Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
“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.” – Excerpt of The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence, save the Holy Bible, is the greatest document written by man. One can only marvel at the eloquence of each word. Every word is artfully penned with precision and musicality. Although originally drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the delegates of the 2nd Continental Congress in 1776 each had a say in the final wording. The Declaration of Independence is THE foundational document of what our Country is and can be.
Later in 1787, the Federal Convention in Philadelphia, ultimately discarded the Articles of Confederation, crafting the U.S. Constitution and established our Constitutional Republic.
“Republic. I like the sound of the word. It means people can live free, talk free, go or come, buy or sell, be drunk or sober, however they choose. Some words give you a feeling. Republic is one of those words that makes me tight in the throat - the same tightness a man gets when his baby takes his first step or his first baby shaves and makes his first sound as a man. Some words can give you a feeling that makes your heart warm. Republic is one of those words.” – Davey Crockett, performed by John Wayne – The Alamo (1960)
The Articles of Confederation (1777) were more of a treaty than a constitutional form of government. The United States under the articles were independent and sovereign States that were united in spirit but not in practice. The government of “The United States of America” could not tax, it could not regulate commerce, and it could not effectively mount a war effort for the common defense, and it could not effectively settle disputes between the individual states of the confederation.
It didn’t take long to recognize that the country was not working.
Shays’ Rebellion in 1786-1787 urgently illustrated that a change was required, or the new American experiment was doomed to fail.
It was the spirit of the Declaration of Independence that empowered the delegates of the Great Convention of Philadelphia in 1787 to throw out the articles and create our current Constitutional Republic. They saw the need to cast off their own government of 1777 and start anew. I feel that the experiences of the country (or Confederation) gave these men of the revolution the wisdom they needed to create our current governmental system. That and perhaps a little divine intervention.
Our beloved U.S. Constitution establishes a government of the people, by the people, for the people with separate but equal branches and checks and balances. However, the ultimate check and balance IS “the People”. This is a true founding principle of the Declaration of Independence. After all, the Declaration states that “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”.
An Armed and Educated Citizenry is the true check and balance in our Constitutional Republic and the ultimate homeland security!
Unfortunately, today in 2024, the country IS not working. Our Constitution works just fine, however the problem is elected officials and bureaucrats are not following it, and we the People are not enforcing it.
The framework of our Constitutional Republic guarantees the People the ability to abolish destructive administrations, and institute new Government every election cycle by exercising our right to vote. Many folks are squandering this sacred civic responsibility.
Some people say, “my vote don’t count”. If that was the case, why would they work so hard to get it? Don’t buy into that lie… it is just to keep YOU from voting.
“The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” – Verbal Kint, performed by Kevin Spacey – The Usual Suspects (1995)
This election we have the opportunity to fix our Country by using the infrastructure of our Constitutional Republic while harnessing the spirit and intent of the Declaration of Independence.
The Biden-Harris Administration has been and IS the most anti-gun administration in the history of our country. Why would the president and vice president of a government of the, by the, and for the People, be so hell bent on disarming the People? What else do they have up their sleeve? History teaches us that when government strives to disarm peaceful citizens, they do not intend to keep the peace once the People are disarmed.
FOAC-Institute is a non-partisan organization. We do not exclusively support Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Green’s, Whigs, or whatever party you can think of. With that said, ANY elected official (regardless of their party) that consistently violates, or espouses, or strives to violate the individual rights of Pennsylvanians; we will oppose. Any elected official that empowers and emboldens criminals to freely prey upon and victimize Pennsylvanians; we will oppose.
Often sportsmen’s clubs will ask us to come to their clubs to talk about current legislation, but they will say, “we don’t want to get political.”
Being educated on what elected officials are doing in government, and getting involved, holding their feet to the Constitution, statutory law, and case law is not politics it is CIVIC DUTY.
The easiest and least confrontational way to effect positive change in government is to vote. Vote for the best candidate that will protect up your individual rights and liberties. Vote for the best candidate that will protect the sovereignty of our Constitutional Republic, enforce the laws so that criminals are delt with, not unleased to prey upon innocent citizens.
You may see a narrative thread in the FOAC-I newsletters every election cycle and leading up to this one. WE HAVE TO GET GUN OWNERS TO THE POLLS AND VOTE PRO-GUN. Hundreds of thousands of gun-owning Pennsylvanians are not even registered to vote…. Let alone cast a vote. WE MUST GET THEM TO THE POLLS!!!! I wrote a blog post about this earlier this year, you can read it by CLICKING HERE.
We are less than a month from Election Day!
October 21, 2024 is the last day to register to vote in Pennsylvania!
October 29, 2024 is the last day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot in Pennsylvania!
October 21, 2024 is the suggested last day to request a mail in ballot in Pennsylvania!
Tuesday, November 5, 2024 is the deadline to return your mail ballot. IT MUST BE RECEIVED BY YOUR COUNTY BY 8PM.
