Pennsylvania State Police Releases Form for Purchase of “Partially-Manufactured Frame or Receiver for a Pistol or Rifle”

Posted on by Joshua Prince, Esq.

Today, we became aware that on or about January 9, 2020, a letter sent out by the Pennsylvania State Police (“PSP”) to Federal Firearms Licensees (“FFLs”) that pursuant to what it refers to as “the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s binding opinion”, the PSP has promulgated an “Application for Purchase (Partially-Manufactured Frame or Receiver for a Pistol or Rifle)” form, SP 4-121, which must be completed in addition to “a PICS background check and unique approval number [being] completed and received in order to facilitate a lawful sale/transfer of a PMFR [(“Partially Manufactured Frame or Receiver”)] under Pennsylvania law.”

The letter goes on to explain that although the PSP “is currently working on an automated solution for processing these these types of firearms sales/transfers by licensed firearms dealers”, in the interim of the system being ready, “dealers holding a current license to sell firearms shall utilize [the procedures set-forth in the letter].” Of importance, it explained that “[a]ll PMFR purchases/transfers shall be reported via the paper form of the Surcharge Remittance, Form SP4-134.” Thus, dealers are required to pay the surcharge tax on all applicable items.

But, what are PMFRs? Neither the letter nor the form define them in any way and all licensees are left to guess whether a non-object firearm constitutes a firearm under this undefined term. Thus, the PSP wants dealers to “guess” at what constitute PMFRs and if you get it wrong, don’t worry, you’re only looking at felony offenses…

As our viewers are aware, Firearms Policy Coalition (“FPC”) is funding a lawsuit, being handled by Chief Counsel Joshua Prince of the Firearms Industry Consulting Group (“FICG”), challenging the unlawful nature of the Attorney General’s Opinion and the PSP’s interpretation and enforcement of the Opinion. You can find all the court filing here.

If you’re in a position to support this important litigation, please consider a donation to FPC, which can be made here.

Please also consider you contacting your state representatives and requesting that they join in the litigation to preclude the erosion of the Pennsylvania General Assembly’s sole authority to legislate in this Commonwealth. You can find you state representatives here.

 

If you or someone you know has had their right to keep and bear arms infringed, contact Firearms Industry Consulting Group today to discuss YOUR rights and legal options.

 

Firearms Industry Consulting Group® (FICG®) is a registered trademark and division of Civil Rights Defense Firm, P.C., with rights and permissions granted to Prince Law Offices, P.C. to use in this article.

Published by Joshua Prince, Esq.

With our 2nd Amendment rights being attacked at both the Federal and State level, and the ATF (Burea of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives) trying to close down FFLs (Federal Firearms Licensees) for minor infractions while making FFLs the scapegoat when the ATF's records are inaccurate, I want to take this opportunity to introduce myself. I am one of only a handful of attorneys across the US that practices in the niche area of law known as firearms law. I decided to concentrate my legal practice on firearms law not only because I am a shooter and firearms enthusiast, but also to ensure that our inalienable Right to Keep and Bear Arms is never encroached upon. I handle cases at the Federal and State level for both FFLs and individuals. At the federal and state levels for individuals, I actively defend the 2nd Amendment of the US Constitution and Section 21 of the PA Constitution, as well as, help individuals with: - License to Carry Firearms Denials; - Challenges to Erroneous PICS Denials; - Relief from Firearms Disabilities; - Estate Planning Advice; - Gun/NFA Trusts; and - 42 USC 1983 Actions for Deprivation of Civil Rights At both the state and federal levels, I represent FFLs and SOTs throughout Pennsylvania and the US regarding: - ATF Compliance Inspections; - Warning Letters and Hearings; - FFL Revocations; - Corporate Structure Advice - Indoor/Outdoor Range Implementation; and - Forfeiture Proceedings In following my love for firearms and firearms law, I have taught several Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminars on Firearms in Estates and Trusts and Firearms Law 101 for several Bar Associations, including Berks, Cumberland, and Dauphin Counties. I also planned and taught several Firearms in Estates CLE classes for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI). While at Widener Law School, I was a member of the Widener Law Journal. I wrote an article on the Inaccuracy of the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR). I also had an article published on Fee Disputes in Workers Compensation cases in the Widener Law Journal, Volume 18, No. 2. You can often find me posting on several internet forums, including Subguns, Uzitalk, AR15, and PAFOA. I also hold PA Firearms Law classes for local ranges to inform the public on the firearm laws of the Commonwealth. Following in my father's footsteps, I am also a Board member for the Pottstown Police Athletic League (PAL).

8 thoughts on “Pennsylvania State Police Releases Form for Purchase of “Partially-Manufactured Frame or Receiver for a Pistol or Rifle””

  2. Does this mean; if I wanted to purchase a 3′ of 3/4″ round stock steel, I need to have a PMFR?
    After all, it is possible to make it into a gun barrel.
    What about a piece of lumber, as it too, could be made into gun parts.
    So unless the item is finished completely capable of being a firearm, this can cover nearly everything at the hardware and lumber stores, even screws and bolts.

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  3. I noticed you mention the letter was sent out to affect all FFLs in PA. Since federally these are not considered firearms, and therefore no license, FFL or otherwise is required to sell them, how exactly do they plan to act against EVERY other business outside of firearm sales that may happen to keep them in stock….local mom and pop owned true value hardware stores could stock these things, and have absolutely no other firearm related items for sale. Since they do not need, or have a FFL, would they too be subject to this BS?

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  6. Well since there are no serial numbers how will they know when it was manufactured, bought or completed.. screw these anti constitutionalists..

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