How strict are gun laws in Pennsylvania?
Permissive
State law requires or includes a permit for concealed carry and background checks on private sales.
Pennsylvania is classified “Permissive” for civilian gun ownership, as are 30 of the other 49 states and the District of Columbia. For the United States as a whole, the classification is “Varies by region”.
Source
- Last checked
- 17 September 2026
- How it was classified
- Read from the source’s state-by-state coverage; the topic is published only once hand-verified reference states match it.
Across the United States
- Permissive 31 states, including Pennsylvania.
- Licensed / moderate 7 states.
- Restrictive 4 states.
- Highly restrictive / banned 8 states and the District of Columbia.
Nearby states
- New Jersey
- Highly restrictive / banned State law requires or includes a permit to purchase, firearm registration, an assault weapons ban, magazine capacity limits, a permit for concealed carry, background checks on private sales and a red flag law.
- New York
- Highly restrictive / banned State law requires or includes a permit to purchase, firearm registration, an assault weapons ban, magazine capacity limits, an owner licence, a permit for concealed carry, background checks on private sales and a red flag law.
- Delaware
- Restrictive State law requires or includes a permit to purchase, an assault weapons ban, magazine capacity limits, a permit for concealed carry, background checks on private sales and a red flag law.
- District of Columbia
- Highly restrictive / banned State law requires or includes a permit to purchase, firearm registration, an assault weapons ban, magazine capacity limits, an owner licence, a permit for concealed carry, background checks on private sales, a red flag law and a waiting period.
- Maryland
- Highly restrictive / banned State law requires or includes a permit to purchase, firearm registration, an assault weapons ban, magazine capacity limits, a permit for concealed carry, background checks on private sales and a red flag law.
- Connecticut
- Restrictive State law requires or includes a permit to purchase, firearm registration (partial), an assault weapons ban, magazine capacity limits, a permit for concealed carry, background checks on private sales and a red flag law.
Other laws in Pennsylvania
- Abortion
- Legal on request
- Euthanasia
- Illegal
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Marriage legal
- Age of Consent
- 16–17
- Sex Work
- Illegal
- Death Penalty
- Not used in practice
- Cannabis
- Legal (Medical)
Civilian gun ownership in the United States → · How strict are gun laws around the world? →
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.