Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
After countless protests, letters, phone calls and meetings with government officials, the People of Pennsylvania have united and declared that they are free from the anti-Constitutional edicts and laws passed by the “elected class” in government that wish to restrict and subjugate the citizenry. Laws that attempt to preempt the natural born rights of all Americans and violate the Bill of Rights of the US Constitution and Article 1 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, are “null and void”.
“The powers of the legislature are defined and limited; and that those limits may not be mistaken or forgotten, the constitution is written. ... Certainly all those who have framed written constitutions contemplate them as forming the fundamental and paramount law of the nation, and consequently the theory of every such government must be, that an act of the legislature, repugnant to the constitution, is void.”
- Chef Justice John Marshall, Marbury v Madison 1803
What would the founders say today if they were faced with the state of the 2023 union? I think most folks know the answer, but many will not say it out loud. However, perhaps we might be mistaken in our speculative assessment.
The founders of 1776 would likely advocate rebellion. I truly believe Sam Adams would have sent a contingent of patriots to Washington D.C. to tear down the fencing that surrounded the Capitol in 2020. However, the founders of 1787 might have simply stated, “you don’t need to shed blood, just get your heads out of your asses and follow the damn Constitution!” The founders of 1789 would likely say, “The 17 articles were added to place ‘controls’ upon the government and protect the governed; 2023 law can not and shall not preempt the Rights of The People. The founders in the States that ratified the Bill of Rights in 1791 would likely say, “These 10 amendments are natural born rights of The People and can not be violated by anyone… especially the federal government!”. Some representatives at the State level may very well have organized militia to march on the federal and some state offices during the C-vid lockdowns, and THAT militia would have been solely comprised of “The People”.
It is amusing to speculate what a particular “Founder” would do today, but I believe that ALL OF THEM would agree that in our Constitutional Republic, the power lies with “People” not the “Government”.
Many of the founding fathers were at various conventions at the birth and infancy of our country. However, Roger Sherman (CT) was a framer of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Roger Sherman was the only man to sign all 4 documents AND the 1774 Petition to the King of England.
What would HE say? That is hard to say… but we CAN read WHAT he SAID!
“Sad will be the day when the American people forget their traditions and their history, and so longer remember that the country they love, the institutions they cherish, and the freedom they hope to preserve, were born from the throes of armed resistance to tyranny, and nursed in the rugged arms of fearless men.”
“The question is, not what rights naturally belong to man, but how they may be most equally and effectually guarded in society.”
“no laws bind the people but such as they consent to be Governed by.”
- Roger Sherman
As we celebrate this 247th Independence Day, let us reflect upon what it was that made those founding fathers band together and formally commit treason against the tyrant King of England.
To get a better gauge on where the founder’s heads were at, let us read EXACTLY what they said. The Declaration was largely penned by Thomas Jefferson, but they all had the opportunity to contribute their 2 cents! As you review this document (argueanbly the most important document written by man, besides the Bible), ask yourself, Do YOU see similarities with the the actions of “The King” in 1776 and “The Government” in 2023?
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
Interesting Supreme Court DecisionOn June 29th, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 9-0 in a Religious freedom decision. Although this decision is not “gun related” I find it to be of interest. The decision in essence ruled that a lower court applied the wrong standard when that lower court decided that the US Post Office in Quarryville, PA, did not violate the Constitutional rights of their employee. The lower court said that the employee's request to not work on the Sabbath placed “undue hardship” on the agency and therefore was not a rights violation when they demanded that the employee work on Sunday. The US Supreme Court disagreed. You can read more about the decision and context by clicking here.
Why am I sharing this here on the FOAC-ILLEA Newsletter?
Folks are saying that this decision will mean that employers will be required by law to respect individual citizen’s religious beliefs (a fundamental right guaranteed and protected by the Constitution) by granting them special accommodations.
The postal carrier, Gerald Geoff, said of the decision, “I am grateful to have had my case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court and that they have decided to uphold religious liberty. I hope this decision allows others to be able to maintain their convictions without living in fear of losing their jobs because of what they believe.”
