Hrm. These are summaries, not laws.
For example, I took a look at PA's summary. There is a table (which I paraphrased to format) that starts off the summary:
QUICK REFERENCE CHART
p
r i
i s
f t
l o
e l
purchase-permit N N
registration N N
owner-license N N
carry-permit N Y
Now we in PA have a more intimate understanding about the true nature of the law...
There is a defacto handgun registration even though PA law forbids it. A court said if all guns weren't registered, it wasn't a registry. Therefore we just have a 'database' that is used at will and without oversight.
We don't exactly have owner licensing, but the private trade of handguns generally, with few exceptions, requires a person to go through a licensee or an authority to make a sale.
NRA mentions sheriffs can do transfers (just like it says in the PA statute). However, most sheriffs refuse to do them (i.e. I have never heard of a sheriff's office performing one, and I have recently begun to call several counties in search of one.) Nothing in law requires that they do.
We have specific exemptions for scenarios where a license to carry in PA is not required. First and foremost, however, is that open carry does not require a license. I don't believe the courts have concluded what 'carry' should mean according to being in a vehicle (i.e. in PA it says a license is required for concealed carry, and for carrying in a vehicle: it is contended by some that a firearm carried by a vehicle is being carried by you, and others that carry in a vehicle is no different than on foot -- that it would be 'by your person'.)
It would be nicer (and more amusing to read) to have a biting commentary on big issues intertwined with the law. Also, 2006 is like...2 years ago. At least they tell us about the last update...some folks who compile compendiums neglect to, and people quote them as fact.
