As our viewers are aware, on January 10th, when Governor Wolf issued his Opioid Proclamation, which triggered the prohibitions of 18 Pa.C.S. § 6107, I addressed the issue in my article – With a Stroke of a Pen, PA Governor Wolf Limits Firearm Rights by Proclaiming State of Emergency. Thereafter, Governor Wolf’s Office issued a canned statement stating that the Proclamation did not effect firearm rights, but failed to address the issues that I raised, which resulted in my re-addressing of the issues, including in relation to the “exceptions” being defenses that must be proven in a court of law as a defense to prosecution, the hunting on state game lands and the impact on the Great American Outdoors Show. Today, Philly.com published an article, which in addition to failing to address the issues I’ve continually raised relative to the Proclamation, now implied that the Governor’s Office contends that a violation of Section 6107 is “a citation.”
Unfortunately, once again, if the Wolf Administration did state that it was only a citation, it is once again misleading the public on this issue, because pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 6119, it is a misdemeanor of the first degree – our highest grade misdemeanor – which can be punished, per 18 Pa.C.S. § 106(b)(6), by up to 5 years in jail. As a result, if an individual is convicted of a violation of Section 6107, it triggers the federal prohibition of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1); whereby, that individual will be prohibited for the remainder of his/her life from possessing and purchasing firearms and ammunition. Specifically, Section 922(g)(1)
(g) It shall be unlawful for any person–
(1) who has been convicted in any court of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year; …
to ship or transport in interstate or foreign commerce, or possess in or affecting commerce, any firearm or ammunition; or to receive any firearm or ammunition which has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce.
As further defined by 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(20), a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year as:
(20) The term “crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year” does not include– …
(B) any State offense classified by the laws of the State as a misdemeanor and punishable by a term of imprisonment of two years or less.
Thus, as a misdemeanor of the first degree in Pennsylvania can be punished by up to 5 years in jail, the Section 922(g)(1) prohibition is triggered.
Hopefully, the misinformation from the Governor’s Office will cease; however, if Governor Wolf disputes the effect of his Proclamation on firearm rights or the grading of a resultant conviction, I am more than happy to debate him on the law.
I believe it is also necessary to point out that although I responded in the comment section of the Philly.com article, the “editorial board” apparently elected to delete my comment as it cannot be found in the comment section. So much for their request that readers “contribute to an engaging dialogue.” Below is a screenshot of my comment, which was later removed.
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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.
Prince Law Offices Blog 
I noticed that Philly.com never approved your comment (shown in the screen shot) It was better than the ones they approved.
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Mr. Prince, after reading the Governor’s opioid Proclamation, my only question remains. Why can’t anyone from our government, federal or state, ever try to enforce the gun laws that already exist on the books and “feel” the need to reinvent the wheel? I’m really starting to wonder if this is the new face teirony coming for the Democratic party?
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