Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Our failed mental health process and the people it’s hurting :: 04/22/2025
by: James Stoker
Our failed mental health process and the people it’s hurting…
I’m going to discuss a touchy subject for a lot of citizens when it comes to gun rights and right vs. wrong. A common push for the people-control (gun control) advocates is to fight for red flag laws or what Pennsylvania calls extreme risk protection orders. These orders are a clear violation of our Article I, Section 21 rights in Pennsylvania, violating due process. (For a detailed discussion on why, please click this link for our position paper on the topic).
Bondi v VanDerStok :: 03/30/2025
by: James Stoker
Many of us in the gun world read the Supreme Court’s ruling on Bondi v VanDerStok with dread. Some saw it as no big deal, and some saw it as the end of all things good. In reality, the truth is somewhere in the middle. And that middle is a massive span of gray area that will have to be determined as we go. I tend to lean toward “it’s a terrible decision for gun owners and private manufacturers, but it also could have gone worse.”
The main concern I have seen is that the Supreme Court just allowed the ATF to change the definition of the word “receiver” without the legislative authority to do so. That’s not exactly what happened, and we have to be careful to not read too deeply into this issue. What DID happen (which is not good) is that they have determined that 80% kits are close enough to being finished and simple enough to complete that they are to be regulated as firearms. Again, that’s KITS, not receivers. The majority opinion here is that the degree of completeness is the issue, and that leaves us the question of… where exactly is that line?
Townships and Fiefdoms :: 03/11/2025
by: James Stoker
More and more small fiefdoms are violating the state preemption law, but it’s not always out of malice. Sometimes it’s done out of a simple lack of knowledge.
Recently, I was contacted via Facebook messenger by several Pennsylvania residents about a small municipality in Beaver County proposing a zoning ordinance that was in clear violation of the state’s preemption law. Multiple residents of South Beaver Township reached out asking for assistance with a newly proposed ordinance that had been recently posted on their website. And so, my journey began…
Expectations :: 02/25/2025
by: James Stoker
"Expectations" is the word of the year 2025 for gun rights activists like us. Weighing our expectations versus what is actually likely to happen this year is what I’m going to discuss for you today.
Two blog pieces ago, I went into the elections and their impact. I showed hope for Attorney General Dave Sunday as a win for pro-gun citizens, but now, the jury is out. I have to say that because, though he campaigned as a pro-2A candidate, he just filed a petition to overturn a federal court ruling that allowed 18 to 20-year-olds to carry firearms in Pennsylvania. This case is known as Lara v. Paris. That means he just attacked the pro-2A ruling issued by the court. As a veteran, he should know better.
The Great American Outdoor Show 2025 :: 02/10/2025
by: James Stoker
The Great American Outdoor Show has come and gone and FOAC had a big role to play in it. FOAC leaders were invited to special events hosted by the National Rifle Association. Director Tichenor and I attended the ribbon cutting ceremony, where we spoke with NRA ILA Directors David Conte and Darin Goens, two workhorses in the Commonwealth fighting alongside us for all of our gun rights. Meeting with KRPA President and NRA Board Member Todd Ellis, to discuss potential future joint endeavors, and speaking with legislators like Sen. Cris Dush, journalists and others invested in the industry.
Then Saturday the real work began. Joining FOAC super-volunteer Kevin Jackson, and members Chris and Stevan Cady, hosting the booth, greeting passersby, engaging in 2A discussion, and spending ten hours on your feet spreading the purpose of FOAC Institute. Off to dinner then an early turn in at the hotel to start again Sunday morning.
Understanding the political environment in PA :: 01/28/2025
by: James Stoker
Understanding the political environment can be challenging. There is nobody in the 2A movement that wants to see Pennsylvania adopt Constitutional carry more than me. We’d all be neck and neck at the front of that line pushing for what we know is best for our fellow citizens and our families. We’d all love to see strengthening preemption go through, regardless of whether it is the House or the Senate that pushes it. We’d all love to see the mental health system fixed instead of being used as leverage to attack our rights to bear arms. And I think we would all love to see an end to the seemingly endless parade of do-nothing anti-gun agenda driven bills that do nothing to stop crime or save lives but constantly push us to the defense of what “shall not be questioned”.
