Pennsylvania Attorney General Sunday Highlight Legislation to Increase Penalties for Gun Store Thefts at Site of Langhorne Burglary

LANGHORNE - Sen. Frank Farry (R-6) today joined Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, Rep. Joe Hogan (R-142) and Middletown Township law enforcement officials at LugerMan Gun Shop to highlight legislation aimed at strengthening penalties for gun store burglaries. The event was held at the Langhorne shop that was robbed in May 2023, underscoring the real-world impact of firearm thefts on local communities.

Senate Bill 916 would expand the state's heightened burglary penalty to cover cases where the intent is theft of a firearm, mirroring existing law that already applies enhanced penalties when controlled substances are targeted.

"Organized groups continue to target gun stores, and stolen firearms often end up fueling even more dangerous activity," Farry said. "Our law enforcement agencies are out there every day working to keep our communities safe. We need to ensure they have the backing of strong, modern laws that reflect the realities they face."

Sunday emphasized how increased collaboration between state and local agencies has been critical in disrupting multi-county firearm theft operations, including the takedown of a western Pennsylvania criminal organization targeting gun shops.

"We have seen an alarming number of break-ins and thefts at gun stores in the commonwealth - incidents involving dozens of stolen firearms, guns which are then transferred to street gangs and other bad actors," Sunday said. "This legislation will subject offenders, including juveniles, in certain circumstances, to harsher penalties. The potential impact could go a long way toward preserving public safety."

The bill also includes several key reforms:

• Allowing prosecutors. under certain circumstances, to try juveniles as adults when they participate in gun store thefts - an important change given recent cases where adults have recruited minors because of lower penalties.
• Increasing penalties for organizers and co-conspirators who plan or facilitate gun store burglaries.
• Imposing additional penalties when stolen firearms are later used in further crimes.

Hogan spoke about his House companion bill and noted that aligning Senate and House efforts is essential to ensuring law enforcement has the tools it needs to combat increasingly organized criminal activity.

"The only reason you would steal guns from a gun store is to facilitate more violent crime," said Hogan. "Our legislation addresses a gap in penalties by increasing grading of the offense, allowing juveniles who co-conspire to be tried as adults. And should the stolen firearm be used in a different crime, add additional penalties. Stealing guns only to sell them to someone who cannot legally own one is not only reckless, but also a willful disregard of other people's safety."

Middletown Township Police Chief Joe Bartorilla recounted the 2023 burglary at LugerMan Gun Shop, where suspects stole firearms later connected to additional criminal activity, illustrating why stronger deterrence measures are necessary.

"Crimes targeting gun shops are not ordinary thefts - they are direct threats to public safety. When firearms are stolen, they don't just disappear; they often end up being used in violent crimes throughout our communities," said Bartorilla. "The proposed legislation recognizes the serious nature of these offenses by strengthening penalties and treating them with the level of severity they deserve. As we saw here in Middletown Township, the quick and coordinated actions of law enforcement prevented 21 stolen firearms from being introduced into the illegal market. Holding offenders fully accountable and deterring these types of crimes is critical. Strengthening our laws is one important step in protecting our officers and the communities we serve."

Senate Bill 916 is part of a broader package of crime-fighting bills, several of which have already been enacted, including measures cracking down on porch pirating and street racing. Additional proposals - such as enhancements for rioting offenses, protections for delivery drivers, expansions to DNA collection and deterrents against catalytic converter thefts - continue to move through the legislative process.

The legislation currently sits before the Senate Judiciary Committee awaiting consideration.

Video of today's press conference.

Video of Sen. Farry's remarks.