Source: https://foac-pac.org/Action-Alerts
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 13:13:25+00:00

Document:
The Mayor of Pittsburgh has signed the illegal ordinances and is officially an accomplice in the City's criminal enterprise in violating State preemption laws and the Constitutions of the USA and PA. He also did this behind closed doors, where anti-liberty groups were welcomed and concerned Law Abiding Citizens and Veterans were turned away. I commend FOAC members Dave Haid, Val Finnell and others for trying to personally witness the signing of these illegal ordinances, even though they were prevented from attending.
In the first action, Allegheny County Sportsmen’s League (“ACSL”) filed a contempt petition for numerous violations of a 1995 Court Order approving a Settlement Agreement between the City of Pittsburgh and ACSL, et al. The petition for contempt requests that the court fine and sanction the City of Pittsburgh, award attorney fees and costs, and hold the Mayor and Councilmembers severally and jointly liable for violating terms of a longstanding court order that required them to “abide by and adhere to Pennsylvania law.” As the City of Pittsburgh stipulated that the City’s Ordinance 30 of 1994 was preempted by 18 Pa.C.S. § 6120, as it regulated the use, possession, and transfer of what the City classified as "assault weapons," ammunition and firearm accessories, ACSL contends that the City’s new gun control laws clearly and unequivocally violate the Settlement Agreement and Court Order.
A second action, brought by Firearm Owners Against Crime, Firearms Policy Coalition, Firearms Policy Foundation, and several individuals, in a 94 page Complaint, seeks declaratory and injunctive relief against the City of Pittsburgh, Mayor Peduto and the individual City Councilmembers that voted in favor of the anti-gun enactments. The Complaint, spanning 16 counts, includes counts for numerous violations of everything from the Pennsylvania Constitution to the Crimes Code to failure to comply with the City Home Rule Charter and City Council Rules.
It is unfortunate that City’s taxpayers will be burdened by the City’s elected officials believing it is acceptable - and even gloating - that they are violating the Pennsylvania Constitution and Crimes Code. It is also unfathomable that an administration that has labeled itself as transparent, precluded interested individuals, including two veterans, from attending the “public” signing ceremony while permitting anti-gun groups to attend; thereby attempting to suppress the First Amendment and Article 1, Section 7 rights of those individuals who were denied admission solely on the basis that they were not members of CeaseFirePA or Moms Demand Action.
IF these lies and actions are allowed to stand then every Pittsburgh citizen and 'anyone' who crosses the City of Pittsburgh boundary is at risk of prosecution and incarceration for violating these illegal ordinances. Even more so, the video shows the intent is to see ALL communities work on local laws throughout Pennsylvania so IF you think this doesn't affect you then you need to listen to the statements of the Mayor and the groups they are working with.
We will do everything in our power to protect our Constitution and the rights of ALL citizens to be free from government's unlawful acts and tyranny but NOW is the time to stand up and be counted!
FOAC has spear headed a Coalition of Liberty minded organizations who are standing together to deliver a common message of unity and freedom. FOAC Board member and ACSL President, Klint Macro, has worked tirelessly to put together this campaign where “We The People” can remind our elected officials that they are in office to PROTECT our Liberties… NOT Assault them.
Please help us spread this message by printing copies of the “Stop The Assault” campaign letter and mail them to your local, state, and federal elected officials on February 1st, 2019; National Freedom Day.
Elected officials MUST STOP THEIR ATTACK on the Liberties of law abiding American citizens. Whether it be a limitation or restriction of free speech, religion, due process, personal property rights, or the right to self-preservation and the right to protect those that we love; the incremental erosion of one right is an attack on them all.
Liberty is a “Yes or No” proposition. We either have Liberty or we do not.
If each of us invests a little effort and a few dollars in ink and stamps, we can remind those in office that we are watching and we will no longer stand by while they Assault our Rights, Liberties, and Freedom with the stroke of a pen.
Today, in advance of Pittsburgh City Council's December 18th meeting to formally announce its illegal firearm proposals, Firearms Industry Consulting Group® (FICG®), a division of Civil Rights Defense Firm, P.C., on behalf of its clients, Allegheny County Sportsmen's League and Firearm Owners Against Crime (FOAC), filed a letter in opposition to the proposals; wherein, Chief Counsel Joshua Prince explains the constitutional and statutory protections and case law precluding such regulation.