Sadly, we do not live in those times. We have a strong opposition basing their attacks on fear and lies to sell the moderate voting soccer mom that guns are evil and we can stop evil people if we just take away a tool they use in a small percentage of their violence. Gun control is a multi-billion-dollar business that isn’t about saving lives but IS about raising money and votes. The Constitution and the founding of our nation lay largely forgotten beneath the fears of misinformed citizens.
Get Ready to Rumble! :: 12/04/2024
by: James Stoker
So here we sit, two days of co-sponsorship memoranda have been presented in the state House and Senate for proposed legislation, and we are already at twenty-one gun related bills proposed. Two are pro-gun, one is to be watched, and SEVENTEEN that will violate Article I, Section 21. In my tracking table I have shared below, you will also see three hunting related bills. We keep tabs on those for communication and discussion with partner organizations vested in the hunting issues.
Here is a list of what we have so far:
FOAC Institute Thanksgiving Wishes :: 11/28/2024
by: James Stoker
Happy Thanksgiving... we have a lot to be thankful for in this great nation and this great Commonwealth. Sure, there is a LOT of work to be done. No, our fight hasn't changed and if anything even more challenges lay before us. However...
I am thankful for having been born in the greatest nation in the history of this world...
Summary of Events at Keep Kids Safe Panel :: 10/04/2024
by: James Stoker
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.
Harrisburg. Again. :: 08/26/2024
by: James Stoker
Many long hours and 495 miles later, I am home from my roundabout day to Harrisburg and back, for our litigation trying to attain an injunction against the city’s illegal gun ordinances. As I type this, I am searching for an audio recording of the city of Reading’s council meeting tonight, where they were expected to pass an ordinance prohibiting certain types of private manufacture of firearms. I am replaying today’s court proceedings in my mind, and I am looking at my spreadsheet of things to do to stop other communities who infringe upon our rights with reckless abandon.
Today was a good day. No, we did not get a quick decision from Judge Dowling in our favor and put an end to the ridiculousness that is the Harrisburg case. But truth be told, I expect one soon. The attorney for the City of Harrisburg is a dolt. The repetitive nature with which he presents his argument after being repeatedly shut down by Attorney Prince astounds me.
Adventures in misinformed solicitors :: 08/13/2024
by: James Stoker
Adventures in misinformed solicitors. Our organization could write a book on the topic. Every regular citizen in the Commonwealth can read the words:
“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.”
Why we can't afford to lose :: 07/23/2024
by: James Stoker
Why we can’t afford to lose…
A recent case has sent our cause spiraling out of control on a very simple topic. Private manufacture of firearms. The case filed by another organization against the City of Philadelphia’s “ghost gun” ordinance, was a failure that is working against us with several other feudal governments across the Commonwealth.
FOAC et al. v City of Harrisburg et al. Update from Wednesday, July 17th, 2024 :: 07/22/2024
by: James Stoker
Wednesday, I had the pleasure of visiting the Dauphin County Court and appearing with life members Howard Bullock and Josh First, and our legal team of Joshua Prince, Dillon Harris, and Kevin Fenchak, before Judge Dowling. Our purpose was argument before the court on Firearms Owners Against Crime et al. v City of Harrisburg et al., 2015-cv-354-EQ. Yes, you read that right… 2015.
This case has been up and down the ladder of the courts for nearly ten years. Why? Because Harrisburg passed five illegal ordinances back then prohibiting the following:
Independence Day Message :: 07/04/2024
by: James Stoker
Independence Day. A celebration of Declaration of Independence.
John Adams once wrote:
Sacrifice :: 04/22/2024
by: James Stoker
Sacrifice.
What exactly does that mean to you? Sacrifice. The past few weeks have been chaos on the road for me. Mill Creek, Langhorne, Newville, Butler, Long Pond… a lot of highway miles. This past Thursday the seminar team needed a break, but I had to be at Long Pond for a four-hour seminar with V.P. Klint Macro. The weather was fair, so I took the Shelby and made the four-hour trip to the Pocono Raceway to present to a crowd of roughly 25 pro-gun citizens, almost half of which were brought to the room by Director Stephen Laspina.
Our 2nd Amendment Needs YOUR help! :: 02/26/2024
by: James Stoker
I think we can all agree that life gets frustrating at times. We all have our ups and downs, and we all have adversity that sometimes we ask for, and sometimes we do not. I’ve heard the age-old sayings that “what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger” or “God only gives us what we can handle.” Those are great to pacify the mind maybe when things seem to be going awry… But what about the things we know we SHOULD be able to change, and it’s just not working?
