Dear Friends,

Last week, the Judiciary Committee advanced four key bills designed to address the ongoing crisis of gun violence. For too long, this epidemic has chipped away at our freedoms and sense of safety. Whether at home, in places of worship, supermarkets, movie theaters, shopping malls, or most tragically, in our schools—no space feels truly safe.

Time and again, we have failed to come together as a society to enact even modest, commonsense reforms that could save lives. Meanwhile, many of our neighboring states—both red and blue—have adopted straightforward, effective measures that have demonstrably reduced gun deaths.

This week, the House took action by voting on four important pieces of legislation—House Bills 1099, 1859, 1866, and 1593—all of which passed through the Judiciary Committee. These bills are commonsense, lifesaving measures that will make a real difference in reducing gun violence in our communities.

I am proud to co-sponsor these bills, to have supported them in committee, and to have voted in favor of them on the House floor. Thoughts and prayers are not enough. It’s time for action—to protect our freedoms and, most importantly, our lives.

Metal detectors are designed to detect weapons containing metal by sensing their magnetic fields, which is why federal law currently requires all firearms to include a minimum amount of detectable metal. However, modern plastic materials and 3D-printing technology now allow for the creation of single-shot handguns that can bypass these detectors. Only full-body scanners, mostly found in airports, can reliably detect such plastic firearms. Even the Gun Owners of America admits that many current metal detectors can’t locate these weapons.

This growing threat highlights the importance of legislation like HB 1099, which seeks to ban ghost guns and undetectable firearms in Pennsylvania. Ghost guns—homemade, untraceable firearms without serial numbers—are often assembled from kits, individual parts, or created with 3D printers. They allow individuals to bypass background checks and avoid documentation, posing serious challenges for law enforcement and public safety. These weapons continue to be used in violent crimes across Pennsylvania and the nation.

While federal rules enacted in 2022 require background checks for kit purchases and mandate serial numbers on major components, significant gaps remain. Individuals can still purchase individual parts, such as frames or unfinished components, and build fully functional, untraceable firearms. HB 1099 aims to close those loopholes by requiring background checks for key gun parts and prohibiting the use of 3D printers to make entirely plastic, undetectable guns—unless the manufacturer is federally licensed.

Despite its importance, HB 1099 narrowly failed on the House floor by a vote of 101–102. Without action, Pennsylvania risks falling behind other states like Delaware, Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Washington, which already have protections in place to address undetectable and untraceable firearms.

House Bill 1859, another bill I co-sponsored, creates extreme risk protection orders (ERPO) to temporarily prohibit someone at substantial risk of suicide or causing death or serious bodily injury to another, from possessing a firearm. My colleague, Rep. O’Mara (D-Delaware), who is the prime sponsor of this bill, lost her father to suicide by firearm 22 years ago. His passing was a tragedy and legislation such as HB 1859 can work to prevent tragedies happening to other families.  As someone who previously did work in suicide prevention, I know that suicide is often a permanent solution to a short-term problem.  In fact, in one study 87% of people who used lethal means and survived said that they had decided to commit suicide less than 24 hours before their attempt.  Suicide prevention advocates cite means reduction as one of the most effective methods of preventing suicide and allow a potential suicide victim the time and space to get the help he or she needs to make a different choice.  According to the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, Pennsylvania recorded 1,807 gun-related deaths in 2023, with 1077, almost 60% of those being suicides. A CeaseFire report found that while 60% of gun deaths in Pennsylvania are suicides, that number rises to over 80% in 44 rural counties. More than two Pennsylvanians die by gun suicide every single day. This bill failed 101-102 on final passage.

House Bill 1866 targets the growing threat of illegal machine gun conversion devices—commonly known as "Glock switches" or "auto-sears"—which can turn a semi-automatic handgun into a fully automatic weapon capable of firing between 1200 and 1600 rounds per minute. Despite the nickname, these switches work with more than just Glock handguns.

These devices are alarmingly easy to obtain: they can be purchased online for as little as $20 or 3D printed at home. In 2023 alone, Pennsylvania law enforcement recovered nearly 150 of them. Twenty-six other states, including New York, Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware, have already banned these devices at the state level.

While federal law does prohibit machine gun conversion devices, enforcement is limited. As Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) noted when signing a similar ban into law, states need their own tools to empower local law enforcement and get these dangerous devices off the streets.

It’s important to understand that fully automatic firearms—like Uzis or MP5s—are already heavily regulated under federal law. To legally own one, a person must:

• Ensure the firearm was manufactured before 1986;
• File a lengthy application with the ATF;
• Undergo fingerprinting and a background check;
• Pay a special tax;
• Wait months (sometimes up to a year) for approval;
• And always carry federal paperwork with the firearm.

