvania. Permits held by Florida residents or those with residency in both states will still be recognized as long as the permit-holder is carrying proof of their residency.
The state attorney general's office said there are approximately 4,000 Pennsylvanians who currently have a Florida permit.
"Closing this loophole shows that it is possible to swiftly implement common sense gun safety measures that protect our streets," Ms. Kane said in a statement. "This is my administration's first official step, but it certainly will not be our last."
Gun-control advocates cheered the change as a common-sense step toward ensuring that local law enforcement officials determine who is eligible to carry a concealed weapon here.
"We wanted to make sure that people could not evade Pennsylvania standards," said Shira Goodman, executive director for CeaseFirePA. "It only affects people who are not law-abiding or are concerned that they will not pass the guidelines."
First Published February 8, 2013 2:35 pm
