# Open carry in PA? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 23, 2001, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-in-pa/83413 "2001-09-23T23:23:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Swinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Swinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swinger)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-in-pa/83413/1 "2001-09-23T23:23:17Z")
I’ve been doing some research, trying to find out if Pennsylvania is an open carry state (non-concealed) for handguns. Just to make sure I’m being clear, is it illegal in Pennsylvania to carry a firearm, for example, in a holster on your hip in plain sight? And does a concealed carry license make a difference in this case? I’ve seen reports on both sides from cops, lawyers, and all sorts of people. Personally, I haven’t seen any laws against it thus far, but PA’s laws on carrying firearms are rather vague at times. So, is it legal to carry a non-concealed handgun in PA? ---
**Author:** ![gruven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a9a28c/32.png) [@gruven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gruven)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-in-pa/83413/2 "2001-09-23T23:57:40Z")
Welcome to the boards and stuff… I’ve been unable to find any definte answer on this, too. Any law types out there from PA? ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-in-pa/83413/3 "2001-09-24T00:46:34Z")
Here is a list of PA gun laws…perhaps what you need is there… [http://members.aol.com/StatutesP7/18PA6105.html](http://members.aol.com/StatutesP7/18PA6105.html) ---
**Author:** ![Swinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Swinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swinger)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-in-pa/83413/4 "2001-09-24T01:04:06Z")
Thanks for the reply, but I probably should have been a bit more specific with my question. I’ve already gone through the reviewing-the-laws stage, and there are no PA firearms laws on the books that I could find that deal with open carrying in any way. Common sense would say that if there’s no law against it, it must be legal. But the amount of conflicting reports I’ve read make me unsure. 6106 and 6109 are the applicable sections (follow Reeder’s link to check them out if you like), and both specifically mention concealed carrying. To add to the situation, open carrying is explicitly banned in the city of Philadelphia. Again, this implies that it is likely legal everywhere else. So to summarize, I’ve seen no laws against open carry, but no law explicitly permitting it either. I’ve seen reports saying you will get arrested for brandishing a firearm if it is in any way visible (even an outline under a jacket!) and I’ve seen other reports saying that is in no way true. I hope that makes it more clear why I’m confused about this issue! ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-in-pa/83413/5 "2001-09-24T01:11:05Z")
My guess would be that if you legally own the gun…you are licensed and such…then yes you can openly carry it. I would think that would be so wherever guns are legal. Just be aware that there are places where guns are not allowed…Banks…liquor stores…court houses…legal or not. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-in-pa/83413/6 "2001-09-24T02:57:10Z")
I live in an “open carry” State, and have posted several times on this subject. Without rehashing the past posts, open carry is a joke in most cases. It is likely that in many situations the police will simply harass you until you get the picture that you are not welcome, regardless of whatever the law says. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-in-pa/83413/7 "2001-09-24T15:30:55Z")
Having grown up in PA, here’s my understanding of the situation (no legal cites, I’m afraid): - You can’t carry a handgun openly in a holster - You CAN have a gun in your car (in the cabin, ready to use–generally, seen on a shotgun rack, etc., but I was always told that you could just have one sitting on the seat next to you if you were crazy enough…but like the other posters said, I can’t imagine any cop calmly letting you carry on with a loaded gun ready at hand) ---
**Author:** ![breaknrun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbce88/32.png) [@breaknrun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breaknrun)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-in-pa/83413/8 "2001-09-24T20:36:32Z")
[http://www.packing.org](http://www.packing.org) is a good site to review carry laws. Although it deals primarily with concealed carry, [here](http://www.packing.org/news/2000/09/19/2310.shtml) is a link to some posts about open carry, a couple from an LEO. You can search the site for carry laws related to your state. In general, it appears that open carry is legal in some circumstances but cops generally frown on it and you would be advised to get a license and carry concealed. According to this site, PA is a shall issue state which means that unless they find a good reason not to issue you a permit ie., you are a convicted felon or you have been declared mentally insane, you will get a permit and can carry concealed. I believe it’s best to go concealed. Open carry is just too likely to worry your neighbors and cause unnecessary consternation in most places. See also [http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws.asp?FormMode=Detail&R=PA](http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws.asp?FormMode=Detail&R=PA) . hmm upon reviewing the aforementioned link it looks like open carry is illegal in PA. > [@](#): > > It is unlawful to carry a firearm1, rifle or shotgun upon the public streets or upon any public property in a city of the first class (e.g. Philadelphia) unless the person carrying is licensed to carry firearms, or is exempt from licensing requirements.