https://foac-pac.org FOAC Weekly Newsletter en-us https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Saturday-March-5th-2022/Weekly-Newsletter/117 As we watch history unfold, we are seeing it repeat. https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Saturday-March-5th-2022/Weekly-Newsletter/117 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Saturday-February-19th-2022/Weekly-Newsletter/115 I am writing this week’s installment from the “friendly skies”. https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Saturday-February-19th-2022/Weekly-Newsletter/115 https://foac-pac.org/Foac-illea-Top-Weekly-News-Stories-For-The-Week-Of-February-19-2022/Weekly-Newsletter/116 I am writing this week’s installment from the “friendly skies”. https://foac-pac.org/Foac-illea-Top-Weekly-News-Stories-For-The-Week-Of-February-19-2022/Weekly-Newsletter/116 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Friday-February-4th-2022/Weekly-Newsletter/113 Since our last installment we have seen success in the PA Legislature, falling bridges in Pittsburgh, horrible weather, bad roads, and Governor Wolf once more advocating for elected officials to break the law.  https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Friday-February-4th-2022/Weekly-Newsletter/113 https://foac-pac.org/Oacs-Top-Weekly-News-Stories-For-The-Week-Of-February-4-2022/Weekly-Newsletter/114 Since our last installment we have seen success in the PA Legislature, falling bridges in Pittsburgh, horrible weather, bad roads, and Governor Wolf once more advocating for elected officials to break the law.  https://foac-pac.org/Oacs-Top-Weekly-News-Stories-For-The-Week-Of-February-4-2022/Weekly-Newsletter/114 https://foac-pac.org/A-Call-To-Action-Contact-Gov-Wolf-And-Urge-Him-To-Sign-Hb979-Into-Law/Weekly-Newsletter/112 A CALL TO ACTION, PA HB979 Strengthening Preemption PASSES the Senate. CONTACT GOVERNOR WOLF AND URGE HIM TO SIGN HB979 INTO LAW!   https://foac-pac.org/A-Call-To-Action-Contact-Gov-Wolf-And-Urge-Him-To-Sign-Hb979-Into-Law/Weekly-Newsletter/112 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Saturday-January-22nd-2022/Weekly-Newsletter/110 I have traveled across the Country training instructors to teach our fellow Americans to take on the responsibility of becoming their own family first responders. Many of the states in the Northeast USA, are a “no go” for me if I arm myself with a firearm for my own personal safety. https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Saturday-January-22nd-2022/Weekly-Newsletter/110 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Top-Weekly-News-Stories-For-The-Week-Of-January-22-2022/Weekly-Newsletter/111 I have traveled across the Country training instructors to teach our fellow Americans to take on the responsibility of becoming their own family first responders. Many of the states in the Northeast USA, are a “no go” for me if I arm myself with a firearm for my own personal safety. https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Top-Weekly-News-Stories-For-The-Week-Of-January-22-2022/Weekly-Newsletter/111 https://foac-pac.org/Action-Alert-Contact-Your-Pa-Senator-Support-Hb979-Strengthen-Preemption/Weekly-Newsletter/109 This is a call to action! https://foac-pac.org/Action-Alert-Contact-Your-Pa-Senator-Support-Hb979-Strengthen-Preemption/Weekly-Newsletter/109 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Top-Weekly-News-Stories-For-The-Week-Of-January-7-2022/Weekly-Newsletter/108 It is hard to believe that we are already approaching the end of the first week of 2022. I appreciate that a few days ago President Biden said he has reasons to be optimistic in 2020, but there are many things that should be recognized here and now in 2022 in order for us to continue the hard work of pursing Liberty and fighting for individual Rights. https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Top-Weekly-News-Stories-For-The-Week-Of-January-7-2022/Weekly-Newsletter/108 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Friday-January-7th-2022/Weekly-Newsletter/107 It is hard to believe that we are already approaching the end of the first week of 2022. I appreciate that a few days ago President Biden said he has reasons to be optimistic in 2020, but there are many things that should be recognized here and now in 2022 in order for us to continue the hard work of pursing Liberty and fighting for individual Rights. https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Friday-January-7th-2022/Weekly-Newsletter/107 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Friday-December-24th-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/106 2021 has been another year for the books. I guess that goes without saying no matter the date. However, we have seen good and bad come from our fellow citizens and elected officials as we continued the fight and struggle to maintain and expand our most basic rights and liberties. https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Friday-December-24th-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/106 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Top-Weekly-News-Stories-For-The-Week-Of-December-12-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/105 Folks, https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Top-Weekly-News-Stories-For-The-Week-Of-December-12-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/105 