Today, Chief Counsel Joshua Prince of the Firearms Industry Consulting Group, a division of Civil Rights Defense Firm, P.C., filed suit on behalf of Allegheny County Sportsmen’s League (ACSL), Firearm Owners Against Crime (FOAC), Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), Firearms Policy Foundation (FPF), and several individual plaintiffs against the City of Pittsburgh, Mayor Peduto and several City Councilmembers for violating Pennsylvania’s Constitution and statutory law in relation to their passage of several anti-gun enactments.

In the first action, ACSL filed a contempt petition and brief in support for numerous violations of a 1995 Court Order approving a Settlement Agreement between the City of Pittsburgh and ACSL, et al. The petition for contempt requests that the court fine and sanction the City of Pittsburgh, award attorney fees and costs, and hold the Mayor and Councilmembers severally and jointly liable for violating terms of a longstanding court order that required them to “abide by and adhere to Pennsylvania law.” As the City of Pittsburgh stipulated that the City’s Ordinance 30 of 1994 was preempted by 18 Pa.C.S. § 6120, as it regulated the use, possession and transfer of what the City classified as ‘assault weapons,’ ammunition and firearm accessories, ACSL contends that the City’s new gun control laws clearly and unequivocally violate the Settlement Agreement and Court Order.

A second action, brought by FOAC, FPC, FPF, and several individuals, in a 407 paragraph, 94 page Complaint, seeks declaratory and injunctive relief against the City of Pittsburgh, Mayor Peduto and the individual City Councilmembers that voted in favor of the anti-gun enactments. The Complaint, spanning 16 counts, includes counts for numerous violations of everything from the Pennsylvania Constitution to the Crimes Code to failure to comply with the City Home Rule Charter and City Council Rules.

It is unfortunate that City’s taxpayers will be burdened by the City’s elected officials believing it is acceptable – and even gloating – that they are violating the Pennsylvania Constitution and Crimes Code.

If you are in a position to be able to support these matters, ACSL and FOAC would greatly appreciate donations, which can be made online through the Firm’s escrow account here – https://secure.lawpay.com/pages/civilrightsdefensefirm/trust. Simply place “ACSL/FOAC Pittsburgh Preemption Litigation” in the reference box.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of an unlawful municipal firearm or ammunition regulation or ordinance, 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.