Whats needed to be able to own and carry a hand gun in PA?

PA gun laws at the link below. http://www.nraila.org/statelawpdfs/PASL.pdf Gun law link to all 50 states at the link below. http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/

To own a handgun, you have to be over 21 and pass the requisite background checks. Handguns must be purchased through a licensed dealer. If you want to buy one from an individual, you need to go to a dealer and they can do the paperwork. You do not need to give any specific reason as to why you want a license other than "self-defense." Call your county's sheriff's office and they can give you the details for the application process, fees, etc. It varies some by county, but basically, you'll fill out the application, you may need to give some personal references, pay the fee and they'll do the background check on you. It used to take about 2-3 weeks for them to process everything. I heard that Washington County is issuing them on the spot now. You do not have to own a handgun to get a license to carry, and you don't need a license to carry to own a handgun. And while it's not required by law, I highly recommend that you practice, practice, practice with your gun. You need to know everything about it and make sure that it is 100% reliable. And when you're done with that, practice some more! Vince www.bloomautomatic.com

I wish my communist state allowed concealed carry... but anyway heres a forum where you may be able to find the info you're looking for. http://www.pafoa.org/forum/?s

As someone who lives in West Philly, and hearing the squad cars go by intermittently- I don't think THAT much is required to own and carry a guy. To legally do so is another matter. http://crime.about.com/od/gunlawsbystate/f/gunlaw_pa.htm However, I should state that carrying a gun does not generally increase safety in the case of an armed mugging. The issue is that if you're already being mugged, the mugger already has their weapon ready- while yours is not. If you then attempt to ready your weapon, you will tend to increase the likelihood of violence in the encounter. The solution to this would be to carry your firearm openly, unconcealed (reducing the chance of mugging)- but most people do not feel comfortable doing so.