Today, Chief Counsel Josh Prince of the Firearms Industry Consulting Group (“FICG), a division of Civil Rights Defense Firm, P.C., secured a major, en banc (i.e. entire court), victory against the Lower Merion Township’s illegal firearm ordinance regulating the location of Federal Firearms Licensees (“FFLs” a.k.a. gun dealers) in Firearm Owners Against Crime – Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action, et al. v. Lower Merion Township, 765 C.D. 2024.
As some may remember, in July of 2023, we filed suit against Lower Merion Township in relation to an ordinance it passed regulating gun dealers, which, among other things, regulated the location of federal firearm licensees and 12 requirements for them at those locations. Although the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas enjoined the majority of the regulations, it refused to enjoin portions of the ordinance that only permitted FFLs by conditional use approval in specific zoning districts. Today, the Commonwealth Court correctly declared that the regulation, in toto, was preempted and directed the trial court to permanently enjoin the entire ordinance.
Please join us in congratulating Josh on this monumental win and thanking Firearm Owners Against Crime – Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action (FOAC-ILLEA) for always remaining steadfast in its dedication to defending Article 1, Section 21, 18 Pa.C.S. 6120 and the Second Amendment. We would highly encourage anyone in a financial position to do so, to donate to FOAC-ILLEA so it can continue to support important litigation defending our Rights.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of an unlawful firearm regulation or policy, contact FICG today to discuss your options.
Firearms Industry Consulting Group® (FICG®) is a registered trademark and division of Civil Rights Defense Firm, P.C., with rights and permissions granted to Prince Law Offices, P.C. to use in this article.
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 
Great work, Joshua!
Sure wish the voters in Pennsylvania who recognize that Natural Rights derive from our humanity, and are NOT privileges bestowed by benevolent rulers, got out to vote in every election, and not just in Presidential years. These off-year elections which choose judges, township commissioners, and school board members are critical when it comes to the preservation of our rights.
Until responsible law-abiding firearms owners and other supporters of Judeo-Christian Western Civilization recognize what time of day it is in America, our liberty is threatened by demonic forces of authoritarianism that is on the march across the world.
The United States is the last stand against these forces any our efforts to resist evil begin on the local level.
Thank you for everything you do!
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Once again Josh job well done!
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Congratulations!
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