In the event Pittsburgh moves forward with the proposals, ACSL and FOAC will take legal action against the City and request that Allegheny County District Attorney Zappala file criminal charges against the Mayor and City Council for violations of 18 Pa.C.S. § 5301 (official oppression) and 18 Pa.C.S. § 6120 (preemption). A copy of the joint press release by ACSL and FOAC is available here.
If you are in a position to be able to support this matter, ACSL and FOAC would greatly appreciate donations, which can be made online through the Firm’s escrow account here – https://secure.lawpay.com/pages/civilrightsdefensefirm/trust. Simply place "ACSL/FOAC Pittsburgh Preemption Litigation" in the reference box.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of an unlawful municipal firearm or ammunition regulation or ordinance, contact FICG today to discuss your options.
In spite of the fact that ATF has always concluded that these devices are lawful and do not qualify as “machine guns” Trump intends, with the stroke of a pen, to render all who own them felons, if they don’t turn them into the police.
However you feel about these devices, it is truly chilling that a President can turn unknown numbers of good Americans into criminals for owning a device they purchased legally and Congress is silent on the bypassing of Federal Law. If a piece of plastic that does nothing but simplify what you can achieve with no modifications to a firearm can be banned and confiscated, what prevents this, or any future president, from banning the firearms they are attached to?
“Bump” firing is a technique that can be done without a “bump stock" on ANY semi-automatic firearm. Is a plan to ban your fingers next?
Trump promised to protect the Second Amendment. With this action we slide further down the slope. This is an attack on an entire class of firearms (Semi-Automatic) because no matter the looks they ALL function the same. Further, we do not even know for sure which weapons were used in the single criminal incident that they were, purportedly, used in!
Had Trump traded bump stocks for National Reciprocity and/or deregulation of suppressors, we would have still disagreed, but the master “deal maker” could say we got "something." But we got nothing even though the Republicans controlled the Congress and the White House.
Remember, at the heart of ALL gun control is government saying to ALL law-abiding citizens that 'we can't trust YOU to exercise your rights responsibly' so we are taking this away from you!
Please send a message to your Congressman that this attack on a legal firearms accessory is nothing more than state sponsored theft and a dangerous and unconstitutional step towards tyranny.
FOAC is going to be on the Mangino Show (KDKA) today (THIS AFTERNOON – 11/27/2018) at 6:05 p.m. We will be following up the statement of the Auditor General (at 5:30 p.m.) on his report.
The issues for this show: The Pennsylvania Auditor General has put together a report on so-called ‘firearm safety’ that mixes issues of gun control and more intrusive government with outright lies. This is but the first of many shots across the bow that will be coming in the new, upcoming session that will focus on more regulation of firearms ownership.
Sorry for the late notice but KDKA just called.
The AG report in question can be found here.
FOAC will be on the Southwestern TV stations: WTAE and KDKA today, 11/12/2018, on the evening news responding to Mayor Peduto and his push to enact criminal gun control in Pittsburgh.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette published an article on Veteran's Day regarding Peduto's intent to violate the law AND the 1995 consent decree signed by Pittsburgh when they illegally tried to ban so-called Assault Weapons!
The TV stations are reaching out for a response which FOAC was all too happy to give.
UPDATE - Pressure is Working - HB 2060: PA SENATE to Consider Sen. Eichelberger Amendment Tomorrow (10/3): Please Help!
After days of gun owner pressure, along with the concerted pressure of Sen. Reschenthaler and other Senators like Sen. Bartolotta, the Pennsylvania Senate will be considering an amendment by Sen. Eichelberger to HB 2060.
This amendment will restore "friends" as a source to surrender or relinquish firearms after a PFA has been imposed.
Once again we need your help in the guise of phone calls and emails Senate in support of Sen. Eichelberger's amendment. It is still being drafted so I do not have an amendment number.
If this amendment is included in the bill and passed by the Senate then FOAC will take a neutral position on this legislation but only if, and I repeat, if this legislation is amended with Sen. Eichelberger's amendment!