Tuesday, November 5, 2024 is ELECTION DAY…. We have less than a month.
CLICK HERE FOR PENNSYLVANIA VOTER INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION LINKS
The country IS not working.
"Well, she's, I'm in constant contact with her. She's aware we all, we're singing from the same song sheet. We, she helped pass all the laws that are being employed,"… “she was a major player in everything we've done” -Joe Biden October 4th 2024
Even Joe says Kamala is responsible for the mess of the last administration.
“Are you better off today than you were four years ago?” – Ronald Reagan 1980
We know things are bad; gun control, the economy, rampant crime, illegal immigration, unstable world, inflation, botched disaster relief, tyranny… We must act!
Get yourself and those in your sphere of influence to vote and VOTE PRO-GUN.
Don’t Know who is pro-gun? Reference the Voter Guide from FOAC-PAC by CLICKING HERE.
It would seem that FOAC-I and its members are again experiencing cooperate censorship. When we send out alerts, agendas and newsletters, all FOAC-I members and subscribers with Hotmail, Outlook, and Live email addresses are bouncing as undeliverable. This is a corporate censorship problem. We have dealt with similar issues in the past with other email providers. We are confident that we can resolve this issue eventually, but it will likely take significant time. If you know of a FOAC-I member or subscriber who is NOT getting our transmissions, first, feel free to forward information to them, but urge them to (if they have the ability) to log into their member account on the www.foac-illea.org website and change their email address to another email address. If they are a subscriber and not a member, urge them to join as a member and set up their account with another email address.
So far this session in the Pennsylvania House – 78 Total Firearms Bills, 61 anti-gun, 16 pro-gun, 1 watched.
So far this session in the Pennsylvania Senate – 45 Total Firearm Bills, 34 anti-gun, 10 pro-gun.
So far this session in the U.S. House – 203 Total Firearm Bills, 124 anti-gun, 78 pro-gun, 1 watched.
So far this session in the U.S. Senate – 86 Total Firearm Bills, 49 anti-gun and 35 pro-gun, 1watched
From the Desk of the President Blog 10/4/24
By Jim Stoker, FOAC-Institute President
On September 25th, 2024, Lisha Tichenor (Mihalko), Bob Canova, Kevin Jackson and I all piled into Bob’s faithful mini-van and headed to Sewickley for the Keep Kids Safe roundtable event hosted by Ceasefire Pa. We hadn’t registered for the event but planned to peacefully attend and hear what the opposition had to say about their proposed methods of making our schools a safer place for our children. I am always open to discussion, and why wouldn’t we engage in a civil discourse trying to solve problems in our communities?
They relocated their event shortly before the scheduled time. So shortly before, in fact, that even State Representative Venkat went to the wrong place prior to being brought up to speed on the new “hidden” location. We were able to find the relocated meeting, however, despite the last-minute shenanigans. I can’t help but wonder, if the relocation had anything to do with my email to the membership indicating our intentions to attend, but that is something we will never know.
Upon entering the event, after ringing a buzzer at the locked doors of St. Brendan’s Episcopal Church on McAleer Road in Sewickley, we were greeted politely by a woman who was pleasant enough, even if she did express a disliking of our FOAC logoed attire. The host made eye contact with me, and I could see she recognized us, but we quietly found a table and took our seats.
To continue reading the blog post CLICK HERE.
FOAC-ILLEA Secures Major Legal Victory Against City of HarrisburgFrom Press Release 10/2/24
Pittsburgh, PA – Firearms Owners Against Crime - Institute for Legal Legislative and Education Action (FOAC-ILLEA) secured a major victory against The City of Harrisburg with a decision issued by Judge Andrew H. Dowling that enjoined the city’s enforcement of several ordinances that unlawfully attempted to regulate firearms and ammunition.
“This decision is yet another validation of the preemption clause of the Pennsylvania Constitution and underscores the fact that no municipality may act contrary to state law,” said Jim Stoker, FOAC-ILLEA President. “While justice was delayed in this case, with it taking more than nine years to be completed, FOAC-ILLEA is thrilled to have won yet another legal victory in defense of the Second Amendment.”
In January 2015, FOAC-ILLEA challenged the legality of several gun ordinances, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief against the city, its mayor, and the police chief. In his September 27, 2024 decision, Judge Dowling granted a permanent injunction enjoining the city’s enforcement of four ordinances that attempt to unlawfully regulate firearms and ammunition.
The Harrisburg ordinances that were enjoined include an attempt to prohibit the discharge of a firearm within city limits unless at a firing range or an accredited educational facility approved by the mayor or chief of police; requiring a lawful gun owner to report any lost or stolen firearm within 48 hours; possession of firearms by minors; and prohibiting the possession, use, and discharge of firearms within city parks.
