Sen. Judy Ward introduced SB 1503 to fix Pennsylvania’s NFA trap for suppressors and short-barreled rifles and shotguns, and it’s now in Senate Judiciary waiting on a hearing. Plus the Third Circuit’s split felon-ban rulings and the latest from the Texas NFA case.
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Pennsylvania got a real bill this week to fix the state’s NFA problem, and the Senate is back in session Monday.
SB 1503 would fix Pennsylvania’s NFA trap
On Thursday, Sen. Judy Ward introduced SB 1503 with eight Republican cosponsors: Sens. Rothman, Phillips-Hill, Mastriano, Gebhard, Yaw, Dush, Stefano and Hutchinson. Under Pennsylvania’s prohibited offensive weapons law, having a suppressor or a short-barreled rifle or shotgun is a crime unless you can prove, as a defense, that you complied with the NFA. Now that federal registration for those items isn’t being enforced, that leaves Pennsylvania gun owners in a legal gray zone, and Ward’s memo says her bill clears up that ambiguity. It also drops the labeling condition for carrying a stun gun or similar device for self-defense.
SB 1503 has been referred to Senate Judiciary, and no committee meeting has been scheduled. Thank you to Sen. Ward and every cosponsor. The next step is a hearing. You can read the bill here.
The Third Circuit splits two felon-ban cases
On Tuesday the full Third Circuit decided two challenges to the federal felon-in-possession ban. It upheld the ban for a man convicted of terroristic threats, and it held the ban unconstitutional for a man whose disqualifying convictions were DUIs. That’s binding in federal courts in Pennsylvania, and it’s another win for people with nonviolent records, but it isn’t a ruling against the ban across the board.
The Senate returns Monday
There are no gun bills on the Senate’s Monday calendar. HB 1604 is still waiting in the Senate, and HB 2808, the 1% tax on guns and ammunition, is still in House Judiciary. We’ll be watching SB 1503 in Senate Judiciary from day one.
More from the federal side
On Monday, DOJ answered the plaintiff states in the Texas NFA case. It told the court that ATF’s October 9 guidance already gives the states what they asked the judge to clarify, and that ATF “will no longer enforce the challenged NFA provisions against anyone.” But DOJ also argued that the court’s injunction itself protects only the parties, meaning the states and their agencies, members and customers, not every resident of the 15 plaintiff states. So the federal relief rests on ATF’s enforcement policy, not a court order covering everyone, and a future administration could reverse it.
On Tuesday the Supreme Court turned away more challenges to the federal felon-in-possession ban and took no new Second Amendment cases. Turning a case down doesn’t set precedent either way. And national concealed carry reciprocity, H.R. 38, has been sitting on the House calendar since October 3, 2025 without a floor vote.
| Dates to watch Monday, October 19: last day to register to vote. Tuesday, October 27: mail ballot applications due. Tuesday, November 3: Election Day. VOTE PRO-GUN. Wednesday, December 2: Supreme Court argument in the AR-15 ban case. |
The Pennsylvania Firearms Association will be watching SB 1503 and every gun bill the politicians touch once session is back.
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For Freedom,
Chris Dorr
Director
Pennsylvania Firearms Association