On January 13, U.S. Law Shield, a multi-state 100,000+ gun-owner member organization, filed paperwork to sue the City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for the city’s now-illegal gun laws.
“The capital city must follow the laws,” said attorney Justin J. McShane of The McShane Firm, who is the lead attorney in the lawsuit and lead U.S. Law Shield of Pennsylvania Program Attorney. “Responsible gun owners follow the law. It is time for Harrisburg to learn that it is not above the law.”
The law, known as Act 192, expands a longstanding general rule in the statutes that state law preempts local law for gun regulations. Law-abiding gun owners are at risk for being prosecuted under the city’s ordinances.
The suit is asking the courts to stop Harrisburg from enforcing various firearms ordinances, including a ban on possession of firearms in parks, allowing the mayor to prohibit public possession of weapons in a declared state of emergency, and requiring gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms to police.
The Law Shield lawsuit is the first filed under a new state law that gives gun owners and gun-rights groups a better chance at removing municipal firearms ordinances.
Now, “membership organizations” like U.S. Law Shield can sue on behalf of any Pennsylvania member.
The lawsuit filed in Dauphin County court named as defendants the city of Harrisburg and various city officials.
City of Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse has publicly stated that the City will not repeal its illegal laws. Police Chief Tom Carter has publicly said his officers regularly cite violators for violating now-illegal gun laws.
Another plaintiff is retired 22-year member of the Pennsylvania State Police Corporal Todd Hoover. “As a veteran, and as a member of the Pennsylvania State Police, I took an oath to uphold the laws and the Constitution. Now I am retired and as a firearms instructor, and as a citizen, I still believe in upholding the law. The law is clear and what Harrisburg continues to do in thumbing its nose to the law is illegal and wrong. I won’t stand for it.”
U.S. Law Shield is a multi-state member organization that offers legal services, educational opportunities, and training for its members. In 2009, USLS was founded by staunch 2nd Amendment advocates and firearms enthusiasts. USLS was founded by attorneys who were tired of seeing citizens who were completely justified in using their firearms getting charged with a crime and spending thousands or tens of thousands of dollars on attorneys’ fees, when they acted completely within the law.
To read more:
US Law Shield Sues City of Harrisburg Over its Gun Laws
Gun owners’ organization sues Harrisburg
Harrisburg sued under new Pennsylvania law targeting local gun-control measures
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