Pennsylvania State Police Announce 4th Quarter Firearms Purchase Denial Investigations

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) announced today the number of firearms purchase denials and subsequent investigations for the fourth quarter of 2025.

The Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) is used by county sheriffs, chiefs of police of cities of the first class, and licensed firearms dealers in Pennsylvania to determine an individual’s legal ability to acquire a license to carry firearms or obtain a firearm through a purchase or transfer. According to Pennsylvania law, a person commits a felony of the third degree if they make a false oral or written statement on any state and/or federally mandated form or willfully present false identification that is likely to deceive the seller, licensed dealer, or licensed manufacturer.

When an individual provides false information on a state and/or federally mandated form, an investigation is initiated by PSP, and the investigation is referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency with jurisdiction when warranted. During the PICS process, some individuals are also identified as having an active warrant for their arrest, and law enforcement is contacted by PICS, often resulting in the individual being apprehended at the point of purchase.

For the fourth quarter of 2025, the following investigations were initiated by the PSP Firearms Division and referred to PSP troops, municipal police departments, or the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) for further investigation and possible prosecution. Statistics from the fourth quarter of 2024 are also provided for comparison.

Table 1: 2024 and 2025 Fourth Quarter PICS Statistics

For more information on the Pennsylvania State Police, visit the PSP website.