As some of you are aware, recently, Northampton County Executive John Stoffa announced that he would request that the County Council consider whether it should hire more employees at the Sheriff’s office to call references on License to Carry Firearms (LTCF) Applications. In response, I filed a letter with Sheriff Miller, Executive Stoffa, the County Solicitor, the Pennsylvania State Police and the contacted state representatives informing them that any contact of a listed reference is in violation of 18 PA.C.S. 6111(g)(3.1) and 6111(i).
Reporter Shortell published a follow up article regarding my letter, where County Solicitor Spengler apparently informed him that, “the county Solicitor’s Office received Prince’s letter and is reviewing its options. Spengler said he found it odd that the law would grant deputies the ability to investigate a person’s character but then ban them from asking people about it.” Solicitor Spengler was then quote as saying, “I would say the law is vague.”
Anyone who believes 6111(g)(3.1) or 6111(i) are vague, please contact me and explain how the statutory section could be anymore clear. As stated in my letter, 6111(i) even includes that disclosure of the “name” or “identity” is a violation of the law. I find it extremely telling that while the PSP’s Captain who oversees the state’s background checks was previously happy to speak with Reporter Shortell regarding this situation, stating “it is up to individual sheriffs and counties to determine whether reference checks are necessary for license-to-carry-concealed-firearm permit applications,” the PSP has now declined to comment…
Published by Joshua Prince, Esq.
With our 2nd Amendment rights being attacked at both the Federal and State level, and the ATF (Burea of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives) trying to close down FFLs (Federal Firearms Licensees) for minor infractions while making FFLs the scapegoat when the ATF's records are inaccurate, I want to take this opportunity to introduce myself. I am one of only a handful of attorneys across the US that practices in the niche area of law known as firearms law. I decided to concentrate my legal practice on firearms law not only because I am a shooter and firearms enthusiast, but also to ensure that our inalienable Right to Keep and Bear Arms is never encroached upon.
I handle cases at the Federal and State level for both FFLs and individuals. At the federal and state levels for individuals, I actively defend the 2nd Amendment of the US Constitution and Section 21 of the PA Constitution, as well as, help individuals with:
- License to Carry Firearms Denials;
- Challenges to Erroneous PICS Denials;
- Relief from Firearms Disabilities;
- Estate Planning Advice;
- Gun/NFA Trusts; and
- 42 USC 1983 Actions for Deprivation of Civil Rights
At both the state and federal levels, I represent FFLs and SOTs throughout Pennsylvania and the US regarding:
- ATF Compliance Inspections;
- Warning Letters and Hearings;
- FFL Revocations;
- Corporate Structure Advice
- Indoor/Outdoor Range Implementation; and
- Forfeiture Proceedings
In following my love for firearms and firearms law, I have taught several Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminars on Firearms in Estates and Trusts and Firearms Law 101 for several Bar Associations, including Berks, Cumberland, and Dauphin Counties. I also planned and taught several Firearms in Estates CLE classes for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI).
While at Widener Law School, I was a member of the Widener Law Journal. I wrote an article on the Inaccuracy of the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR). I also had an article published on Fee Disputes in Workers Compensation cases in the Widener Law Journal, Volume 18, No. 2.
You can often find me posting on several internet forums, including Subguns, Uzitalk, AR15, and PAFOA. I also hold PA Firearms Law classes for local ranges to inform the public on the firearm laws of the Commonwealth.
Following in my father's footsteps, I am also a Board member for the Pottstown Police Athletic League (PAL).
View all posts by Joshua Prince, Esq.
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