STATE POLICE SEE INCREASE IN GUN PURCHASE BACKGROUND CHECKS

During the first quarter of 2020, Pennsylvania State Police conducted more than 300,000 background checks for those seeking to purchase a firearm.

Using the Pennsylvania Instant Check System, or PICS, during the first three months, Pennsylvania State Police denied more than 4,800 firearms purchase requests, and referred more than 1,200 of those denials to law enforcement. The system also identified 59 would-be firearms purchasers who had outstanding warrants. They were all arrested.

All of these totals were higher compared to background checks conducted during the same period a year ago.