We need your help tomorrow morning to put pressure on the Senators in support of Sen. Eichelberger and his amendment! This is a highly critical alert and we do not have much time to work on the Senate.
Please target all of the Republicans with your e-mails and phone calls in the Pennsylvania Senate and Sen. Brewster and Sen. Yudichak. You can find them all at this link: https://foac-pac.org/PA-Legislator-Info .
If you are an active FOAC member you can sign into the FOAC website and go to your member's area for ALL of the Senate e-mails in one block.
You've all been wonderful and highly supportive and we deeply appreciate all your hard work!
The gun control insanity that has gripped much of our nation has finally raised its’ ugly head here in PA. Next week (9/24-9/25) the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, spurred on by Speaker of the House Rep. Turzai, is slated to consider two bills that were tabled in June – HB 2060 & HB 2227.
These are both an affront to our Constitution at the state and federal level. What’s worse is that Republican Leadership KNOWS this just as they know both expand the power of government at the expense of the Due Process rights of the accused with HB 2227 creating an entirely ‘new’ section of law involving suspension of ‘Due Process’.
Over the summer, FOAC has worked diligently to examine both bills with some great attorneys and have attempted to convey this to other groups, gun owners and PA House members. On Thursday (the 20th of Sept.) we were told that a September Surprise (meaning gun owners were being stabbed in the back) was coming and that both HB 2060 & HB 2227 would see floor action on Sept. 24th & 25th respectively.
We have done EVERYTHING we can to stop this freight train but are told that UNLESS YOU (gun owners) speak out and DEMAND leadership pull these bills they WILL PASS. We as a group (gun owners) have been silent TOO DAMN LONG!! NOW we are faced with House Leadership and SE Republicans and a ‘Host’ of anti-gun Democrats who think they can ignore citizens’ rights along with the reality of all the major gun groups rallying around these two gun bills that will severely damage the short and long term rights of all citizens to be treated fairly in the halls of justice.
PFA’s (Protection from Abuse Orders) are often “weaponized” or “tactical”. This means that a spouse decides to get a divorce and makes false accusations so as to kick their spouse out of the house and onto the street and take away their ability to have firearms for hunting, target shooting or protection. The kicked-out spouse is branded an abuser without trial and often discovers that bank accounts are drained and credit cards maxed out. The law is badly in need of reform to mandate investigation and prosecution of those who make false statements. This legislation does nothing to fix these abuses and encourages more abuses of the system.
I am going to close with the fact that this legislation is an Existential Threat to our rights and is a TURNING POINT for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. We NEED and MUST HAVE your calls, e-mails and ‘presence’ in Harrisburg on Monday and Tuesday!
The straight forward message YOU MUST TELL PA HOUSE MEMBERS is to OPPOSE both bills! No Compromise, no Deals, no Amending either one as their core structure is irredeemably flawed.
Go HERE to find the contact information for EVERY PA HOUSE MEMBER: https://foac-pac.org/PA-Legislator-Info and to find House Committee members you can go here: https://foac-pac.org/PA-House-Committees - we’ve given you the tools so now this is a no ‘excuses’ moment! The apathy of gun owners has put ALL OF US in this predicament and we are now faced with a put up or shut up moment! We have done all we can to stop these bills and NOW it is up to you to Stand Up and Be Counted or RUE THE DAY if these pass!!
We live in a troubling and challenging time for our constitutional Freedoms! Never in the history of our nation and state has our Constitution and rights been under such an assault! Frankly, it is shocking to hear politicians openly disrespecting the Constitution as well as our fellow citizens. Ignorance, apathy, arrogant and insidious innuendo all seem to be part and parcel of today’s willingness to shed our Freedoms in favor of totalitarian and invasive concepts!
The recent exchange between two Republicans, Pennsylvania State Representative Rick Saccone and Representative Warren Kampf, illustrates the disregard far too many in office hold for the Constitution! During this exchange Representative Kampf chided Representative Saccone for bringing up the Pennsylvania Constitution by saying (I’m paraphrasing) get off that Constitution crap!
Into this backdrop of constitutional friction, we find ourselves thrust into the greatest gun-control Porsche we have faced in Pennsylvania in the last 15 years! After seven (7) lengthy Judiciary Committee hearings on the issue of gun control (the first six of which were focused on more regulation and restrictions) the committee is focused on advancing nine different gun - related bills on June 19, 2018!
