Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
FOAC-Institute is Pennsylvania’s preeminent pro-gun and anti-crime organization.
Since the early 1990’s the organization has been fighting to uphold the PA and U.S. Constitution(s), chiefly Article 1 Section 21 of the PA Constitution and the 2nd Amendment.
Most folks are aware of the 2nd Amendment.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
-Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution
With that said, the 2nd Amendment is glossed over or dismissed in most schools, the PA Constitution is not taught in schools as part of any PA State approved curriculum. Did you know that?
Ironically enough, the PA Constitution, Article III Section 14 states:
The General Assembly shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of public education to serve the needs of the Commonwealth.
So, consider this… the legislature, who is subordinate to the PA Constitution, is mandated by the PA Constitution to provide education for all citizens, has not mandated that the PA Constitution be taught to the people.
If “the people” don’t know that the power of the Constitution derives from “the people” they then, by default, hand over the power to the government through apathy.
It is because of this fact, one of FOAC-Institute’s foundational missions is EDUCATION. We educate the citizenry and elected officials about the PA Constitution (chiefly, but not exclusively, Article 1 Section 21).
The PA Constitution is the SUPREME law of the land. The governor, the house, the senate, and all agencies of the Commonwealth are subordinate to it.
The preamble states:
WE, the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
Bet they never taught you that one in school.
Article 1 of the PA Constitution is titled: Inherent rights of mankind.
Merriam-Webster explains that:
“Inherent literally refers to something that is "stuck in" something else so firmly that they can't be separated.”
The PA Constitution begins with:
That the general, great and essential principles of liberty and free government may be recognized and unalterably established, WE DECLARE THAT—
1. Inherent rights of mankind.
All men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent and indefeasible rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of acquiring, possessing and protecting property and reputation, and of pursuing their own happiness.
Let’s unpack a few things.
In section 1, one of the indefeasible (not capable of being annulled or voided or undone) rights of INDIVIDUALS is the DEFENSE of Life and Liberty.
Article 1 Section 21 further explains:
The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.
the right: something to which one has a just claim
to bear: to be equipped or furnished with (something)
arms: musket, assault weapon*, machine gun, rifle, assault rifle*, flintlock, roscoe, etc..
*OK… before some of you get up in arms about my using of the term “assault” weapon or rifle; YES, It is a made up term that is used for emotional triggering and is not a real thing. It is a propaganda term derived from Adolph Hitler when he named the StG-44 “Sturmgewehr 44” to put fear in the hearts of his enemies. Yes…. That is why I am using it… the dictionary includes this political term along with machine gun and blunderbuss. Let’s use their term for the cause of liberty!
Shall not be questioned.
The PA Constitution’s power is derived from the citizens (the people of Pennsylvania) and it places restrictions upon the government. The men who established our government KNEW what tyranny was about. They escaped the tyrants of Europe, and fought the crown to gain independence. They also knew that without established Constitutional protections, a government, SOMEDAY, would trample upon the rights and liberties of the people. This is WHY our Constitutional Republic was established and NOT a true democracy.
Republic: a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible to them and governing according to law.
The PA Constitution is the SUPREME law of the land but the POWER resides in the people.
Yinz got the power!
FOAC-Institute is Pennsylvania’s preeminent pro-gun and anti-crime organization.
As FOAC-Institute President, Jim Stoker has said, most of the crime we fight is elected officials that violate the Constitution.
When we do this, it requires lawyers, court costs, travel, court costs, lawyer’s fees, court costs, travel expenses, lawyers’ fees, court costs, etc………
We fund that vast majority of our legal efforts through donations and the FOAC-Institute bi-annual gun bash!
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.
By FOAC-Institute Eastern PA Director: Stephen LaSpina
September is National Preparedness Month. Hopefully, you are keenly aware that we are two months away from national elections. Regrettably, Americans are presently more polarized as a people than we have been in many years. It is entirely plausible that, no matter the outcome of the elections, we could see civil unrest or supply chain breakdowns. NOW is the time to start making sure you and your family are prepared.
The thing about preparation is that it’s preemptive; it can only be done BEFORE something bad happens. Otherwise, you’re just reacting with whatever supplies or skills you happened to have acquired beforehand. It would be far better to have thought through some scenarios and collected needed supplies than to be caught off-guard and empty-handed.
To continue reading the Blog, CLICK HERE.
By George E. Emanuel, FOAC-Institute Member
Hey there, all of you hunters, come down from your stand and out of your blinds, we have something important to discuss, the future of hunting.
This is a call to action. The time to stand idle is long gone, and if you think your hunting rifle is safe, you're gravely mistaken. The threat to your Second Amendment rights is real, and it’s closing in faster than you realize. Let’s be clear—those who wish to disarm you are not resting. They are relentless, and they’re targeting your firearms, even while you’re out enjoying a peaceful deer camp.
Ask yourself, how many hunters do you know who are actively defending their Second Amendment rights? Likely, the only ones who are fighting back are those who also participate in shooting sports throughout the year. But this fight isn’t just theirs—it’s yours too. Your right to bear arms is under siege, and if you don’t stand up now, you could very well lose it.
