Pennsylvania Attorney General joins multistate effort to support gun sale regulations

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) — Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry has joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general in support of state and federal regulations that govern gun sales, arguing that these laws are critical for public safety.

The coalition, led by New York, filed an amicus brief Thursday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in the case U.S. v. Steven Perez . The brief supports federal laws that prohibition individuals from transporting or receiving firearms from outside their state of residence, stressing that these regulations help prevent illegal gun and reduce violent crime.

“Preventing guns from crossing state lines—except when federally allowed—will keep guns from getting into the wrong hands through unlawful transfers like straw purchases,” Henry said. “My office will continue our efforts to combat gun violence by exposing and holding bad actors culpable for violating the laws.”

The case involves Steven Perez, who was convicted in New York after receiving illegally purchased weapons from an unlicensed firearms dealer in South Carolina. Perez is appealing his conviction, arguing that it violates his Second Amendment rights.

The attorneys general argue that regulations on gun transport do not infringe on constitutional rights but instead enhance state gun laws and assist law enforcement. They cite the importance of laws that require licensed firearms dealers to maintain detailed records, which are instrumental in investigating gun-related crimes.

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The amicus brief was joined by the attorney general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

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