I wonder, in the future will someone remember this decision when they argue that an employer is violating an employees Constitutional rights when that employee is not permitted to bear arms in defense of themselves and other while on the job?
Many citizens believe that they need to arm themselves in order to protect their own life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Many employers, restrict or ban their employees' lawful carry for the purpose of self defense. Perhaps when that next 2A work-related challenge happens in the court we will once more hear of GROFF v. DEJOY, POSTMASTER GENERAL decision.
FOAC-ILLEA presents Concealed Carry Seminars with Pro-Liberty Elected Officials, works with County Sheriffs at Satellite License to Carry Events, provides information tables at Gun Shows, and organizes for Pro-2A Rallies, gun bashes, and special events. To see the most up-to-date schedule of FOAC-ILLEA events and meetings, CLICK HERE.
Hunter Biden seems to be quite fortunate when it comes to the leniency of the justice system and the mainstream media. You may have heard about the recent “Hunter Biden Deal”. This is not something you can purchase in the drive thru of your favorite fast-food joint.
Hahaha…. He said “joint”.
Right now, I am NOT going to comment on Hunter’s alleged business dealings, sexual escapades, offspring, or taxes. I want to talk specifically about the “gun charge”.
Making a false statement on an ATF Form 4473 is a crime. Hunter Biden apparently admitting to being an unlawful user of controlled substances (crack cocaine). During the same timeframe of this affliction, he purchased a firearm and stated on the document that he was NOT a user of a controlled substance.
More Americans have been jacked-up by paperwork “perjury” than can be counted.
If you or I were in the same predicament, would the justice system and mainstream media be so forgiving?... hard to say.... as I said before, Hunter, it seems, is the treated different than many others....
However, let me play devil’s advocate. I strongly profess that using mind controlling substances while using or carrying a firearm is GROSSLY irresponsible. However, doesn’t a drunk or high person have every right to protect themselves that a sober person does? I agree that this person will have a much harder time (or at least his lawyer will have a harder time) articulating reasonableness with using deadly force. But no matter your race, creed, socioeconomic background, status, political affiliations, or state of mind, the right to self-protection is for ALL Americans is it not?
If a person commits a NON-VIOLENT crime, and does their time, and fully pays their debt to society, shouldn’t that individual gain back their ability to arm themselves to protect their family?
The (Philadelphia based) US Court of Appeals for the 3rd District recently ruled (11-4) that the US Government cannot ban someone convicted of a non-violent crime from possessing firearms.
Perhaps the media should be using Hunter Biden as an example of how background checks do little to stop liars (or perhaps factually mistaken folks) from obtaining firearms. Perhaps the Biden Administration and media should use Hunter as an example of how ALL Americans should have the right to exercise their 2A rights… ALL AMERICANS!
The 2A is NOT just for Hunters…………..
FOAC-ILLEA President Jim Stoker Co-Host's Meet The Pressers!Join Matt Mallory and guest co-host Jim Stoker (President of FOAC-ILLEA) with their special guest Mychael Waller Sr. and Devin Perkins.
Mychael and Devin tell their stories about how they survived criminal violence, protected innocent lives by taking on the responsibility to protect themselves and those that they love.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE EPISODE.
BTW.... Jim Stoker and Klint Macro are in the planning phase of having our very own FOAC-ILLEA Podcast..... coming soon!
Lest we not forget that 160 years ago, in 1863, thousands upon thousands of American's blood soaked into our beloved Pennsylvania soil at Gettysburg. Some fought to save the Union, some fought to free the slaves, others fought to end northern aggression, and others fought for states rights. It is easy for us TODAY to cast judgements upon those that lived and died many generations ago.
I can say from my own personal experiences, people today don't always interpret what happend on 9-11 correctly, or at least how I experienced it, and that was only 22 years ago. How can we expect to fairly judge what was in the heart of those that were from a very different time many many years ago?
Time and the public opinion of "the day" can easily revise the perceived intent of those that lived before us. We must be careful, for someday, WE will be judged by those that were not alive a hundred years after we have perished.
