Wait, isn’t open carry legal in Pennsylvania? Well, kinda. As PAFOA makes clear . . .
While Pennsylvania has a specific law that requires a License To Carry Firearms for the concealedcarry of a firearm, and the carry of firearms in vehicles, the law is silent on the legality of openlycarrying a firearm in other situations, making it de-facto legal.
There is however a law that requires a License To Carry Firearms to carry either way in “cities of the first class”, which as defined by law is only the city of Philadelphia.
So Philly managed to secure their own carve-out. Pittsburg, apparently, is chopped liver.
In any case, imagine Officer Krzysztof Wrzesinski’s surprise when he ran across an un-named 12-year-old strolling down the street in northwest Philly carrying an AR-15. He and 19-year-old Michael Mitchell, who was with him, were both arrested (Mitchell was packing a Smith M&P SHIELD without a permit).
Police made the arrests Saturday after responding to a report of a person with a gun on the 2200 block of Kennedy Street in Bridesburg.
Michael Mitchell, 19, of the 2200 block of Kennedy Street, was charged with violating the Uniform Firearms Act – a third-degree felony.
The Philly PD has charged him with pretty much everything they could think of.
He also was charged with five misdemeanors, including criminal conspiracy, terroristic threats, corruption of a minor and reckless endangerment of another person.
Saturday night, 15th District Officer Wrzesinski arrested two individuals for walking our streets with two loaded weapons. The AR-15 was being held by a 12 (yes, TWELVE) year old, and the Glock was in the hands of an 18-year-old. Parents: make sure your weapons are secured! pic.twitter.com/feEjc6jRg3
— Philadelphia Police (@PhillyPolice) April 9, 2018