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Saturday-December-11th-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/104 Folks, https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Saturday-December-11th-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/104 https://foac-pac.org/Foac-Response-To-Gov-Tom-Wolf’s-Veto-Of-Sb565-Constitutional-Carry/Weekly-Newsletter/103 PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION https://foac-pac.org/Foac-Response-To-Gov-Tom-Wolf’s-Veto-Of-Sb565-Constitutional-Carry/Weekly-Newsletter/103 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Sunday-November-28th-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/102 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). https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Sunday-November-28th-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/102 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-November-2021-Newsletter-And-Meeting-Notice-W-linked-Agenda/Weekly-Newsletter/101 The general membership meeting of FOAC will be Sunday, November 14th, at 10 a.m. through the Zoom Conferencing option (details below). The FOAC Meeting Agenda is available HERE. https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-November-2021-Newsletter-And-Meeting-Notice-W-linked-Agenda/Weekly-Newsletter/101 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Sunday-October-24th-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/100 Before I begin with this week’s newsletter, I would like all of you to keep in your hearts and your thoughts and your prayers the name of Jim Devlin. Jim passed away approximately a week ago. He was not only a good friend but he was a quietly intense warrior for the Second Amendment who was tireless in his devotion to holding legislators accountable and the man who would volunteer to help in any way that was needed without expectation of reward! I know I will miss him and the Second Amendment community is a little less bright because of his passing! https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Sunday-October-24th-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/100 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Top-Weekly-News-Stories-For-The-Week-Of-October-3-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/99 This edition of the FOAC Newsletter will certainly look different than normal. FOAC President, Kim Stolfer was unable to write it this week as he is traveling all over the Commonwealth educating our fellow Pennsylvanians, Citizens and Elected Officials alike, about laws, legislation, and responsible gun ownership. I was tasked with taking the “mighty pen” and running with it! https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Top-Weekly-News-Stories-For-The-Week-Of-October-3-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/99 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Sunday-September-26th-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/98 One of the most disquieting and unsettling things that has been and is going on in the Second Amendment community is the undercurrent of some “representatives” of Second Amendment groups and organizations thinking that being belligerent, arrogant, and ignorant with legislators and their staff somehow makes them better friends. Quite frankly, if I kicked one of my friends in the family jewels it is hard for me to believe that he is going to be a better friend. But that is what is going on in Harrisburg and other capitals across America. https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Sunday-September-26th-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/98 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-September-2021-Newsletter-And-Meeting-Notice-W-linked-Agenda/Weekly-Newsletter/97 The general membership meeting of FOAC will be Sunday, September 12th, at 10 AM through the Zoom Conferencing option (details below). https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-September-2021-Newsletter-And-Meeting-Notice-W-linked-Agenda/Weekly-Newsletter/97 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Saturday-August-21st-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/96 I/we normally try to be as evenhanded and fair as possible but what we are seeing unfold in Afghanistan is not only despicable, in every sense of the word, but it is also deeply personal for me. As a young Marine, I experienced the fall of Vietnam firsthand watching all the brutality of a vengeful arming scorching earth and all humans in its’ path. Like today, I saw things that the media wouldn’t cover because it didn’t fit the narrative! But beyond all of that, knowing that there is a connection between the young Joe Biden in the policy positions he talked that facilitated the fall of Vietnam and the betrayal of our commitments to that fledgling country and the current tragedy with the same numbskull is almost beyond belief for me! https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Saturday-August-21st-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/96 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-August-2021-Newsletter-And-Meeting-Notice-W-linked-Agenda/Weekly-Newsletter/95 The general membership meeting of FOAC will be August 8th, at 10 AM through the Zoom Conferencing option (details