About This Course
This CLE program provides a concise, data-driven examination of the policy foundations underlying federal and Pennsylvania firearms laws. It addresses recurring questions about background check requirements, the so-called “gun show loophole,” Pennsylvania’s Castle Doctrine, firearm mortality trends, and what criminological data reveals about who commits firearm-related crime and where it occurs.
Drawing on federal statutes such as the Gun Control Act and Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, as well as Pennsylvania’s Uniform Firearms Act, the course explains how constitutional constraints, legislative compromise, and empirical research shape the current regulatory framework. It is designed for practitioners seeking a clear understanding of the “why” behind firearms regulation and the present state of play in this evolving area of law.