JASON ORTITAY, MEMBER DISTRICT OFFICE:

46TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 3OO OLD POND RD. SUITE 2O5A

BRIDGEVILLE, PA 15017
HARRISBURG OFFICE: PHONE: (412) 227-SILO

P.O. BOX 202046 FAX: (412) 22t-sLt3

HARRISBU RG, P A 77 120-2046
EMAIL: jortitay@pahousegop.com
PHONE: (717) 787-I28I
WEBSITE: www.RepOrtitay.com
FAx: (7771782-2944
lH[rorrurss,ero,lP)R,eprtresse]ntatiirvess
Commonwea lth of Pennsylvania
Harrisburg

January 16,2019

The Honorable Eugene DePasquale

Pennsylvania Auditor General
Room 229,Finance Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120

Dear Auditor General DePasquale

We are writing to formally request a special audit of the implementation of the

Pennsylvania Instant Checks Systems (PICS). After seeing your recent report on
firearms safety, the timing is right to ensure that all laws related to the issuing of
approvals and denials when firearms are purchased are being followed, with regard
to the following:

1. Ensuring that the issuing of denial letters is in strict compliance with

statutory requirements and with adequate time for recipients to receive and
appeal such a denial.
2. Ensuring relevant civil orders, criminal records and mental health records
are promptly and accurately made available for background check purposes,
including both records that may disqualify an individual's firearm rights, as
well as records that may restore an individual's firearm rights.
3. Ensuring that out-of-state civil orders, criminal records and mental health
records are promptly and accurately made available for background check
purposes, including identifying procedures if a person commits a
disqualifying crime in another jurisdiction that does not equate to a
disqualifying crime in Pennsylvania.

To the best of our knowledge, the processes and procedures of PICS have never been
subject to a special audit of this nature. We are sure you will agree that all state
agencies should be subject to professional oversight and audits performed to make
.""tuin their systems are functioning as mandated under statute. An audit to PICS
is necessary both to verify those parts of the system that are working properly, but
also to identiff any operations that should be improved. This audit is necessary to
ensure that people who should not own a firearm are never able to obtain one, while
also ensuring that law abiding citizens are not being wrongfully denied their
constitutional rights.

Sincerely

Jason Ortitay
Legislative
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Jim Cox
G
I29th Legislative District

Stephen Barrar Matthew Dowling

160th Legislative District 51't Legislative District

Kerry Benninghoff
at George Dunbar
171't Legislative District 56ih Legislative District

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Aaron Bernstine
L0tt' Legislative District
Garth Everett
84th Legislative District

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Donald "Bud" Cook
49tt' Legislative District
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75th Legislative District
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'A Seth Grove
1-96th Legislative District
David Millard
109th Legislative District

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Rich Irvin
81"t Legrslative District
Brett Miller
41"t Legislative District

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Dawn Keefer edd Nesbit
92"4 Legtslative District 8th Legislative District

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Donna Oberlander
Mark Keller
86th Legislative District 63"4 Legrslative District

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William
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38th Legislative District 1 10ih Legislative District

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Jeffrey Pyle
12tt' Legislative District 60th Legislative District
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Kathy Rapp Jesse Topper
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65th Legislative 78th Legislative District

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Francis Ryan
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Justin lValsh
101't Legislative District 58th Legislative District

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Paul Schemel Ryan'Warner

90th Legislative District District
52"4 Legislative

Simmons Valerie Gaydos

1't Legislative District 44th Legislative District

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50th Legislative District 89th Legislative District

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Curtis Sonney
4th Legislative District