In the first six hearings in the Judiciary Committee the anti-gun groups, wearing their trademark red shirts, prorated their socialist ideals for all to see and yet gunowners sat on their hands choosing to ignore the very real threat that they posed! There are 14 gun clubs within a 30-minute drive of the Pennsylvania State capital with a rough estimate of over 85,000 gun owners and yet no participation from them at these hearings.
You may be wondering why this information is just coming out now but the fact is that the agenda for the Pennsylvania house judiciary committee did not get released until late Friday as we have been working hard for the past week at trying to discern whether these bills would even run since the committee put off this legislation on June 12. If nothing else leaders in Harrisburg have learned that given enough time the average Pennsylvania citizen will reject gun control overwhelmingly so they run these things at the last minute hoping that you don’t care or don’t have the time to get involved.
HB 2463 – Nelson – Makes 3 critically important changes to PA law and firearms ownership for individuals who have been involuntarily committed.
Removes the prohibition for firearms ownership for individuals committed through the 302-examination process.
Requires that the PSP Update NICS within 72 hours of any change to a RKBA disqualification.
FOAC Position: Opposed to original bill but could shift to ‘neutral’ depending on language of any amendments.
HB 2060 – Quinn – 3rd Party Elimination – PFA’s – Original Version has Due process and surrender problems. Similar to 1st version of SB 501 prior to amendments – ‘Must’ be amended!
HB 1872 – Dean / Costa – this legislation bans ‘any’ this bill would ban the possession ‘and’ sale of “Multiburst Trigger Activators”, and even their part or parts, that accelerate the rate of fire of any firearm. Notice that this grandfathers in previously possessed “Multiburst Trigger Activators” but would prohibit their transfer to any Pennsylvanian in the future ‘and’ that includes firearms so equipped ‘or’ replacement for wear and tear. Draconian Legislation!
HB 1400 – Santora – This bill requires a background check for ‘all’ firearms sales or transfers in Pennsylvania. This would end the private transfer of all rifles and shotguns. HB1400 is deceptive in providing a supposed benefit of allowing a second purchase of a firearm (at a gun show) if previously approved within 72 hours.
HB 273 – Donatucci – Voluntary Self-Exclusion from Firearm possession, purchases or transfers. Length of time on list – 1 year, 5 years or Lifetime.
Perhaps our time has passed for respecting our Constitution and our Freedoms will be going the way of the dodo bird? Perhaps we are rooted in old world concepts and are no longer relevant? Standing up for our Constitution and Freedoms is neither easy nor convenient but it is our duty as citizens!
On June 19 we will see how many gun owners in the Commonwealth agree because one thing is certain the redshirted socialist simpletons will be parading around the halls of Harrisburg, as they have been for the last four months, working to take away your Freedoms.
I know I will be there and I’m hoping you’re willing to sacrifice your time and join me!
On Saturday, March 24th, there will be an anti-gun protest at the Beaver County Court House. American Patriots, who understand the Constitution to be the law of the land, specifically the 2nd Amendment, will also be there to show our support for our constitutionally guaranteed Right To Keep and Bear Arms.
There’s a lot of anti-gun energy moving our way, and it’s up to us, the American Patriots and gun owners to defend what we believe in, if we want to keep it.
We will gather at 11:30am across the street from the court house. Pease join us. If you have a pro-gun sign, bring it along.
Thank you for all your hard work in reaching out to Congressmen regarding National Concealed Carry Reciprocity (HR 38)!! There is great news to report in that the House Judiciary Committee today passed, by a 19-11 vote, the National Reciprocity, Constitutional Carry-friendly, legislation – HR 38 (by Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) – was voted out of the House committee and is now on its way to passage by the full House.
Overview: This legislation would allow anyone with a License To Carry Firearms, and anyone from a Constitutional Carry state, to carry in ANY state in the country -- thereby countering the unconstitutional, socialist laws of anti-gun states. This legislation also provides legal protections for citizens who are arrested by ignorant anti-gun local officials who ignore the law.
