On September 14, 2023, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania heard arguments from the legal counsel advocating for the city of Philadelphia about if the city government has the power to pass its own gun control laws.
On that day, justices didn’t issue a decision on the matter but plans on doing so in the forthcoming weeks.
The plaintiffs contended that the state’s preemption law, which bars cities from passing local gun control measures, deprives Philadelphians of their right to life and liberty by allegedly subjecting them to gun violence.
Pennsylvania initially passed its preemption law back in 1974. State judges have used that law to stymie the city of Philadelphia’s efforts to implement local gun control measures which include:
“When individuals are afraid to leave their home, children are afraid to go to the bus stop