Ortiz v. Commonwealth

OPINION OF THE COURT

FLAHERTY, Justice.

The issue raised in this case is whether two home-rule municipalities, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, may through the passage of ordinances regulate the ownership of so-called assault weapons when the General Assembly has passed a statute prohibiting them from doing so.

Councilman Angel Ortiz, et al. (the Philadelphia appellants) brought this action in Commonwealth Court for declaratory and injunctive relief. The Philadelphia appellants sought to *282enjoin the Commonwealth’s preemption of Philadelphia’s regulation of assault weapons and declare it in violation…