Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-33)
The right to bear arms is not just another issue up for political debate. It is a cornerstone of American freedom, a shield against tyranny and a fundamental protection for every law-abiding citizen.
From the battlefields of the American Revolution to the homes of modern-day Americans defending their families, this right has stood as a pillar of the right to self-defense, self-preservation and liberty.
That is why I am proud to re-introduce the Pennsylvania Right to Bear Arms Act – a bill that would prohibit the enforcement of any new federal restrictions, prohibitions or registration requirements on firearms, magazines and ammunition in the commonwealth. This legislation would also prevent state or local resources from being used to enforce unconstitutional federal mandates that infringe upon Pennsylvanians’ rights.
We are standing in the footsteps of history, protecting a right that predates even the United States Constitution itself.
Pennsylvania was the first defender of the right to bear arms.
Long before the Second Amendment was ratified in December 1791, Pennsylvania had already enshrined the right to bear arms in its own constitution – twice. This was no accident. Pennsylvanians understood that free people must always be capable of defending themselves from threats, both foreign and domestic.
The Pennsylvania Constitution states unequivocally: “The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.”
The Founding Fathers made it clear that this right was essential to the preservation of a free republic. James Madison, in the Federalist Papers, noted that the American people’s ability to bear arms was the ultimate safeguard against tyranny.
These weren’t just theoretical concerns in the 18th century. They remain just as urgent today.
The threat to our Second Amendment rights is growing.
Make no mistake: the right to bear arms is under attack. Across the nations, politicians are pushing for restrictive firearm policies that would make law-abiding gun owners criminals overnight.
Former President Joe Biden called for bans on commonly owned firearms. New York and California have already implemented draconian restrictions, infringing upon their citizens’ Second Amendment rights. Gun registration databases are being proposed, threatening to turn a constitutional right into a government privilege.
The Pennsylvania Right to Bear Arms Act would ensure that the commonwealth will bow to federal overreach by enforcing federal gun control measures within our state.
Gun control advocates love to argue that times have changed, that the Second Amendment is outdated and no longer necessary in the modern world. But history – and the reality of today – tell a different story.
Supreme Court rulings continue to affirm the individual right to bear arms. In District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), the Supreme Court confirmed that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to own firearms for self-defense, independent of any militia service.
Millions of Americans use firearms for self-defense every year. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that defensive gun uses occur between 500,000 and 3 million times annually in the United States – a staggering statistic that underscores the real-world importance of gun ownership.
Gun control doesn’t stop crime; armed citizens do. Federal Bureau of Investigation statistics show that when law-abiding citizens are armed, violent crime rates decrease. In fact, states with the highest rates of legal gun ownership have some of the lowest violent crime rates in the nation.
Our right to bear arms is just as essential today as it was in 1791.
The Pennsylvania Right to Bear Arms Act is my promise to defend our constitutional rights in action. It’s about protecting our God-given right to self-defense, preserving our ability to safeguard our families and ensuring that Pennsylvania remains a stronghold for freedom.
After all, the right to bear arms is not just a constitutional issue – it’s a fundamental human right. If history has taught us anything, it is that disarming people is the first step toward oppression.
Pennsylvanians have fought for this right for centuries, and we will not surrender it now.
More than simply a piece of legislation, the Right to Bear Arms Act is a declaration that Pennsylvania will always stand for freedom.
Sen. Doug Mastriano represents the 33rd Senatorial District, covering all of Adams and Franklin counties.