Has Pennsylvania Come Up With the Dumbest Gun Law Yet?

Published on May 9, 2023
Duration: 7:01

William Kirk of Washington Gun Law analyzes Pennsylvania House Bill 586, a proposed law mandating serial numbers on all ammunition sold in the state. The bill requires manufacturers to engrave each round and its casing with a unique serial number, and the ammunition box to be labeled accordingly. Kirk argues this law is "amazingly stupid" due to potential manufacturing costs, data tracking implications that may violate the Firearm Owners Protection Act, and the burden it places on gun owners to dispose of pre-existing ammunition by a deadline.

Quick Summary

Pennsylvania House Bill 586 proposes mandatory serial numbers on all ammunition, including the bullet base and casing, with a 5-cent per-round tax for tracking. Critics, like William Kirk of Washington Gun Law, deem it 'amazingly stupid' due to high manufacturing costs, potential violations of the Firearm Owners Protection Act, and the burden of disposing of existing ammunition by January 1, 2024.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: Proposed Gun Laws & PA's HB 586
  2. 01:50Details of Pennsylvania House Bill 586: Ammunition Serialization
  3. 02:39Bill 586 Excerpt: Encoded Ammunition Requirements
  4. 03:03Specific Encoding: Bullet, Casing, and Box Labeling
  5. 03:39Manufacturer Considerations & Ammunition Disposal Deadline
  6. 04:51Cost Analysis: 5-Cent Tax & Data Tracking Concerns
  7. 05:15Pennsylvania's 'Dumb' Gun Law Assessment
  8. 05:24Microstamping Comparison & Production Costs
  9. 06:09Conclusion: HB 586 Status & Call to Stay Informed

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Pennsylvania House Bill 586?

Pennsylvania House Bill 586 is a proposed law that would require all ammunition sold in the state to be engraved with an individual serial number on the bullet base and inside the cartridge casing. The bill also mandates a 5-cent per-round tax to fund a database for tracking ammunition sales.

What are the main concerns with Pennsylvania's HB 586?

Critics argue that HB 586 is 'amazingly stupid' due to potentially prohibitive manufacturing costs, the risk of violating the Firearm Owners Protection Act through data tracking, and the burden placed on gun owners to dispose of existing ammunition by a deadline.

What are the serialization requirements for ammunition under HB 586?

Under HB 586, each round of ammunition must have its bullet base and inside cartridge casing encoded with a unique serial number. This encoding must be done in a way that allows identification after discharge. The ammunition box must also be labeled with the manufacturer and serial number.

When must owners dispose of un-serialized ammunition under HB 586?

If Pennsylvania House Bill 586 is enacted, owners of ammunition that is not serialized by the manufacturer would be required to dispose of it on or before January 1, 2024.

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