Last summer, my son, Augie, and I sat in the field by bloody angle at Gettysburg and listened to the wind and touched the ground where so many men fell. We discussed the topography, the sacrifice, and took care to sit in silence to listen to the gentle breeze. Sometimes the air will tell you things... you just gotta listen.
In the HBO mini series, John Adams second episode, "Independence", (a very very good production in my opinion) the Continental Congress passed the resolution calling for their separation from the sovereign and declaring independence. After all of the argument, debate, yelling, pounding, fighting, praising, and "harrumphs", these men paused in silence as they reflected upon what they had done together. They had agreed to do something that many of them would have never dreamed of a year earlier, commit high treason. They heard it in the air that day in that small stuffy room in Philadelphia as the words fell silent. Sometimes the air will tell you things... you just gotta listen.
The Declaration was not "signed" until later that summer in 1776. Not all who signed were there on July 4th and not all who were there on July 4th signed. However those that ultimately signed the document were:
New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton Massachusetts: Samuel Adams, John Adams, John Hancock, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery Connecticut: Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott New York: William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris New Jersey: Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark Pennsylvania: Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross Delaware: George Read, Caesar Rodney, Thomas McKean Maryland: Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton Virginia: George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton North Carolina: William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn South Carolina: Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward Jr., Thomas Lynch Jr., Arthur Middleton Georgia: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton
Years later in an interview, Pennsylvania’s Benjamin Rush wrote of the “pensive and awful silence which pervaded the house when we were called up, one after another, to the table of the President of Congress,” to sign “what was believed by many at that time to be our own death warrants.”
Would you have signed YOUR name???
Our Liberty and freedom is precious. We must exercise the rights we choose and teach others to value the ones that they do not. We must fight to protect ALL the rights of ALL Americans just as we would protect our own. We owe it to ourselves. We owe it to those that had gone before us. We owe it to those that haven’t arrived yet.
Stay Frosty… Armed and Be Well Regulated!
Happy Independence Day!
Yours In Liberty,
Klint Macro
FOAC-ILLEA VP
FOAC-ILLEA is continuing to fight for the hearts and minds of our fellow Pennsylvanians to promote individual liberties and freedoms. We are steadfast and resolute and dedicated to protecting our Constitution and advancing the cause of the 2nd Amendment and Article 1 Section 21 of the PA Constitution.
FOAC-ILLEA’s educational efforts are expanding across the Commonwealth. FOAC-ILLEA volunteers are teaching more concealed carry classes each month and additional virtual education events are forthcoming.
FOAC-ILLEA is continuing to fight in the courts. Whether this means new litigation to challenge local tyrants, fight the bureaucrats that make it harder for Pennsylvanians to exercise their most basic rights, or the funding of amicus briefs to support others who are already involved in court battles, we are actively helping to establish case law that will help advance the cause of liberty.
FOAC-ILLEA volunteers research proposed legislation, consult with experts, and offer advice to elected officials about legislation as well as educate the public on the strength or folly of legislation that could have lasting positive or negative effects upon our liberty and the liberty of our children.
I urge you to help me spread the word about FOAC-ILLEA. Share this newsletter and the website with your sphere of influence. Get a fellow gun owner to join FOAC-ILLEA.
Contact your Legislators HERE.
Read previous newsletters HERE.
The FOAC-ILLEA website is a wealth of information. Track current legislation, contact legislators and elected officials, look up gun laws, read easy to understand synopsis’ on stand your ground, castle doctrine, and legal use of force. Keep up to date with current gun related news. There is all this and more on the FOAC-ILLEA website.
Get involved!
If you have read this entire newsletter and made it here to this statement… you are already interested and vested.
Donate your time, your talents, or your treasure. VOTE pro-2A and get your friends to vote pro-2A as well. Become a member and get your friends to become a member. If you are already a member, consider “upping your membership” to a higher level. Join us at the gun bash; purchase a ticket. Volunteer to help at the bash. Volunteer to join a committee to send emails, write letters, make phone calls… NOW IS THE TIME TO DO. DON’T PUT IT OFF. “We the People” have been sitting on the sidelines too long.
An Armed and Educated Citizenry is the true check and balance in our Constitutional Republic and the ultimate homeland security!