The legislation includes the legal definition of "handgun" to include "any magazine for use in a handgun and any ammunition loaded into a handgun or its magazine."
This would circumvent efforts by states like Massachusetts and California to effectively ban guns by banning and/or registering magazines and ammo.
Suffice it to say that pushing the GOOD version of reciprocity to the verge of House passage and enactment is a huge accomplishment which should not be underestimated.
As we all expected, anti-gun Democrats tried to water down the inclusion of protections for Constitutional Carry and by a 17-8 vote, Republicans defeated an anti-gun amendment offered by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) that would have limited concealed carry reciprocity to permit holders only.
The House Judiciary Committee also passed a "Fix NICS" bill which we are watching closely.
Both bills now advance to the floor of the House.
The time we have ALL been waiting for has come and NOW is the time we need YOUR help!
Mandatory nationwide recognition of Concealed Carry [reciprocity] is FOAC’s highest legislative priority in Congress. In accordance with the Constitutional concept of ‘Full Faith and Credit’, H.R. 38 would ensure that states recognize the concealed carry credentials of all other states. This would end abuses in anti-gun states like New York and New Jersey and allow law-abiding concealed carriers to exercise their rights nationwide with peace of mind. It would also provide legal recourse if state or local government tries to deny you the carrying of firearms and/or arrests and prosecutes you in violation of federal law!
H.R. 38 does NOT, as some critics claim, change how states issue their own concealed carry permits. It would also require concealed carriers in other states to obey the laws for concealed carry in each state in which they travel.
Federal gun control hearing is next week!
Unfortunately, the NRA strategy of kicking this over to the BATFE in the (flawed) hope that they would institute a regulatory solution to so-called “bump stocks” has backfired as the BATFE kicked the can back to Congress.
And if you think this is about banning the “bump stocks” nobody likes, you are equally wrong.
With anti-gun Democrats and the media still at full-throated roar, roughly two dozen gun control bills have been introduced in the weeks since Las Vegas. While most of those won’t see the light of a committee hearing, the so-called “bump stock” bans in the House and Senate will.
What else? Frankly, it’s impossible to know.
And yes, the “slippery slope” which House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi “certainly hopes” will lead to further gun control will almost certainly lead to debate over “high” capacity magazines, as in the ban introduced by Representative Elizabeth Esty (D-CT).
The ostensibly “mainstream” media is doing its best to gloss over the fact that in the horrific church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas, it was not only a “good guy with a gun,” but a good guy with an AR-15 who stopped the killer by shooting him at least twice. Stephen Willeford is an American hero.
Yes, this is the third time in recent years in which an armed private citizen has stopped a mass homicide in a church.
Yes, gun control failed again as, for the second time in recent weeks, the killer underwent a NICS check to get his firearms.
Nope, the gun ban advocates care about one thing and one thing only: That they have an opportunity to ban your guns in order to better control you.
What will stop gun control?
It’s been said that, “The only thing that will stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.” Well, I’m here to tell you that the only thing that will stop a gun ban organization with clout is a no-compromise gun rights group with clout.
FOAC is exactly that no-compromise gun group, not only at a state level, but also in fighting federal gun control.
The problem is that right now, the problem our side faces is that we just want to be left alone. So when we win an election, we go back to our lives.
But the left doesn’t think that way. They want control – control over YOU. Consequently, they never go away, they never stop, they never sleep. They just keep coming back again and again until they get what they want which is, in this case, the end of the Second Amendment.
Immediately make three phone calls to Sen. Pat Toomey from Pennsylvania and your Congressman (contact info here) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley and let them know that NO GUN CONTROL IS ACCEPTABLE. Call Toomey at (717-782-3951), and call Grassley at (515) 288-1145. (Yes, these are their district offices, not their Washington offices).
With your help, we will once again prevail.
Pittsburgh City Council will vote on banning firearms in City Parks in 'direct' violation of Pennsyvania Court precedent (FOAC v. Lower Merion) and Pennsylvania law as well as a 1994 court order where the City of Pittsburgh agreed to abide by ALL Pennsylvania Law regarding firearms. Pennsylvania law (Title 18, Section 6120) removes ALL authority from municipalities and cities regarding banning or restricting firearms.