below). https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-August-2021-Newsletter-And-Meeting-Notice-W-linked-Agenda/Weekly-Newsletter/95 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Sunday-July-25th-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/94 FOAC's mission has always been to identify and promote candidates who unequivocally support the Bill of Rights and Article 1, Section 21 & 25 at the state legislature level. We (FOAC) constantly wrestle with the strategic wisdom of backing admittedly long-shot candidates, given the finite resources of FOAC. When one considers that a swing of less than 50,000 votes (assuming the 2020 presidential election counts were accurate and above-board) would have given President Trump Arizona, Georgia, and Wisconsin, forcing the House of Representatives to decide the presidential election, we believe this debate is worthwhile and brings up a fair question. https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Sunday-July-25th-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/94 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-July-2021-Newsletter-And-Meeting-Notice-W-linked-Agenda/Weekly-Newsletter/93 The general membership meeting of FOAC will be held this weekend, July 11th, at 10 AM through the Zoom Conferencing option (details below). https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-July-2021-Newsletter-And-Meeting-Notice-W-linked-Agenda/Weekly-Newsletter/93 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Sunday-June-27th-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/92 On June 23rd President Biden renewed his attack on the 2nd Amendment by saying, “If you think you need to have weapons to take on the government, you need F-15s and maybe some nuclear weapons.” That isn’t how Biden began his remarks on crime and guns yesterday, but it was the most eye-popping statement he made in an anti-Second Amendment speech littered with falsehoods and blunders. https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Sunday-June-27th-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/92 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Sunday-May-23rd-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/91 On May 25 (next week) at 10 AM (rm 140 of the capital building) the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee will meet to consider two incredibly important 2Apieces of legislation that we have been working on for years, HB 659 (constitutional carry) and HB 979 (strengthening preemption). We are going to go over each bill below but now is the time that we need your help to reach out and contact members of the house Judiciary committee and your own state legislator to ask them to support both bills. https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Sunday-May-23rd-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/91 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-May-2021-Newsletter-And-Meeting-Notice-W-linked-Agenda/Weekly-Newsletter/90 The general membership meeting of FOAC will be held this weekend, May 9th, at 10 AM through the Zoom Conferencing option (details below). https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-May-2021-Newsletter-And-Meeting-Notice-W-linked-Agenda/Weekly-Newsletter/90 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Sunday-April-25th-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/89 This past Monday we celebrated a day, Patriot’s Day, and it seems clear that too many in this country and far too many elected representatives have forgotten why we celebrate this day! Amidst all the media bluster and hot air coming out of DC and most of our nation’s capitals about Freedom issues is the lost sense of what it has cost, and what it might cost, to maintain that Freedom. https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Sunday-April-25th-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/89 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-April-2021-Newsletter-And-Meeting-Notice-W-linked-Agenda/Weekly-Newsletter/88 The general membership meeting of FOAC will be held this weekend, April 11, at 10 AM through the Zoom Conferencing option (details below). https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-April-2021-Newsletter-And-Meeting-Notice-W-linked-Agenda/Weekly-Newsletter/88 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Sunday-March-28th-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/87 It wasn’t all that long ago, politicians on both sides of the aisle and members of the media would castigate those who dared politicize an atrocity such as what happened in Boulder, Colorado. Unfortunately, it appears, those days are long gone, and we must now endure the immediate politicization of nearly every murderous attack. Democrats from Joe Biden to Charles Schumer to Nancy Pelosi and on down, almost unanimously, blame the Second Amendment, disgracefully scapegoating a fundamental constitutional right that the vast majority of law-abiding American citizens legally engage in and depend upon. https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Sunday-March-28th-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/87 https://foac-pac.org/Public-Statement-Clarifying-Our-Position-On-Behalf-Of-The-Officers-bod-Of-Foac/Weekly-Newsletter/86 I am writing to clear the air about the most recent confusion surrounding the press release of 3/15/2021 titled “Rep. Amen Brown, Eagle Arms, Polymer 80 