A CALL TO ACTION, PA HB979 Strengthening Preemption PASSES the Senate. 

CONTACT GOVERNOR WOLF AND URGE HIM TO SIGN HB979 INTO LAW!

 

Last night, the Pennsylvania Senate passed HB979 (32 YEAS 17 NAYS). This legislation was first introduced in the House by Rep. Matt Dowling. We would like to thank all of the Representatives and Senators that have upheld the Constitution and recognized that Elected Officials should be held accountable if they violate Article 1 Section 21 of the PA Constitution and Title 18 Section 6120. We also would like to congratulate all the dedicated FOAC Members, gun owners, and concerned Citizens that contacted their Reps and Senators urging them to support this legislation. Although we view this as a victory, our work is not done.

We need everyone to Contact the Governor’s office and urge him to sign this legislation into law when it hits his desk. One important point to make, when communicating with Gov. Wolf, is that HB979 was not passed simply on “party” lines.

Democrats and Independents support this legislation!

Democratic Senators, Lisa Bascola, James Brewster, and Marty Flynn voted YEA for HB979. So did Independent Senator John Yudichak. As a matter of fact, Democratic Senator James Brewster joined others and stood up on the floor of the Senate and spoke out in support of this legislation.

Democratic Representatives, Frank Burns, Scott Conklin, Anthony DeLuca, Patrick Harkins, Anita Kulik, Mark Longietti, Brandon Markosek, Robert Matzie, Robert Merski, Gerald Mullery, Christopher Sainato, and Pam Snyder all voted YEA for HB979.

See the votes for yourself.

Senate Roll Call HB979 (32/17)

House Roll Call HB979 (124/79)

Contact Governor Wolf TODAY! Email, Call, and fax if you can. Even throw a letter in the mail!

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf

Contact him via phone: 717-787-2500

Contact him via fax: 717-772-8284

Send him a letter with a stamp on it: 508 Main Capitol Bldg. Harrisburg, PA 17120

Contact him via his website contact form

Liberty should not be exclusive to any one party!

We are grateful that our Republican Representatives and Senators stood strong for Liberty in supporting this legislation; ALL Republicans EXCEPT Representative Todd Stephens. Rep. Stephens voted against HB979 AND in December of 2021, he voted against Constitutional Carry. It would seem that Rep. Todd Stephens likely believes that Government should CONTROL who can protect themselves, and that local elected officials should be able to operate above the law and not be held accountable if they violate the Rights and Liberties of Pennsylvanians.

Unlike Rep. Stephens, I know that YOU agree with those that voted YEA for HB979 and value Liberty! If you believe that if an elected official should be held accountable if they violates the Citizens Right to defend themselves and those that they love, then contact the Governor TODAY and urge him to sign HB979 Strengthening Preemption.

Yours In Liberty!

Klint Macro

2^nd VP FOAC-ILLEA

klint@foac-illea.org

www.foac-illea.org

In 2011, FOAC pioneered the writing and introduction of Constitutional Carry to the Pennsylvania legislature (as we have done with many bills) with the intent of making Pennsylvania a more constitutionally free and safer society! One of our board members, Rep. Aaron Bernstine, introduced Constitutional Carry in the House of Representatives last session and this session (HB 659) and was joined this session by Sen. Cris Dush (SB 565).

As I’m sure you know, SB 565 passed the Pennsylvania Senate and House of Representatives, in bipartisan fashion in both bodies. To see how your legislators voted, check out the links below:

House Vote on Final Passage: (11/16/2021)

• https://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/RC/Public/rc_view_action2.cfm?sess_yr=2021&sess_ind=0&rc_body=H&rc_nbr=624

Senate Vote on Final Passage: (11/9/2021)

• https://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/RC/Public/rc_view_action2.cfm?sess_yr=2021&sess_ind=0&rc_body=S&rc_nbr=361

SB 565 was presented to the governor on November 22.

Now, just ‘one man’ stands between a safer society and the restoration of a freedom that was taken away from Pennsylvanians 90 years ago in 1931, JUST ONE MAN! The Gov. has three ways he can deal with this legislation; he can sign the legislation into law, he can ignore the legislation and after 10 days it becomes law, or he can veto the bill.

I’m NOT going to kid you, while the odds for this bill becoming law are against us, considering how the current Gov. favors the anti-gun groups and their wealth of lies against the lawful use of firearms and personal self-defense, that does not mean that we should stay silent and NOT exercise every legal option we have to put pressure on the governor for him to realize that every day Pennsylvanians are deeply in support of bringing this measure to Pennsylvania and that he represents ALL citizens. All of us know that you can’t win every battle but we are gauged by our willingness to fight to the last breath, tradition/reputation that Americans have throughout the world! So, if you haven’t communicated to the governor your support for this legislation yet, I strongly encourage you to use the contact info below to register your opinion and position:

Governor Tom Wolf:

Phone: (717) 787-2500      or (412) 565-5700

Fax: (717) 772-8284

508 Main Capitol Building Harrisburg, PA 17120

Website Contact Form: https://www.governor.pa.gov/contact/

Website: https://www.governor.pa.gov/

https://www.facebook.com/governorwolf

IF you would like draft responses to consider for your contacts to the Governor, click the link below that you can use to start your comments by copying and pasting into the Governor’s form:

P-SB-0565-Constitutional-Carry-Draft-LTEs-1-6.pdf

(*You can also use the drafts above to send into your local newspaper too, if you would like!)