Please make your voice heard about this clear violation of Pennsylvania Law that is even a Misdemeanor 1 criminal offense (Title 18, Section 6119).
Thank you for all your interest and support!
We strongly support giving teachers the Choice AND Right to be armed to defend themselves! Twenty-four states now allow teachers and staff to carry, though the rules vary across states. Alabama, Utah, New Hampshire, and parts of Oregon leave it up to the teachers and staff to carry. For example, in neighboring Ohio, at least 40 school districts allow teachers to carry.
However there are significant issues with SB 383 regarding the requirement for a teacher to disclose, and provide proof, of possession of a License to Carry Firearms. In 1995 access to License To Carry Firearm information was made confidential due to concerns that disclosure could put citizens at risk. These concerns have been borne out in other states that do not have these controls. Security of this information, and accountability for its' release is 'not' an insignificant concern!
Yesterday in the PA Senate, Senator Street added an amendment that teachers who wish to carry would be required to be psychologically evaluated! This raises a host of issues not the least of which is the anti-gun mantra of requiring psychological testing to even 'own' a firearm.
Certain aspects of this legislation is deeply troubling and we cannot support it at this time. SB 383 is up for final (3rd) consideration today and the PA Senate convenes at 1 p.m. Please keep in mind that Senator White is a 'very good' Senator and I don't think that he has been made aware of all of these concerns properly!!
The PA Game Commission Commissioners are meeting right now for their quarterly meeting and the Commissioners have stabbed gun owners and hunters in the back by REFUSING to authorize Semi-Auto firearms for hunting big game!
No matter how you slice this betrayal of trust, this is a huge victory for anti-gun groups which will spin this as a gun safety issue despite the record across the nation of success!
More developments to come. . . . .
Today Pennsylvania moved out of the dark ages when Governor Wolf signed HB 263 into law providing for the lawful use of Semi-Auto firearms and air rifles in hunting. This legislation will end a decades long unfounded prejudice against these types of firearms. Please take a moment to reach out and thank your state Representative, your state Senator and Governor Wolf for supporting this important legislation!
Also, PLEASE reach out and let your friends and fellow hunters know that these changes on the use of these firearms will NOT take effect until the 2017 hunting season as the PA Game Commission will have to craft the regulations governing the suitable ammunition calibers and magazine capacities as well as the game animals where these firearms will be permitted. The focus now, for all of us, should be on contacting the PA Game Commission (PGC) Commissioners and insisting that the use of these firearms should encompass Big Game hunting (i.e. Deer & Bear) and 'not' be limited to a small number of game animals. In the hearings before the House Game & Fish Committee this year PA Game Commission Exec. Director Matt Hough' testimony indicated a reluctance to allow the widespread use of these firearms, which is an unsupported and unfounded bias and prejudice based in political speak.
Interestingly, Germany (known for their tough gun control) has recently authorized the use of these firearms for hunting in that country.
These firearms help women and youth engage in the hunting sports more effectively due to the diminished recoil and adaptability of these firearms. In addition, they provide for faster follow up shots so that wounded game can be more humanely harvested.
The PA Game Commission has a working group meeting coming up on December 5th and we encourage all interested hunters who would like to use these types of firearms to reach out and communicate your support to the PGC Commissioners.
This morning there will be a final voting session prior to the election (the legislature 'may' come back in November-Sine Die) and there has been furious wrangling over two bills that you should know about.
HB 263 (as amended in the Senate) will legalize the use of 'air rifles' and 'semi-auto rifles' in hunting. This bill is on the 'marked' calendar for voting today.
"DOMESTIC FOWL." ANY AVIS RAISED FOR FOOD, HOBBY OR SPORT.
This language was added in the Senate and is not used anywhere else in the bill. This bill was supposed to protect 'dogs and cats' from abuse, a laudable goal. However, it appears the 'animal rights extremists' have manipulated the language to provide them an advantage in court against hunting and training dogs with live birds. This bill is scheduled to be amended in the Rules Committee and if you have time this morning please contact the Rules Committee members and ask them to correct the language above as well as the language in the 'Torture' sections of HB 869.
Thank you for your attention to this last minute request!
Important End of Session Vote Coming in Senate and House - HB 263 - Please Help!