Violating these rules carries serious legal consequences. Ironically, gun enthusiasts often say it’s easier to get a federal firearms license to sell guns than it is to legally own a machine gun. Yet with a $20 switch, anyone can effectively hold an illegal machine gun in the palm of their hand—bypassing all regulation.

HB 1866 would add these machine gun conversion devices to Pennsylvania’s list of prohibited offensive weapons, giving local law enforcement clearer authority to prosecute possession and use of them. The bill’s sponsor Rep. Mandy Steele (D-Allegheny) noted in her impassioned floor speech, she introduced the bill in memory of a police chief from her district who was killed by a gun equipped with a switch.  Saliently, she asked “how can we say that we support police and then turn them out on the streets to face something like this, to face 900 bullets a minute? The answer is that you cannot.” 

Despite the urgency of the issue, HB 1866 narrowly failed in the House on a 101–102 vote.

Universal background checks are a common-sense measure that help keep firearms out of the hands of those who shouldn’t have them, and have been shown to reduce violent crime. States that require checks on all gun sales see homicide rates about 10% lower than states—like Pennsylvania—that don’t. House Bill 1593, which passed the House 104-99, aims to close a major loophole: under current law, only certain shorter or more compact firearms fall under the state’s sale/transfer rules, leaving many long guns exempt. HB?1593 would repeal that exemption (Title 18, §?6111(f)(2)), thereby extending background check requirements to all firearm sales, including private transfers. 

Expanded background checks help keep guns out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have them and keep the public safer. The facts remain clear: states with full checks see lower homicide rates, and support is broad of such measures is — 85% of gun owners agree such laws save lives, and over 70% of Americans favor universal checks. It’s time to turn that support, and the concrete step represented by HB?1593, into real change.

Gun violence costs the United States $280 billion every year — and the human cost is beyond measure. It is now the leading cause of death for children and teens, yet real action continues to be delayed. For three years in a row, there have been more mass shootings than days on the calendar. Still, we’re told, “now is not the time.” But thoughts and prayers won’t stop bullets. Without action, they mean nothing.

This crisis reaches far beyond major cities. Gun suicides, school shooting threats, and deadly violence are devastating rural communities and suburbs as well.  Victims of gun violence are not just numbers and statistics. They are our children, neighbors, teachers, and friends. If my colleagues won’t respond to the human toll, perhaps they’ll listen to the economic one. In 2022, over 200 CEOs called on the U.S. Senate to act, warning that gun violence costs employers $1.4 million each day in lost productivity and revenue. Ignoring this crisis isn’t “conservative” — it’s reckless, expensive, and morally indefensible.

We are not helpless. Americans are demanding change — safer schools, safer streets, and safer places of worship. The time to act is now. As I continue to advocate for you on matters of public safety, I would like to hear your feedback on how we can continue to legislate to prevent further gun violence.

Please note that multiple rail crossings will be repaired in Whitpain Township and the bordering municipalities by CSX Rail. This work will result in a full closure of the roadways listed below, around the clock, at each rail crossing. CSX will post detour signs in the area. Residents will have access to their property but will not be able to cross the closed railroad crossings. The schedule below is subject to change based on weather and CSX construction progress.

Week of October 5

•Township Line Road: Upper Gwynedd/Whitpain Border – Road closed at railroad crossing between N. Wales Road and Audubon Drive in Upper Gwynedd.

•Bean Road: Worcester Township – Road closed at railroad crossing between Whitehall Road and N. Wales Road.

Week of October 12

•Golf View Drive: Whitpain Township - Blue Bell Country Club – closed at railroad crossing.

•North Wales Road: Whitpain Township – Closed at railroad crossing between Yost Road and Skippack Pike.

Week of October 19

•Skippack Pike: Closed at railroad crossing between N. Wales Road and Route 202.

Week of October 26

•Township Line Road: East Norriton/Whitpain Border – closed at railroad crossing between N. Wales Road and Swede Road.

My office will be at the North Wales Area Library, Tuesday, October 7, from 11:30 AM-12:30 PM. FREE NOTARY services will be available at this mobile office.

Our 4th annual Family Resource Fair and Trunk or Treat is fast approaching! Join me along with Rep. Melissa Cerrato and Rep. Ben Sanchez at the Ambler YMCA on Saturday, October 25th, from 2:00-4:00 PM. Enjoy the fun trunks and treats, and learn about the various community organizations and services that can serve you!

To sign up for a trunk, please email: kcarson@pahouse.net. #trunkortreat

Mitzvah Circle had a fire at their location and as a result, lost a large number of new items meant for families in need. My office will serve as a collection site for Mitzvah Circle in collecting the items listed below. You can bring donations during my office hours of 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday to Friday. 

Best,

Pennsylvania State Capitol
121 Irvis Office Building

P.O. Box 202061
Harrisburg, PA 17120

(717) 783-4102

District Office

1098 West Skippack Pike

Blue Bell, PA 19422

(610) 277-3230