GOA Secures Permanent Injunction Against Philadelphia Mayor’s Illegal Order

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 3, 2022

Philadelphia, PA – Less than one week after Mayor Jim Kenney signed an unlawful Executive Order to prohibit citizens from lawfully carrying at Philadelphia parks and recreational facilities, the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas has permanently enjoined the City from enforcing the ban after a lawsuit was filed by Gun Owners of America (GOA) and several Pennsylvania members.

“The law in Pennsylvania couldn’t be clearer. No municipality – including Philadelphia – may regulate the lawful possession of firearms in any manner,” said Andrew Austin, attorney for GOA and the Plaintiffs. “Obviously, the City doesn’t care about that law or the concrete legal precedent affirming it, and since there are no consequences for them, they will continue to try to ram through illegal rules to the detriment of their own citizens. However, we’re grateful that the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas was willing to act so quickly to prohibit the mayor’s illegal action.”

“All of the anti-gun municipalities across the Commonwealth need to understand the message from this case: Gun Owners of America will not tolerate illegal bans, prohibitions, or restrictions on the Second Amendment in violation of Pennsylavania law. We stopped Mayor Kenney in less than a week, and we will do the same to you,” said Dr. Val Finnell, Pennsylvania Director of GOA. “However, the fact there are no consequences for these illegal actions by local politicians clearly demonstrates the need to add teeth to Pennsylvania’s preemption statute, through the very type of legislation like we saw vetoed last year by Governor Wolf (HB 979). When municipalities like Philadelphia violate the law, they should pay attorney’s fees and damages,” continued Finnell.

The City of Philadelphia is expected to appeal the Judge’s order and continue to frivolously waste taxpayer money on their unlawful anti-gun agenda.

Dr. Val Finnell, or another GOA spokesperson, are available for interviews. Gun Owners of America is a nonprofit grassroots lobbying organization dedicated to protecting the right to keep and bear arms without compromise. GOA represents over two million members and activists. For more information, visit GOA’s Press Center.

-GOA-