Burns casts deciding vote against bill that threatened Second Amendment rights
Fourth vote in two days that Cambria Democrat defied party leadership on guns
Rep. Frank Burns October 1, 2025 | 4:22 PM
HARRISBURG, Oct. 1 — For the fourth time in two days, state Rep. Frank Burns defied his party leaders on guns, today casting the deciding vote to defeat another bill that would weaken the Second Amendment rights of Pennsylvanians.
As was the case on two critical gun votes yesterday, Burns today was the only House Democrat to vote against H.B. 1866, which sought to ban devices that convert semi-automatic firearms to automatic. It was defeated 102-101—which wouldn’t have happened without Burns’ vote—and the complete roll call is available here: H.B. 1866 Roll Call.
Burns, D-Cambria, said his overarching concern is that any successful dilution of Second Amendment rights will inevitably lead to attempts at further dilution, with the ultimate goal being serious and far-reaching gun control.
Burns also said that it is folly for Pennsylvania to pass feel-good but ineffective gun laws.
“With criminals, the gun that they’re using in many cases is in itself illegal—it’s stolen, or they’re not allowed to possess it in the first place,” Burns said. “So, they’re not going to worry one bit about whether a bump stock is legal or not.
“In Cambria County, we know that unnecessary gun laws only hurt law-abiding gun owners, not the real criminals,” Burns added. “I’ll continue to do what I think is right, no matter what my party leaders want me to do, and vote against any bill that threatens the Second Amendment—which I’ve done my entire career.”
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“I’ll continue to do what I think is right, no matter what my party leaders want me to do, and vote against any bill that threatens the Second Amendment – which I’ve done my entire career.” – Rep. Frank Burns
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Burns further said, “I sincerely hope that the out-of-area rabblerousers who have unjustifiably put me in their sights for Second Amendment criticism are paying attention to these votes. Because where the rubber meets the road in Harrisburg, there’s no stronger supporter of Second Amendment rights than me.”
Burns’ vote against H.B. 1866 came one day after he voted against three other gun-control bills, effectively defeating two of them because they lost by only one vote. Those were H.B. 1859, which sought to create a so-called “red flag” law, and H.B. 1099, which would have prohibited firearms made of nonmetal substances.
Burns also voted against H.B. 1593, which would expand background checks for purchases of long guns, but that bill passed solely due to “yes” votes from five Republicans, and now moves to the Senate.
Residents can see Burns’ votes on those three bills here: HB 1859 Roll Call; HB 1099 Roll Call; HB 1593 Roll Call.