FOAC-ILLEA additionally challenged an ordinance that allowed for prohibitions on firearms and ammunition at any time the mayor was to declare a state of emergency in the city. Judge Dowling stopped short of ruling against Harrisburg on this ordinance, stating that the ordinance has never been triggered. In a footnote, Judge Dowling noted that if ever triggered with an emergency declaration, the ordinance would likewise be preempted.
“FOAC-ILLEA will always fight to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Pennsylvania Constitution when there are challenges to the Second Amendment. We have successfully fought other local gun ordinances similar to those enacted by Harrisburg and will continue to make the case that an attempt to regulate firearms unconstitutionally infringes on rights conferred by the Second Amendment, the Pennsylvania Constitution, and are preempted by the Pennsylvania Uniform Firearms Act of 1995,” Stoker continued.
To learn more about FOAC-ILLEA and its work to protect the Second Amendment, visit www.FOAC-ILLEA.org.
The fall 2024 FOAC-Institute gun bash is on like Donkey Kong! Join us on Saturday November 16th, 2024, from 1PM to 6PM. This is the best gun bash ticket in the Commonwealth!
The FOAC gun bash is as legendary and all American as the stories of young George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, the Doolittle Raiders, and Timothy Murphy. However, 2 times a year, YOU can be part of that legend and tradition.
Be sure to mark NOVEMBER 16th, 2024, off your calendar and join us at the Washington County Fair Grounds for our fall bash. The bashes are out main fundraising events, and the money raised through the bash are used to defend our right to keep and bear arms and Article 1 Section 21 of the PA Constitution ALL across the Commonwealth.
Over the last year FOAC-Institute has gained a lot of members from the eastern side of the state. Let me tell you, the food, fellowship, and fun that is had at the bash is well worth the trip. In addition to the main ticket drawings, there are pick of the table drawings, 50/50 raffles, a mystery safe drawing, and a WALL of guns. Join like-minded individuals as they celebrate the individual’s right to keep and bear arms.
FOAC-Institute 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-Institute events and meetings, CLICK HERE.
Look for seminars in West Mifflin, DuBois, Monroeville, Altoona, Laceyville, Pipersville, and more!!!
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In Four Weeks, Swing State Gun Owners Could Determine the Future of the Second Amendment
Biden administration announces new actions to curb gun violence
What Biden's Latest Anti-Gun Executive Orders Might Mean
Homicides are Plummeting in Philly, and It's Not Because of Gun Control
Walz's Attempt to Clear Up 'Friends With School Shooters' Comment Raises Even More Questions
Kamala Harris Promises to Take Your Guns Away
Massachusetts Governor Unleashes October Surprise on Gun Owners
Once more I find myself writing this newsletter in the relative safety of a hotel in another state other than my beloved Pennsylvania. I do a lot of traveling for my “day gig”.
Driving and flying with a firearm is not always difficult but is sure can be inconvenient and most certainly can be confusing. I wrote a blog piece about traveling with firearms last year. You can read it by clicking here.
When I work with other industry professionals, trainers, 2A advocates, and educators from across the country, discussions often result in “my state is worse than yours” challenges.
Pennsylvania appears to be a bastion of freedom in a sea of tyranny, at least compared to our neighbors to the north, south, and east. Keep in mind, PA is often in the top 10 most restricted state in the country and we are only a few Senate seats away from losing everything we have fought and worked for in the last 25 years.
We MUST NOT LET THAT HAPPEN.
The Presidential election is super important. We have 2 KNOWN Quantities running for President. One is clearly better for the 2A than the other. One would very likely sign national reciprocity into law where the other most certainly would not. One HAS put pro-2A judges on the Supreme Court, the other most certainly would not. Yes, the Presidential election is important.
Our Pennsylvania “down ballot” elections are even more important to our freedom in Pennsylvania. Be sure to research the candidates and vote for the better candidate. Look at their voting record. If they don’t have one, see who endorses them, listen to what they say, look where they got their campaign money.
If we lose the PA Senate, and the anti-gun forces continue to control the House, we will be worse than New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, and California in less than a month. It won’t matter who the President is if we lose the PA legislature because our Governor will most likely sign any gun control bill into law.
Your 2nd Amendment won’t help you at all if you don’t have your gun when and if you need it! CARRY everyday you can do so legally!
Your gun won’t help you at all if you are disarmed by the government because you squandered your right to vote for a pro-gun candidate.
Don’t let your fate and safety fall to the whims of criminals and tyrants!
GET TO THE POLLS and take your friends with you!
Stay frosty, stay armed and BE well regulated!
Yours Most Respectfully,
Klint Macro
FOAC-Institute VP
FOAC-Institute 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-Institute’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-Institute 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-Institute 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-Institute. Share this newsletter and the website with your sphere of influence. Get a fellow gun owner to join FOAC-Institute.
Contact your Legislators HERE.
Read previous newsletters HERE.
The FOAC-Institute 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-Institute 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. 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!