Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Over the last 2 weeks, Americans have been victimized by criminals that have been allowed to run rampant, encouraged by failed government and pro-criminal policies. While lawlessness and crime dominate our streets and communities, legislators have been maneuvering and preparing to wage a major assault on our rights by bringing a collection of bills to the PA House floor on Monday, May 22, that will do NOTHING but negatively effect law abiding gun owners; punishing gun owners for being gun owners.
HB 1018 Extreme Risk Protection Orders
HB 714 Universal Background Checks
HB 338 Mandatory Reporting of Lost or Stolen Firearms
ALL of these bills circumvent the PA Constitution.
Article 1 Section 21 of the PA Constitution clearly states:
The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.
The right to bear arms has been in the Pennsylvania Constitution since 1776, however, the formatting of the Constitution had changed over the years and the wording of the right to bear arms changed in 1790 to what we now know. The 1790 version made the right to keep and bear arms much more clear and less interpretive. Over the years, adjustments to PA Constitution occurred in 1790, 1838, 1874, and 1968, but in those subsequent revisions, the right of the people to keep and bear arms (on paper) was never questioned, abridged, re-written or infringed by PA lawmakers.
1776 version:
Chapter 1, Section XIII: That the people have a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves and the state; and as standing armies in the time of peace are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be kept up: And that the military should be kept under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power.
1790-Present Version:
The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.
This begs the question, why are legislators in 2023 trying to circumvent Article 1 Section 21 of the PA Constitution by passing laws that QUESTION that right? One can make a compelling argument that when legislators pass laws that circumvent the Constitution, they are in fact breaking the laws established by the Constitution.
Clearly, a move to restrict the citizenry is a move to gain power for the government. There is NO OTHER LOGICAL WAY to interpret it. IF a government is of the people, by the people, for the people, then preserving the rights and “power” of the people will in turn benefit the government.
When a government becomes a collection and culture of “The Elected Class” seeking a permanent place where their power can serve them, their interests, and the interest of their political party, OVER that of their constituents, then THAT government no longer functions as means to ensure the equal Civil Body Politick, it functions as the true model of tyranny.
Many well-meaning citizens feel that “common sense” laws will be good to ensure safety.
Elected officials who fail to enforce existing laws and promote policies that empower criminals and lawlessness that endangers the public, WHILE promoting legislation that limit the rights of ALL constituents including their “well meaning” ones, then these elected officials are committing a great fraud upon the people.
Earlier this year, The Washington Post interviewed me for an article that was ultimately published as a propaganda hit piece specifically targeting the AR15 Platform. I spent almost an hour of time over a few phone calls speaking to reporter Todd Frankel. My quotes were never used in the series. Mr. Frankel asked me why the AR15 was the country’s most popular rifle? Why are so many Americans wanting to buy the AR15? My answer was simple, but based upon his reaction, not the answer he was looking for, and this was likely the reason they did not publish it. I said:
Americans are not buying AR 15’s to buy AR 15’s… they recognize that government cannot protect them and their families, and they are exercising their right to arm themselves to protect themselves and those that they love, it just so happens that the AR 15 is plentiful and affordable. It’s not about the gun.
It is not about the gun.
When propagandists and politicians make their argument and stance about “THE GUN” they dismiss that you and your family are precious. They dismiss that YOU are worth protecting. They dismiss that you are the true check and balance in our Constitutional Republic.
In the defensive classes that I teach, I use what is called “The Big Picture Rule”. This rule places a focus on the individual and the responsibility that THEY take on when THEY choose to arm themselves. The Big Picture Rule goes like this:
Recognize, YOU are in control of a firearm, if YOU use that firearm negligently, carelessly, or with malice, YOU have the potential to harm or kill yourself or another person.
It is not about the gun.
You can use the Big Picture Rule and substitute firearm with chainsaw, motor vehicle, hammer, sharp knife, baseball bat, pesticide, or can of gasoline. It is not about the “thing” is about the person who wields the “thing”.
Personal responsibility is a lost art in this culture of no consequence and emotional decision making. People’s feelings are treated as fact. If facts compete with emotion they are treated as bias, prejudice, or hate. This kind of mindset is promoted and perpetuated by the very same people in government that are working hard to restrict, and in many cases strip us ALL of our individual rights. Why is that???
When the people can no longer protect themselves from criminals and elected officials, then tyrants can rule the roost.
What can we do?
