Firearms Owners Against Crime

Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action

FOAC-ILLEA Newsletter for March 13th, 2023 :: 03/12/2023

The balance of power in the PA House has once more been redefined. Representative Joanna McClinton has replaced Representative Rozzi as Speaker of the House. The Democrats continue to hold the majority but now the person who controls what gets voted upon has a 69% anti-gun voting record.

However, effective March 16th, PA Representative Mike Zabel (District 163) is resigning due to misconduct allegations. If District 163 can be flipped to “R” then maybe the pendulum could swing again… but that is a BIG BIG MAYBE.

Our individual rights and liberties and the ability to protect ourselves and those that we love, should not be a partisan issue…. But unfortunately, it is. For many years in Pennsylvania, our 2A and Article 1 Section 21 of the PA Constitution were protected by both pro-gun Republicans and pro-gun Democrats. Pro-gun Democrats are not completely extinct in 2023, but they are certainly rare.

But that begs the question, do democrats own guns?

I personally have worked with 1000’s of FFL owners who have sold firearms to liberal democrats over the past couple of years, especially during the government overreach and lockdown period. I have worked with 1000’s of instructors who have trained these very same people to own and use their firearms safely and responsibly, mainly for the use of defense of self and family. How can we get these gun owners to vote for candidates that will fight to uphold and protect their very right to own their defensive tools?

It has been my experience that modern democrats, are NOT single-issue voters. I really do not have any data to support my claim, but in my discussions with voters across the Commonwealth, Democrats are generally more concerned with other issues. The message we need to send to these folks is our right to keep and bear arms is the only thing that stands in the way of the government from eliminating all of our other rights and liberties. Otherwise, why else would the government try so hard to restrict and abolish our abilities to arm and protect ourselves?

“Well, the government is trying to keep us safe”, is the response many will give. My retort is typically, “safe from what..... YOU?” The “safety” argument is easily refuted with solid data from various sources. You are much more likely to be killed by a knife, fists, or a blunt object than an AR15 Rifle. Yet, many in the government are consistently pushing for AR bans and magazine restrictions. Safety huh??? You are also much more likely to be attacked in public. Why are so many democratic elected officials wholesale letting violent criminals loose in the streets? Safety huh???

Let’s look at the list of what the legislature is currently proposing to keep us “safe”. Or, perhaps, ultimately keep tyrants safe from “The People”.

Currently, there are 7 anti-gun and 4 pro-gun bills proposed in the PA House.

Anti-gun / anti-Liberty legislation:

HB217

HB226

HB335

HB337

HB338

HB355

HR37

Pro-gun / pro-Liberty legislation:

HB63

HB154

HB227

HB241

Currently, there are 11 anti-gun and 2 pro-gun bills proposed in the PA Senate.

Anti-gun / anti-Liberty legislation:

SR23

SB48

SB49

SB53

SB57

SB60

SB65

SB204

SB214

SB220

SB281

Pro-gun / pro-Liberty legislation:

SB212

SB192

These “anti” bills run the gamut of restrictions, limitations, bans, and even repeals laws that actually protect the people from local municipalities.

HB217 (Sponsored by Mary Isaacson (D); Robert Freeman (D); Michael Sturla (D); Jose Giral (D); Nancy Guenst (D); Joseph Hohenstein (D); Emily Kinkead (D); Maureen Madden (D); Danielle Otten (D); Ben Sanchez (D); Michael Schlossberg (D) would amend Title 18 and 53 and in essence repeal Preemption; allowing municipalities to regulate and restrict firearms and ammunition sales, ownership, storage and carry. This is just one example of the all-out assault some in the legislature are waging on your ability to defend yourself and your family.

There are also some very positive bills that need to be supported.

HB63 will strengthen preemption. If you remember we helped to get a very similar bill through the House and Senate but then, Gov. Wolf vetoed it.

HB154 is also a very positive bill and we recently issued a statement about it. This legislation would eliminate the defacto registration that existed as a result of the PICS system.

FOAC-ILLEA statement on House Bill 154

Written by Stephen LaSpina, FOAC-ILLEA Board Member

House Bill 154, sponsored by State Representative Jason Ortitay, lays the groundwork for the elimination of the Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) – a flawed, unnecessary, wasteful and redundant background check system.

One of the most significant flaws of the system is the delay between the background inquiry and delivery of results. Just last year, FOAC-ILLEA won a preliminary injunction against the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) for frequent and excessive delays in returning prompt results from PICS. State law requires that the results are to be returned “immediately” (see Title 18, 6111.1). However, the practices and policies currently being employed by the PSP cause this to not be the real-world result.

Another flaw is the excessive nature of denials: in 2021 and 2022 alone, up to 80% of initial denials were erroneous, again causing more hassle and delays for citizens seeking to lawfully exercise their rights.

Pennsylvania is one of only 13 states that use a background system in addition to NICS (National Instant Check System). PICS is unnecessary and redundant precisely because NICS exists, since the same information is shared between the systems.