I’m not here to downplay the joys of deer camp. I’ve been there more times than I can count—sitting around the fire, enjoying a good cigar and a drink, and playing cards with the guys. These moments are priceless. But what will happen to these traditions when you can no longer bring your firearm? Make no mistake: the anti-gunners want to take them all away. They may start with so-called "assault rifles" and high-capacity magazines, but their ultimate goal is the total disarmament of law-abiding citizens. Don’t be fooled—once they succeed in banning semi-automatics, your hunting rifles and shotguns will be next on the chopping block.
If you think this is an exaggeration, consider this: Why has the word "Bambi" stirred emotions and influenced policy since 1942? Because the anti-gun movement knows the power of narrative, and they’re using it to manipulate the public into thinking your hunting firearms are a danger. People like Michael Bloomberg, Barack Obama, and organizations like Brady, Giffords, and Moms Demand Action are working tirelessly to strip you of your rights. They aren’t waiting, and neither can you.
We need your help—now. This isn’t about pats on the back or a simple "thank you." This is about survival. The fight for our rights is ongoing, and it’s time for you to join the front lines. The numbers are staggering—over forty million hunters in the United States, nearly a million in Pennsylvania alone. And yet, the NRA, at its peak, only had about five million members. Imagine the power we could wield if even a fraction of those forty million hunters stood up and joined us in this fight.
The history is clear. Gun control in the U.S. began with the National Firearms Act of 1934, and the situation only worsened with the creation of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms in 1972. The ATF has grown into a hostile force, targeting the private ownership of firearms at every turn. Just last year, we struck a significant blow to their overreach, but the battle is far from over. Two years ago, the Supreme Court handed down a historic decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, setting a clear standard for Second Amendment cases. This victory was hard-fought, and it involved many of us—some in court, some through organizations, some by signing petitions or speaking out in public forums.
But where are the forty million hunters? We’re here, waiting for you to join us. The tide could turn in our favor if we had your support. Imagine what we could achieve with a larger, more active base. The opposition is well-funded, with billionaires like Soros and Bloomberg throwing their weight behind the anti-gun movement. They’re out to take your firearms, and they won’t stop until they do.
Get involved. Join, donate, participate—do whatever you can. Is one less case of beer or a bottle of bourbon really going to ruin your deer camp? Or is the loss of your firearms and your rights a far greater threat?
Members of FOAC-Institute, you have an assignment. Share this message with five hunters you know. Endorse our mission, follow up, answer their questions, and get them signed up with FOAC-Institute here in Pennsylvania and with a national organization as well. Be persistent, but calm them if needed, get them motivated and active. The time for complacency is over.
Freedom has never been free, and it won’t be handed to us on a silver platter. It’s time to act. The future of our rights depends on it.
We lost a friend and fellow patriot.
Roger Kronz was a life member of FOAC and one of the founding generation that had been fighting for our gun rights in Pennsylvania for decades.
Roger has been active on various committees, at the bashes, in the halls of the Harrisburg Capital, at rallies, meetings, and anywhere he was needed to help advanced the cause of Liberty.
Roger, you will be missed.
God bless you and your family. We will carry on the fight. Say “Hi” to Kim.
Read Roger’s obit by CLICKING HERE.
Michele Stolfer accepted a lifetime achievement award on behalf of FOAC Founder, the late Kim Stolfer
FOAC-Institute President, Jim Stoker, presenting a PA Gun Law Seminar at Morris Township VFD.
FOAC-Institute President, Jim Stoker, presenting a USCCA/FOAC-Institute PA Gun Law Seminar at Legion Arms in West Mifflin, PA
Washington County Chief Deputy Sheriff Mosco, FOAC-Institute President Jim Stoker, Washington County DA Jason Walsh, Washington County Sheriff Tony Andronas, PA Representative Tim O’Neal.
FOAC-Institute VP Klint Macro, an Elephant Mount, and FOAC-Institute President Jim Stoker at Legion Arms.
FOAC-Institute board member, Lizzie Jackovich and FOAC-Institute Volunteer of the year, Kevin Jackson at the Washington County Gun Show.
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 Somerset, Altoona, DuBois, Erie, West Mifflin, and more!!!
EARLY VOTING IN PA BEGINS SOON
Click here to register to vote
Click here to request a ballot
Click here to see all voting options
To see the FOAC-PAC Voter Guides Click Here
Affirmation without discipline
Fifth Circuit Rules Illegal Immigrants Don't Get Second Amendment Protections
This Is Proof Anti-Gun Media Isn't Listening to Us
Nearly 900 permits processed at South Park license-to-carry event
Kamala Harris Protected by Same Guns She Wants to Ban Americans from Owning
Judge Rules Illinois Public Transit Firearms Carry Ban Unconstitutional
Another Preventable Tragedy: The Georgia School Shooting and the Failure to Act
Father of Georgia School Shooter Arrested, Charged With Second-Degree Murder
CDC, FBI Working To Hide Data Showing Shootings Stopped By Good Guys With Guns
Media Misrepresents Vance's Comments On School Shootings
Many of us were here that sunny Tuesday morning when…
Our lives changed
Many lives ended
Our country began a decades long war
Our lives and liberty would never be the same
Some of you may not be old enough to remember
How many of you forgot?
CLICK HERE TO READ THIS then CLICK HERE TO READ THIS……….
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!