Tomorrow the PA Senate and House will consider HB 263 which has been amended with legislative language to authorize the use of semi-automatic firearms for hunting as is legal in 'ALL' other states.
We are asking for your help in reaching out to your State Senator 'and' your State House member, as well as the Senate and House Leadership, to ask them to pass HB 263, as amended today in the Senate. There were 11 Senators who voted against this legislation but 39 voted for it.
FOAC members will find all the Senate and House legislators contact information in their Member's section of the FOAC website. If you are not a member 'yet' please go to the PA Legislator FOAC page for the listing of every PA Senate and House member along with their contact information.
I also want to thank all of you for your continued patience and persistence in keeping up the pressure on the legislature. Your frustration at the lack of action by the leadership in Harrisburg on critical Pro-Gun legislation is not lost on all of us and we share it. Much of this is directly connected to the flood of Millions of Dollars of anti-gun billionnaires donating to anti-gun groups to advance gun control at the expense of the truth. Your involvement is the ONLY thing stopping the anti-gun groups and I cannot thank YOU enough!
In a clear sign of rejecting the lies of the anti-gun groups such as cease-fire PA and mom’s demand action, today the Pennsylvania Senate voted overwhelmingly in favor of SB 1330, strengthening of Pennsylvania firearms preemption law, by a vote of 30 – 19 the legislation passed.
It is important to remember that we have dozens if not hundreds of communities throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania which are arrogantly thumbing their nose at Pennsylvania criminal law and passing their own local laws in defiance of not only the crimes code but also the “equal protections clause” of the Constitution!
We ask that you take two actions now. First reach out to your House of Representatives member and ask them to support SB 1330. Then also reach out and contact your Senator to thank him/her ‘if’ they supported SB 1330. Also please share your dissatisfaction with the 19 Senators who violated their oath to uphold Commonwealth law and ‘not’ put citizen safety and well-being at risk, which each of these Senators did by opposing this common sense bill!
Time is short and there is very little opportunity to see this bill through the legislative process and put SB 1330 on the desk of the governor so we need all of you to focus and put as much energy as you can into passing this legislation!
Thank you for paying attention to this important update and for being so passionate about defending the freedom so many in this nation have sacrificed for!
I try not to burden you with a lot of e-mails but this one is significant. As you may know we have been working to advance pro-gun legislation in Harrisburg and are on the cusp of two of our issues being addressed, finally!
These bills involve preemption (HB 2258 & SB 1330) and semi-auto firearms for hunting (SB 737) and are all keyed up and ready to go EXCEPT we are being held hostage by anti-gunners and money and ‘apathy’ among our ranks!
We are being blocked by a concerted effort from anti-gun groups through their minions of evil (anti-gun legislators) in a historic show of abuse of the political process. HB 2258 has had 242 amendments filed AGAINST it and this is a record. SB 737 has had 19 amendments filed against it. The end goal is to force leadership to pull the bills from consideration.
Also, PLEASE contact your PA State House Member today as well!! If you don’t know who that is then click the link below to search using your address for your legislators.
I’m laying this in your laps because gun owners are faced with an ugly reality! IF we do not get more of our friends and family involved and calling their legislators and leadership of BOTH parties then I fear our ability to get ANYTHING passed will be impossible.
What is even more critical is that the NEXT step for them is to force anti-gun legislation to be passed or these political whores will shut down work on other bills.
I’m sorry but I have done everything I can think of and have been warning you of this coming evolution of the political process for a while. Well it is HERE now. Either get involved now or plan on PA becoming New Jersey in the not too distant future and prepare to surrender your firearms because what is going on now is ONLY going to get worse!
Sorry for the bad news but I’m NOT going to sugar coat the dire situation we are faced with!
Thank you for considering this important message!
The PA House of Representatives Judiciary Committee has scheduled a voting meeting for tomorrow, 9/20 – 10 a.m., to vote on four (4) bills one of which is HB 2258, Rep. Mark Keller’s Firearm Preemption legislation. This would strengthen Pennsylvania's preemption statute, as was passed in 2014, and help to discourage PA municipalities from enacting ‘illegal local’ gun laws.