There are over 1.2 million concealed carry holders in Pennsylvania. We have reportedly over 850,000 hunters here in Pennsylvania. Now, granted, many of us may fit both roles and count in both totals, but even so, why do we lose elections?
News from the front lines ... Harrisburg :: 01/31/2024
by: James Stoker
News from the front lines ... Harrisburg :: 01/19/2024Well gang, as expected the biased and anti-Constitution gang in the House Judiciary Committee, led by tyrant-in-chief Briggs passed five of the gun control bills out of the committee and reported them to the House floor. As expected, the Democrats controlled the vote 14-11 straight party lines showing not one of them understand the meaning of the phrase "shall not be questioned" from our Commonwealth Constitution. The five bills moving to the floor are as follows:
What a week (month) it's been! :: 10/25/2023
by: James Stoker
What a week it’s been for FOAC and our leadership team. Actually, what a month! After wrapping up another great gun bash on the last day of September, we began October meeting with USCCA directors to establish how we would work with them on seminars in the future. Then we presented our seminar for Rep. Marla Brown in New Castle on October 5th, before a small crowd thanks to a print error in Harrisburg. Then we attended the NRA-ILA Pittsburgh convention on October 7th with V.P. Klint Macro, Director Ed Bogats, and ever-present volunteers Bob Canova and Craig Holdren. Volunteers Suzy Psyck, Debbie Hadfield, Frank Kelly, and Mary and Rick Iorio were also present to sit in on the event.
V.P. Klint Macro and I had to bail a little early and grab our things as we headed across the state to Scranton. We met Director Stephen Laspina, his family, and Regional Coordinator Dave Weaver with his wife for a great sit-down dinner where we could discuss efforts and just spend some time together talking. Then we went off to the hotel for as much sleep as we could get working on some white papers and answering emails.
Crawford v. Commonwealth Supreme Court Argument 09-13-23 :: 09/28/2023
by: James Stoker
On Wednesday, September 13th, 2023, I spent my eldest daughter’s birthday traveling to and from Philadelphia to stand for our organization in defense of a shining star among gun rights legislation, Title 18 §6120 Limitation on the regulation of firearms and ammunition. Otherwise known in Pennsylvania as preemption. I worked till 11pm Tuesday and left for Philadelphia at 3am Wednesday, cautiously optimistic that the Supreme Court would dismiss their challenge. This incredible statute is underenforced but cannot be overstated in its value to the American citizen in our Commonwealth. If we could only convince the district attorneys in this Commonwealth to enforce it with any sense of consistency, our organization would have far less to do on a weekly basis.
The purpose of this statute, passed in its original form in 1974, is to consolidate the power to pass legislation regarding firearms and ammunition with the general assembly, NOT the counties, municipalities, or townships of the Commonwealth. This ensures consistency across the state for all of us and protects our Constitutional right to bear arms from the feudal lords who run their small fiefdoms with the uninformed opinion that rights need sacrificed on the altar of the “greater good”.
Why FOAC-ILLEA is in on the centerfire semi-auto fight... :: 09/11/2023
by: James Stoker
As many of you know, recently FOAC-ILLEA has taken a role with several sportsmen associations in petitioning the Pennsylvania Game Commission to legalize semi-automatic centerfire rifles for big game hunting. There are various reasons why this needs to happen, but it is controversial, and it is not necessarily heavily supported among many hunters in the Commonwealth. I received an email from a sportsman who wanted to disagree, stating things like it “removes skill” somehow and that “lunatics” want to use ARs in hunting. He went on to say he doesn’t want them in Pennsylvania and if you “need” one to hunt that means you “can’t hunt”.
Why would our organization take the stance that we support semi-auto centerfire for hunting big game when the topic is hunting and so divisive? The answer is simple. Freedom. In my response to the author of the email, I list numerous reasons why a hunter in Pennsylvania might choose to exercise their 2nd Amendment right to choose such a weapon to hunt deer or other large game. I’m attaching a link to my blog that hosts the response to one such writer for all of you to read, should you desire to see my points. But simply put, it’s the freedom we each have as an American citizen to choose the weapon we want, as provided for by our Constitutions.
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