Kits and Violent Criminals”. https://foac-pac.org/Public-Statement-Clarifying-Our-Position-On-Behalf-Of-The-Officers-bod-Of-Foac/Weekly-Newsletter/86 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-March-2021-Newsletter-And-Meeting-Notice-W-linked-Agenda/Weekly-Newsletter/85 The general membership meeting of FOAC will be held this weekend, March 14, at 10 AM through the Zoom Conferencing option (details below). https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-March-2021-Newsletter-And-Meeting-Notice-W-linked-Agenda/Weekly-Newsletter/85 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-February-2021-Newsletter-And-Meeting-Notice-W-linked-Agenda/Weekly-Newsletter/84 The general membership meeting of FOAC will be held this weekend, February 14, at 10 AM through the Zoom Conferencing option (details below).  Online Meeting Connection Details (also available at the end of the newsletter) are as follows: https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-February-2021-Newsletter-And-Meeting-Notice-W-linked-Agenda/Weekly-Newsletter/84 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Sunday-January-24th-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/83 I find it curious that for the last 50 years all we have heard out of the media and bleating, exploitive anti-gun politicians is that we must enact more gun control to protect American citizens. Setting aside for the moment, the fact that gun control is really an expression of our “so-called” leaders advancing legislation to not only take away citizens’ rights but to establish that citizens can’t be trusted, the fact is that there is an insatiable appetite for completely eliminating the Right to Keep and Bear Arms! The runaway Pelosi political paranoia, that is talked about later in this newsletter, has been evident across the last five decades by far too many elected members of Congress. Some have even expressed ambivalence about allowing citizens to own firearms because of the number of trained retired veterans that arrived there who know how to use them. https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Sunday-January-24th-2021/Weekly-Newsletter/83 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-January-2021-Newsletter-And-Meeting-Notice-W-linked-Agenda/Weekly-Newsletter/82 The first general membership meeting of FOAC for this new year will be held this weekend, January 10, at 10 AM through the Zoom Conferencing option (details below). https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-January-2021-Newsletter-And-Meeting-Notice-W-linked-Agenda/Weekly-Newsletter/82 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Tuesday-December-29th-2020/Weekly-Newsletter/81 First, on behalf of the officers and Members of the Board of Directors of FOAC, I would like to wish you wish you a Happy New Year and hope that you had a very Merry Christmas! https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Tuesday-December-29th-2020/Weekly-Newsletter/81 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-December-2020-Newsletter-And-Meeting-Notice-W-linked-Agenda/Weekly-Newsletter/80 The December End-of-the-Year FOAC Membership Meeting (Dec. 13th) and Banquet will be in-person ‘and’ online for all members and interested Second Amendment advocates. The stay-at-home order of Gov. Wolf (which is once again in effect), is Constitutionally improper, unsupported by science and an affront to legislative authority and an abuse of power. Click this link for more information on this issue! The banquet is being held at Al’s Café - https://www.alscafepgh.com/ - once again and this restaurant is an icon in Bethel Park (61 Years). We hope you can join us. (All appropriate 'safety' precautions will be taken!) https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-December-2020-Newsletter-And-Meeting-Notice-W-linked-Agenda/Weekly-Newsletter/80 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Sunday-November-22nd-2020/Weekly-Newsletter/79 As the legislative session and elections winds down, I took the time to go to the shooting range this past Friday for the first time this year. The trip was ostensibly to cite in my favorite rifle (Springfield Armory M1A) that I just had re-barreled but it was also to collect my thoughts from a long and taxing year, something all of you can appreciate. One of the other individuals on the range talked about how he voted for Joe Biden for a variety of reasons while at the same time stating that Biden wouldn’t take “his guns”! This individual was promptly engaged by several other individuals which I was watching from a short distance. And it occurred to me, that America is supposed to have well over 100 million gunowners and yet Donald Trump only got 73 million+ votes. https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-Weekly-Message-For-Sunday-November-22nd-2020/Weekly-Newsletter/79 https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-October-Newsletter-And-Meeting-Notice-W-linked-Agenda/Weekly-Newsletter/77 The October FOAC Membership Meeting (Oct. 11th) will be online (only) for all members and interested Second Amendment advocates. The stay-at-home order and mandatory mask order of Gov. Wolf (which is still in effect), caused us to cancel the in-person meeting and will be totally online. https://foac-pac.org/Foacs-October-Newsletter-And-Meeting-Notice-W-linked-Agenda/Weekly-Newsletter/77