We are asking you to call and/or e-mail Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Marsico and respectfully request that he bring House Bill 2258 to a vote and that he support the bill. In addition, please also contact all the members of the Judiciary Committee, as well as your Representative, and ask that they support House Bill 2258.
This legislation, HB 2258, provides for the recovery of legal expenses incurred, by gun owners or organizations, when local municipalities are sued for enacting local ordinances, or continue to maintain them, in violation of PA Preemption Law, Title 18 §6120 Limitation on the regulation of firearms and ammunition.
Communities that enact their own ordinances/laws are in direct violation of, not only, PA law but also the Ortiz Supreme Court decision (1996) and Dillon’s Rule?
The Home Rule Charter also prohibits the enactment of ‘any’ law regarding firearms by ‘any’ community covered by this charter?
These community officials are engaging in outright criminal (Title 18, §6119) and civil disobedience with the intent to flaunt and violate state law believing they have immunity from liability and prosecution?
That citizens and private volunteer organizations have, and are, spending their own money trying to reinstate the rule of law?
These violations are occurring with the tacit approval of the state District Attorneys who have the authority to act and are refusing to hold these local officials accountable?
Provide a legal means for individuals and organizations who successfully sue these local municipalities to hold them financially accountable thus preserving and protecting the rule of law and empowering citizens with the ability to fight city hall and be compensated fairly for expenses incurred.
Adds a specific option for damages IF local government enacts a law contrary to the Preemption section §6120 Limitation on the regulation of firearms and ammunition or 53 Pa.C.S. § 2962(g) (relating to limitation on municipal powers).
If a court of law finds that it was an ordinance that violates Pennsylvania Preemption law (Title 18, §6120), the local government shall pay the actual damages and reasonable attorney fees and costs to the party who successfully challenges the regulation.
This is critically important legislation to halt the spread of anti-gun groups, and their minions in local government, who act in violation of PA Laws.
Thank you, in advance, for your attention to this important Alert!
Breaking News: Obama ATF Announces Backdoor Ammo Ban!
This is not a drill. The Obama administration just implemented a new regulatory change that has sent the entire firearms industry into a tailspin overnight.
A key ingredient necessary for making gunpowder has been re-classified as a high explosive, making it illegal for any company within the industry to transport or store it as they have for decades.
It all stems from how the ATF regulates a chemical compound known as nitrocellulose. For decades, the firearm industry has been allowed to store and transport wetted nitrocellulose without having to treat it as a high explosive. Manufacturers deliberately mix the chemical compound with water to make it less volatile.
Overnight, the ATF just completely changed its regulations, turning everyone in the ammunition industry into felons if they do business the way they have for decades.
The entire industry is now at a standstill. Without nitrocellulose, you can’t make smokeless gunpowder. Without smokeless powder, there’s no ammunition.
This is a fast developing situation on expanding the denial of owning a firearm because you or I are on some kind of list. The latest version of the attack on our 2nd Amendment Rights is embodied in HR 5611 (HB 5611 on FOAC Site) and it contains many flaws. Some of the worst problems are identified below for your review and consideration.
Unless these problems are corrected we cannot support this legislation.
Please contact your Congressman and tell them to oppose this legislation until these issues are addressed and 'no' American is put through the requirement to 'Prove' their innocence to the government.
SB 1330 is critically important Preemption Legislation that would restore what the PA Supreme Court took away when they struck down ACT 192 last week. Preemption of firearms laws is important in maintaining one set of rules and laws that is uniform across Pennsylvania. In 2014 the legislature signed HB 80 into law, as ACT 192, and this legislation simply provided for standing and recovery of legal fees if local communities enacted or maintained illegal firearms laws. Over 100 communities have these illegal laws in defiance of Title 18, Section 6120 (crimes codes) and District Attorneys are 'not' stopping these laws as they should. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown are a few of the main violators of this law.
Yesterday SB 1330 passed out of committee, PA Senate Local Government, by an 8-3 vote and will now be considered by the 'full' Senate on the floor.
Also, please thank Sen. Alloway for introducing SB 1330 and Sen. Hutchinson, Chairman of the Local Government Committee, for moving SB 1330 out of committee.

References: § 6120
 § 5301
 § 6120
 v. 
 §6120
 §6119
 §6120
 § 2962
 §6120