The anti-gun groups and many Democrats continue to froth at the mouth about this becoming law, just like they were doing in 1988 with the License to Carry legislation then and with FOAC’s Castle Doctrine for 8 years. Their track record of lies and misinformation continues even though CeaseFire PA and Mom’s Demand Action have been shown, repeatedly, to be well-funded liars with all their dogmatic claims!

Our history is replete with examples of individuals taking a stand when it appeared hopeless such as the Texas fight at the Alamo amongst many others. In each case, history has shown how these courageous stands have led to ultimate victory and the fight over this legislation is just as important!

We are asking you to continue to honor our Founding Fathers and the historical tradition of ‘standing our ground’ to ensure that elected officials do the ‘right thing’. I get told all the time that politicians don’t ‘DO’ anything, well now the House and Senate have and it is time for US to shrug off all the excuses and apathy and stand up and be counted by telling Governor Wolf to recognize the duty he has to ALL the people of Pennsylvania.

For more information go to    www.foac-pac.org

 

Virginia will Once Again Recognize Concealed Carry Permits From Other States :: Firearms Owners Against Crime

RICHMOND — Gov. Terry McAuliffe plans to announce Friday that Virginia will restore handgun reciprocity agreements with nearly all states, in a stunning reversal of a firearms policy that had angered Republicans and gun rights advocates across the nation.

The about-face is part of a deal that McAuliffe (D) struck with Republican leaders one month after Attorney General Mark R. Herring (D) ended the right of gun owners in 25 states to have their concealed carry permits recognized in Virginia.

[Past coverage: Virginia to stop recognizing concealed carry gun permits from 25 states]

In exchange, Republicans will agree to a major concession: Anyone subject to a permanent protective order for a domestic violence offence will be prohibited from carrying a firearm for the two-year life of the order. The issue had been a nonstarter in the Republican-controlled General Assembly.

“This is a bipartisan deal that will make Virginians safer,” McAuliffe spokesman Brian Coy said. “It also demonstrates that Democrats and Republicans can work together on key issues like keeping guns out of dangerous hands.”

The agreement marks the first break in a jogjam in the state over gun rights and gun control marked by heated rhetoric on both sides.

“Bipartisanship requires give and take by both sides,” said Matt Moran, a spokesman for House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford). “This agreement restores reciprocity for law-abiding Virginians while sending a clear signal about domestic violence. There’s a lot to like here.”

Herring did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Some gun rights activists quickly panned the agreement.

In a Facebook message, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence said McAuliffe has bragged about “his administration’s aggressive new approach to confronting the National Rifle Association.”

“Now he’s preparing to cave to them,” the message says. “As far as we are aware, there is not a single gun violence prevention advocate in Virginia who was informed about this deal before it was done. We all stand in opposition to it.”

The policy changes will come in the form of bipartisan legislation before the General Assembly.

The domestic violence bill will be carried by Sen. Janet D. Howell (D-Fairfax) and Del. Kathleen Murphy (D-Fairfax). It will require individuals subject to a permanent protective order to sell or transfer their guns within 24 hours of the judges’ order.

State law currently prohibits the purchase or transport — but not possession — of guns by these individuals. Federal law prohibits all three.

Public Safety Secretary Brian J. Moran was the lead negotiator on behalf of the administration.

“This is a historic agreement for its bipartisanship,” he said. “Virginians will be truly safer today than they were yesterday because of this agreement.”

A Senate panel Wednesday evening passed a bill filed by Sen. Bryce E. Reeves (R-Spotsylvania) that restores reciprocity.

“This is a good piece of legislation that protects the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Virginians, allowing them to protect themselves and their families even when they leave the state,” Reeves said in a statement. “This bill continues to receive bipartisan support, proving that in the Commonwealth we can come together from both sides of the aisle and do right on behalf of our constituents.”

It includes an amendment offered by Sen. Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax City), that says Virginia will not honor an out-of-state concealed carry permit held by a person whose Virginia concealed carry permit was previously revoked — a practice known as “state shopping.”

In another concession, state police must be present at all gun shows to administer background checks in private sales of guns on a voluntary basis. McAuliffe’s budget includes $100,000 to fund the activity.

Sen. John S. Edwards (D-Roanoke) and Del. L. Scott Lingemfelter (R-Prince William) are carrying that bill.

Jenna Portnoy covers Virginia politics for The Washington Post.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/mcauliffe-to-restore-handgun-reciprocity-in-deal-with-republicans/2016/01/28/6f8c0240-c5d8-11e5-9693-933a4d31bcc8_story.html?postshare=3351454012223100&tid=ss_fb