We must educate and responsibly arm as many of our law-abiding fellow Pennsylvanians as possible to save lives and maintain our sovereignty as a Constitutional Republic. We must educate elected officials so that they understand why they must uphold and enforce the PA and US Constitution. We must stand by those elected officials that stand for “the people” and fight the elected class in Harrisburg. We must do this work for ourselves and our posterity. We must do this work for our fellow citizens. If each individual does the work, together we can gain back our freedom and keep the tyrannical elements of government at bey.
Tim Schmidt, founder of the USCCA, wrote a book called, “If It Is To Be, It’s Up To Me”. You can read it for free by clicking this link. In the book he talks about that if you see things that need to be done, then you need to do them… not wait for others to do so in your stead. We must do the work! Let us stand shoulder to shoulder and do the work together!
FOAC-ILLEA is heading to Harrisburg... and we need your support. Whether you're able to attend or not, Monday morning is the last time you'll have a say on:
HB 1018 Extreme Risk Protection Orders
HB 714 Universal Background Checks
HB 338 Mandatory Reporting of Lost or Stolen Firearms
So tonight, and Monday morning... take the time to email your elected Representative and reinforce for them we will not stand for confiscation and criminalization orders on our Article I Section 21 rights! These are NOT TO BE QUESTIONED. OPPOSE these bills!
FOAC-ILLEA is in the fight... are you??
No, I am not talking about letting your fingers do the walking in the phone book (if you are a millennial or younger, you likely did not get that reference). FOAC-ILLEA President authored various “white page” reports on recent legislation. Feel free to download these documents and educate yourself and others on gun control legislation.
Click Here for EROP’s (Red Flag Laws)
Click Here for Mandatory Reporting of Lost or Stolen
Click Here for Universal Background Checks
Click Here for Mandatory Storage
By Stephen LaSpina, FOAC-ILLEA Board Member
It’s a little less than a month away now. Second Amendment supporters in Pennsylvania will descend upon the Capitol Building in Harrisburg. It’s the annual event where citizens come together in defense of their right to keep and bear arms.
Now more than ever, it is important that we make a strong showing. The current political climate is certainly polarized. The State House of Representatives is nearly split in half along party lines. Yet there are legislators on both sides of the aisle who reach out to FOAC- ILLEA every day to learn about pending legislation. We are thankful for the influence we have. YOU can help us grow that influence on your behalf.
Many attendees at a rally, like the one we will hold on Monday, June 12, sends a clear message to legislators that the Second Amendment is a non-negotiable issue to the people of Pennsylvania. It is also a time to stand with and be encouraged by other people with common interests and shared values.
You may often feel helpless looking around at the political landscape. This is one day you may not feel that way, for your mere presence has true power to affect change.
Take the day off of work, and bring friends with you to Harrisburg. Let’s fill the Capitol steps with freedom-loving people, united in one voice, standing together in defense of the inalienable right to keep and bear arms. I look forward to seeing you there.
2018 Second Amendment Rally inside the Capitol Rotunda. The energy was palpable.
Lower Marion Township, outside Philadelphia, has once more moved to infringe the rights of the citizenry by violating PA Preemption laws through anti-gun zoning.
PA Title 18 Section 6120 clearly states:
(a) General rule.--No county, municipality or township may in any manner regulate the lawful ownership, possession, transfer or transportation of firearms, ammunition or ammunition components when carried or transported for purposes not prohibited by the laws of this Commonwealth.
Lower Marion is once more choosing to ignore the law.
FOAC has sued Lower Marion before for violating preemption... and won. We also sued cities and municipalities across the Commonwealth including Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Harrisburg for preemption violations… and won.
Upon learning of this most recent violation by Lower Marion, we secured the services of Josh Prince and Dillon Harris and began the process of taking legal action against the misguided OR tyrannical elected officials of Lower Marion.
To read the letter sent to Lower Marion from Josh Prince on behalf of FOAC-ILLEA CLICK HERE.
It is amazing how history repeats itself.
In 2020, Amy Swearer (Heritage Foundation) testified to the US House Judiciary Committee during a hearing about so called “assault weapons”. Notice, sitting behind her is one of our own Pennsylvania patriots, Kelly Ann Pidgeon. She is the Northeast Regional Director of D.C. Project. Thanks to FOAC-ILLEA life member, Harry Sills, for sharing this video with me a few days ago. It is worth the time to watch. CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO.
By Stephen LaSpina, FOAC-ILLEA Board Member
When you hear the words “mass shooting,” what comes to mind? For me, I think of the places some of these atrocities occurred. Columbine. Sandy Hook. Sutherland Springs. Parkland. Uvalde. Las Vegas. Nashville. These seemingly random acts resulted in mass casualties where the killers hunted for any human life they could snuff out.
