Democrat Tom Wolf Vetoes Constitutional Carry for Pennsylvania

AWR HawkinsDecember 3, 2021

Gov. Tom Wolf (D) vetoed legislation Thursday that would have removed the state’s requirement that law-abiding Pennsylvanians get a permit before carrying a gun for self-defense.

On November 17, 2021, Breitbart News reported that legislation to make Pennsylvania the 22nd constitutional carry state was headed to Wolf’s desk.

Wolf’s opposition to the legislation was well known, and NBC Philadelphia noted that he vetoed constitutional carry on Thursday.

He called the bill “dangerous,” adding, “This legislation, which eliminates the requirement for individuals to obtain a license before carrying a concealed firearm, will only exacerbate gun violence and jeopardize the safety of all Pennsylvanians.”

PennLive pointed out that constitutional carry sponsor Sen. Cris Dush (R-Jefferson County) countered Wolf’s claim, saying, “No criminal has ever said, ‘I want to go commit assault and murder – but I have to wait for my license to carry to come in.’”

A person has his fingerprints taken as part of a Utah concealed gun carry permit class, at Range Master of Utah, on January 9, 2016, in Springville, Utah. Utah’s permits, available for a fee to non-residents who meet certain requirements, are among the most popular in the country because they are recognized in more than 30 states. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)

The 21 states in which constitutional carry is the law of the land are: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

AWR Hawkins is an award-winning Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and the writer/curator of Down Range with AWR Hawkins, a weekly newsletter focused on all things Second Amendment, also for Breitbart News. He is the political analyst for Armed American Radio and a Turning Point USA Ambassador. Follow him on Instagram: @awr_hawkins. Reach him at [email protected]. You can sign up to get Down Range at breitbart.com/downrange.