It also says nothing about firearms or self defense. I want my nuclear missile now.

I invoke Needledriver's Corollary to Godwin's Law; the first person to cite Weapons of Mass Destruction in a discussion of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms renders the rest of the discussion Null and Void.

How about switch blades, brass knuckles, swords and black jacks?

carries a "switchblade" (actually an automatic knife) when he fishes as he is unable to open a traditional folding knife.

I have several swords (officer's sabre from the 19th century Great Britain, a szabla also from the 19th century and 2 purely decorative rapiers that hang on my wall).

With the exception of the rapiers, I prefer real historical pieces and I have yet to come across a broadsword or other weapons like it in the price range I am willing to spend.

(16th century IIRC) was north of $30K + auction buyers fee + import duties.

Plus, when I shipped my szabla back, it was a colossal PITA as customs really doesn't know their own rules. Thank god for smartphones and a link to DHS:

...than I am frustrated by its own inability to follow its own rules... but just barely.

Can anyone carry?

Are there still back ground checks?

This is not law. I think it's unlikely to become law anytime soon. This bill passed the PA Senate but would need to pass in the House as well and have the governor sign it into law. I think it's unlikely to pass in the House and, if it does, I think Tom Wolf is likely to veto it.

I know Philly and the state have a disagreement about whether open carry is legal in there without a permit as it is in the rest of the state. Concealed carry has always required a permit. In 1989 PA became a "shall-issue" state. That is the discretionary judgement of bureaucrats and other officials were removed from the process. You either had objective background issues like criminal convictions, active indictments, involuntary commitments or protection orders as concrete reasons not to be issued a permit or you got one if you applied. Shall-issue is the format I personally prefer. Right now 21 states are shall-issue and 21 others are unrestricted which is the measure that the PA Senate passed.

Historically Vermont is the only state to have always (for 200+ years) been unrestricted. Essentially this means that carrying concealed without a permit is not a crime.

In the unrestricted states a background check is still required to buy a gun at a gun store. A few states also have laws on the books requiring folks that buy from private sellers to pass background checks.

To answer the question, "Can anyone carry?" that's a yes. In unrestricted states it is still a crime to be in possession if you are a prohibited person. Here's a link to the list of who would be a prohibited person: https://www.atf.gov/firearms/identify-prohibited-persons

So yes anyone can carry openly or concealed but for some folks to do so in some places is illegal. The folks who usually do those sorts of things generally don't really care about it being illegal.

There are good and bad things to say on both sides of the "unrestricted carry" issue. I personally don't like it. I am convinced that I will never have the time or money to be informed, practiced and skilled enough to consider carrying at all except for maybe in some extreme wilderness setting.

We've done some deep woods canoing and hiking on state land south of Bradford for 20 years. Only black bears but you never wander into bear country unprepared. Only a precaution. Rangers and sheriffs highly recommend it. Always stop by my dad's house before I go. Bears leave us alone and we leave them alone. A few scares.