The Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee is scheduled this week to consider legislation creating what pro-gun groups describe as a backdoor firearms registration scheme.

The Democrat-backed proposal at hand, HB 1891, is billed by its sponsors as a move to modernize the records for gun sales. It would require all licensed firearm importers, manufacturers, and dealers in the Commonwealth to submit their records of sale to the state police electronically, with narrow exceptions for dealers that perform 20 or fewer transactions a year. 

The committee vote on HB 1891 is scheduled for Wednesday. 

Both Gun Owners of America and the National Rifle Association are opposed to the measure, citing that it will set all the conditions necessary for the Pennsylvania State Police to enhance its in-house "Record of Sale" system into a state-run electronic gun registry in all but name. This, even though the current state law on the books since 1995 explicitly forbids such a registry. 

"Make no mistake, the House Democrats are implementing Bloomberg’s agenda to register and track all firearms sales in Pennsylvania," says GOA in a statement. "And history informs us that when guns are registered, confiscation eventually occurs."

The NRA echoed similar opposition, saying, "The proponents have touted HB 1891 as a 'modernization bill' allowing for electronic record submissions; however, the devil is in the details. In reality, this is nothing more than an effort to bring firearm registration to Pennsylvania under the guise of 'convenience.'"

Success for HB 1891 in the Democrat-controlled Pennsylvania House would send it to the state Senate, where Republicans have a four-seat majority. A universal background check measure, HB 1593, has already passed the House with the support of five GOP members. 

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