The icing on the cake? The broken PICS system is wasteful because it costs approximately 8 million tax-payer dollars annually.

As FOAC-ILLEA strongly supports the elimination of PICS, we stand in firm support of HB154. It is past time to remove unnecessary fees and delays for responsible citizens seeking to exercise their Second Amendment rights.

REST IN PEACE JACK HOLDER

Jack Holder, the LAST living survivor of the Japanese attack of the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor, died on February 28th at 101 years old. He will be buried at Arlington. God Bless him and all of the greatest generation. Click here to learn more about Mr. Holder.

THE FOAC-ILLEA SPRING GUNBASH TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT!

But fear not! You can still join us in the fun and fellowship by purchasing an entry ticket at the event. With an entry ticket you can enjoy the food and beverages and take part in the table and special raffles. 

The FOAC-ILLEA gun bash is known to be one of the BEST BASHES in Pennsylvania.

We have $5 - $10 - $20 table raffles and special package raffles. This time we will be adding a special “Gun Builders Package” that will include a 3D Printer and all the parts needed to build your very own semi-automatic pistol.

Entry tickets are $25 and are available at the event.

The FOAC-ILLEA Spring Gun Bash will be held on Saturday, March 18th, 2023, at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Washington, PA.

(Left to Right) FOAC-ILLEA Volunteers Kevin Jackson, Bob Canova, PA Rep. Bud Cook, FOAC-ILLEA President Jim Stoker, and FOAC-ILLEA Board Member, Lisha Mihalko at a recent gun law seminar.

FOAC-ILLEA EVENTS

FOAC-ILLEA is a proud sponsor of the 2023 Gun Makers Match in Monroeville, PA on April 22, 2023

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.

JIM STOKER APPEARS ON “MEET THE PRESSERS”

FOAC-ILLEA President appeared on the most recent episode of Meet The Pressers. The episode was recorded on February 27th, 2023, just before the new shift of power in the PA House. The episode provides a great opportunity to learn about Jim’s vision and plan for our organization as we continue the fight for Liberty! Check out the episode by clicking here.

REPRESENTATIVE ABBY MAJOR APPEARS ON THE DOM GIORDANO SHOW

During the episode, Rep. Major, chair of the 2A Caucus, encourages women to conceal carry as a means to defend themselves from predators. Below is the description from the official show description. Click here to listen to the broadcast.

Dom welcomes in Representative Abby Major onto the Dom Giordano Program just minutes after Representative Mike Zabel sent a letter to House Leader Joanna McClinton telling that he will resign from his post following a press conference by Major in which she pointed to advances made by the Democratic politician. Major tells that as a woman, she wanted to stand against a continued trend in Harrisburg of this type of casual sexual harassment to prevent others from having to suffer what she and other women have had to go through. Major explains that this was just one instance of many that she’s heard about Representative Zabel, and regularly these things are overlooked, which isn’t fair to our female lawmakers. 

CLOSING THOUGHTS

“These shirt-tail men, with their cursed twisted guns, the most fatal widow and orphan makers in the world” – London Paper 1775

My colleague, Ethan Yazel recently sent me a print of his artwork. Ethan is very steeped in all thing muzzleloader and he is a student of history.

The demonization of the armed citizen by the media is not unique to 2023. Scaring the uneducated public by labeling those who take on the responsibility to protect themselves is an old tactic. If you haven’t read it, check out the last edition of the newsletter where I spoke about propaganda.

Only a tyrant feels threatened by free people. A government “of the people” and “for the people” has nothing to fear from “The People”.

The pattern of abuse from “government” on the civil liberties all Americans over the last few years is just a taste of where we are headed if “we” do not take real action to right the ship.

We MUST get involved and be ever vigilant. Make no mistake, we are at risk from criminals AND many elected officials. We must monitor local, state, and federal governments and support those that uphold the Constitution of the US and PA and who are actual servants to the public. We must also try and educate those who are misled and remove those that are knowingly and willingly trying to question and infringe our most basic natural rights. We must hold accountable the government officials that let criminals run rampant in our cities and municipalities. Why do these officials empower criminals all while seeking to restrict the people?

We must vote for candidates that will protect our right to protect ourselves and those that we love.

We must help to fund court challenges that help to restore Liberty and keep government in check.

We must arm ourselves and practice to be better “well regulated” so that we can be more efficient family first responders.

We must be ambassadors and evangelists for Liberty and encourage our fellow Americans to do the same.

I am going to use a quote from the movie “Transformers”.

"50 years from now when you are looking back at your life, don't you want to say you had the guts to get in the car?"

“The car” is the work we must do to fix our Country and leave it better than we found it.

Remember, WE have the power in our Constitutional Republic. Act Accordingly.

Stay Frosty, Stay Armed and Be Well Regulated,

Yours In Liberty,

Klint Macro

FOAC-ILLEA 1st VP

kmacro@foac-illea.org

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.

Sign up for membership HERE.

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!

Firearms Owners Against Crime ILLEA © 2024

P.O. Box 308 Morgan, PA 15064

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