Recently, some variation of this statement has been circulating in media outlets: Mass shootings in the USA hits 225 in first 136 days of 2023.
I recently heard this headline repeated by someone close to me who is an ardent, politically conservative gun owner. Knowing the federal definition of a mass shooting, I knew this was incorrect, and I began to research where these numbers came from.
The extreme political left loves to redefine terms. One such example is “mass shooting.” The FBI has had a standard definition for years. Two of the criteria are that there are three or more fatalities, and there is no other criminal act occurring adjacent before the killing starts.
https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/active-shooter-incidents-in-the-us-2022-042623.pdf/view
The Gun Violence Archive is a website maintained by a group of researchers that shares data on all manner of shootings. The problem is, they have redefined “mass shooting” to not only include shooting incidents where no one has died, but also incidents where other criminal activity was occurring (people shot during robberies, drug deals, gang turf wars, etc.).
This is more than disingenuous. It is intentionally deceptive. The redefinition wildly inflates incident numbers and gives cover to media outlets doing sloppy propaganda journalism. In turn, it paints a picture for the average American that is simply inaccurate. The reason the Pulse Night Club shooting in Orlando dominated news coverage was precisely because that kind of random, mass carnage does not occur every day in our country. However, there is no such rarity when it comes to gang shootings in places like Chicago. Yet both kinds of incidents are categorized by the GVA as “mass shootings.”
The inflated GVA numbers have been used by many politicians to call for more infringement on the right to keep and bear arms. They feed the narrative of gun grabbers by deceptively changing definitions and purposely inflating statistics. This is not the work of serious statistical research; it is political activism, plain and simple.
We each need to do our part in pushing back against these deceptions. We must learn to never accept the faulty premise of our opponent’s argument. Educate those around you. Expose the lies.
Speak the truth.
Finally, while these events are statistically rare, they do occur; this is one good reason why we must be persistent advocates for responsibly armed Americans to never be disarmed.
FOAC-ILLEA Volunteers, Kevin Jackson, Bob Canova, Lisha Mihalko, and Jim Stoker with Rep. Bud Cook at a FOAC-ILLEA Concealed Carry seminar.
(left) Jim Stoker presents at the Allegheny County Sportsmen’s League annual President’s Dinner where he also recognized (center) Bob Canova as the FOAC-ILLEA Volunteer of the year. (right) Klint Macro (ACSL President and FOAC-ILLEA VP) with Jim doing the selfie thing!
George Silowash wrote a fantastic letter to the editor.
Ted Hildabrand organized the funding and implementation of a memorial for FOAC-ILLEA founder Kim Stolfer.
The news posting committee is looking for volunteers. If you can offer a few hours a week to help with adding news stories to the website and social media, please email info@foac-illea.
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.
LOAD UP YOUR CAR AND JOIN US IN HARRISBURG ON MONDAY JUNE 12th! Take the day off work and bring your family. We need to show that gun owners in Pennsylvania care about the 2nd Amendment and Article 1 Section 21 of the PA Constitution. I will be there… Jim Stoker will be there… we hope to see you there too!
Civility is somewhat lost on some of our fellow citizens. Over the last couple years, the anti-gun forces and those who espouse tolerance and acceptance have shown their propensity for intolerance and violence.
In the past, I have quoted and discussed the work of Rebecca Schmoe from Kansas. She is a co-founder of 1 Million Moms Against Gun Control, a state director of D.C. Project and she recently ran for office and was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives.
Recently she published a post on Facebook that was very interesting.
Anyone that has been in the “pro-liberty /pro-rights / pro-gun” movement is no stranger to threats of violence from anti-gun minions.
Recently a contact submission was sent that illustrates the gutlessness and deceptive nature of the anti-gun forces. See the screenshot of the contact form. Using free public websites, I followed the IP address and GPS coordinates to locate the origin of the transmission... VERY INTERESTING.
Contact Submission:
Following the IP Address:
Following the Coordinates:
I wonder who, at Philadelphia City Hall, did not have the courage to strike up a discussion or debate in a civilized and respectful way. I guess it illustrates the way of many of the democratically controlled local governments; hide behind the anonymity of criminals or masks and deception to harass and instill fear by threat using false righteousness to attack those that stand for the individual rights and liberties of all citizens… all Pennsylvanians... All Americans.
Stand with me as we seek to educate our fellow Pennsylvanians to exercise their individual right to arm and defend themselves and those that they love against psychopathic, violent criminals and gutless, tyrannical politicians.
Stay Frosty… Armed and Be Well Regulated!
Yours In Liberty,
Klint Macro
FOAC-ILLEA 1st 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!