Opinion

UPDATE 10/20/2019: GunSenseUs President Ann Colby-Cummings has asked AmmoLand News to remove her organization's email from the below article over privacy concerns and her not wanting to hear from people that disagree with her efforts. See the conversation image below. We have removed her info since we as gun owners very well understand the privacy concerns. Note: if you visit their website you will also see they have no direct way to contact their organization, unlike Ammoland News. Cowards. Enjoy the irony.



Harrisburg, Penn. –-(Ammoland.com)- According to firearms attorney Joshua Prince of the Prince Law Offices, GunSenseUs is trying to pressure Sheriffs into contacting references of people who apply for a license to carry in Pennsylvania.

GunSenseUs is an anti-gun group whose stated mission “is to foster community well-being by seeking common-sense solutions that recognize ALL citizens’ rights and responsibilities,” capitalization their emphasis.

Says Joshua Price :

“In violation of PA law, GunSenseUs is demanding [in a form letter embedded below] that our PA Sheriffs disclose confidential license to carry firearms applicant information or be subjected to GunSenseUs issuing a press release in local papers,” Prince said in a statement. “PLEASE let your Sheriff know not to bow to their pressure, as it is both a criminal and civil violation of law to disclose LTCF applicant information. Further, maybe you want to send GunSenseUs – [email protected] – and GunSenseUs President Ann Colby-Cummings – [email protected] – an email with your thoughts on their soliciting and conspiring with PA Sheriffs to violate PA law.”

Pennsylvania Gun Owner Shaming & Harassment

The anti-gun group sent a threatening letter to sheriffs across the commonwealth, asking them to sign a pledge to contact at least two non-family member references for anyone applying for a license to carry. If the sheriffs were to comply with the order, they would violate 18 Pa.C.S. 6111(i) and 18 Pa.C.S. 6111(g)(3.1).

18 Pa.C.S. 6111(i) reads:

Any person … who knowingly and intentionally obtains or furnishes information collected or maintained pursuant to section 6109 for any purpose other than compliance with this chapter or who knowingly or intentionally disseminates, publishes or otherwise makes available such information to any person other than the subject of the information commits a felony of the third degree

18 Pa.C.S. 6111(g)(3.1) reads:

Confidentiality.–All information provided by the … applicant, including, but not limited to, the … applicant's name or identity, furnished by … any applicant for a license to carry a firearm as provided by section 6109 shall be confidential and not subject to public disclosure. In addition to any other sanction or penalty imposed by this chapter, any person, … State or local governmental agency or department that violates this subsection shall be liable in civil damages in the amount of $1,000 per occurrence or three times the actual damages incurred as a result of the violation, whichever is greater, as well as reasonable attorney fees.

It is illegal for the sheriff to release any information about citizens applying for a license to carry. The demand letter from GunSenseUs is asking the sheriffs to break the law.

AmmoLand News has not been able to find any sheriffs that have complied with the demand. If they were to comply with the demand, the sheriff would put themselves in a precarious position.

The group behind GunSenseUs is threatening to send press releases to the local papers if the sheriffs do not subjugate themselves to the group demands. They have given the departments until October 23rd, 2019, to respond with a signed pledge. The group timed their effort to be around the time that the sheriffs are up for reelection. The President of GunSenseUs, Ann Colby-Cummings, signed the letter.

Jon Patton of the Gun Collective, who lives in Pennsylvania, thinks the people should vote out any sheriff that does dare to comply with the anti-gun group's extortion demands. He hopes no law enforcement agencies give in the group's pressure but understands that the group is using their political weight against sheriffs running for reelection.

“Any sheriff that bows down to a partisan group shouldn't be elected anyway,” Patton told AmmoLand News. “They are meant to serve, protect, and uphold the law. They are not there to take up a political agenda. Bowing down to a group like this would show who they are and shows that they shouldn't be in the role of sheriff.”

Patton isn't the only one disturbed by the anti-gun group threatening sheriffs into breaking the law. Erich Pratt, Executive Vice President of Gun Owners of America, is also upset by the group's illegal demands, but he was not surprised that gun-hating radicals at GunSenseUs would issue the letter.

“What irony,” Pratt told AmmoLand News. “The gun grabbers at GunSenseUs hate the Second Amendment so much; they are trying to bully sheriffs into doing their bidding, even though it would require law enforcement to break the law. GunSenseUs would do better by actually focusing on lawbreakers and trying to reform a turnstile justice system that puts dangerous criminals back onto the street.” “Gun owners value their privacy and oppose a registration. But, of course, anti-gun zealots could care less if the information on concealed carry holders is abused. And this just underscores why Pennsylvania must pass HB 1412, a bill to allow Constitutional Carry. Law-abiding gun owners should be free to carry firearms for self-defense without being registered like sex offenders.”

Prince is asking anyone who had their private information disclosed or had a sheriff ask for more information than required for a license to carry firearms to contact the Firearms Industry Consulting group to discuss their rights and legal options.

AmmoLand News reached out to GunSenseUs for clarification on their request by email and Facebook. Although the group saw our messages, they refused to respond.

GunSenseUs' letter Pressures PA Sheriffs To Break the Law & Release Gun Owners' Personal Info

GunSenseUs President Ann Colby-Cummings Privacy Request: Ironic

About John Crump

John is an NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. He is the former CEO of Veritas Firearms, LLC, and is the co-host of The Patriot-News Podcast, which can be found at www.blogtalkradio.com/patriotnews. John has written extensively on the patriot movement, including 3%'ers, Oath Keepers, and Militias. In addition to the Patriot movement, John has written about firearms, interviewed people from all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and is currently working on a book on leftist deplatforming methods and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss, on Facebook at realjohncrump, or www.crumpy.com.