SOURCES OF APPLICABLE FIREARMS LAW, AND HOW THEY MESH:

• Federal Constitution and statutes
• Pennsylvania Constitution and statutes
• Federal and State Preemption and what they really mean
• The only reliable sources of advice and information - who you should trust

WHO MAY POSSESS AND WHO MAY OWN FIREARMS:

• Legal Disabilities Under Federal Law
  • Conviction of crimes
  • Other legal disabilities (insanity, alien, dishonorable discharge, etc.)
• Legal Disabilities Under Pennsylvania Law
  • Minority
  • Conviction of crimes
  • Other disabilities (insanity, alien, dishonorable discharge, etc.)
• Rehabilitation and reinstatement after loss of rights

LAW GOVERNING CARRY AND TRANSPORTATION OF FIREARMS IN VEHICLES:

• Open and Concealed Carry
• Transport in motor vehicles
• Special rules for carrying on public lands and in parks
• Probable effect of District of Columbia v. Heller
• New rules for snowmobiles and ATV's

THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE IN PENNSYLVANIA:

• Self-defense and "Justification" Defenses
• Statutory codification of less-than-deadly force principles
  • When force or threat of force can be used
  • Value of training with non-deadly force alternatives
• Statutory codification of deadly force principles
  • What constitutes deadly force
  • When deadly force can be used
• Consequences of being wrong (civil and criminal exposure)
• How it all plays out (scenarios and review of actual Pennsylvania case law)

CIVIL LIABILITY FOR THE USE OF ONE'S FIREARM BY ANOTHER:

• Loaning Firearms
• Civil and criminal liability for unauthorized access to your firearms by others and the duty of care
  • Children, the mentally infirm, drunks, pranksters, criminals or those of intemperate disposition

REGULATION OF FIREARMS-RELATED ACTIVITIES AND FACILITIES:

• Zoning
• Noise abatement regulations
• Taxation
• Militia training
• Releases of liability

FIREARMS USED IN HUNTING AND TRAPPING (A WORLD OF ITS OWN):

• Hunting and Trapping Permits
• Interplay between defensive carry and hunting and trapping laws

Cost: $90 advance enrollment ($15 an hour- the cheapest face-time you are likely to ever get with a lawyer!) $100 at the door (space permitting). There is no enrollment cut-off date for this course. We will accept enrollments up to the day of the course, SPACE PERMITTING.

Course Format: The course will consist of six hours of straightforward explanations of how the law works, what the current rules are and how to stay out of trouble. There will be three hours of discussion in the morning and three hours in the afternoon, with a one-hour break for lunch, and 15 minute breaks in the morning and in the afternoon. The course will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Principles will be illustrated using actual cases and statutes (as opposed to theories and ideology). There will be substantial time for questions and answers. Electronic research facilities will be available, allowing us to look up an answer right on the spot if necessary.

Credentialing: Proof of no criminal history is not a requirement for this course.

Class Size: The number of participants will be limited to 20 per session. This will assure ample time for individual questions and interaction between the faculty and participants.

Faculty

Peter Georgiades is the Chairman of Greystone Legal Associates, P.C., a law firm in Pittsburgh. He has 31 years of litigation experience, and has been an instructor in law at the National Law Center, George Washington University and the Graduate School of Industrial Administration at Carnegie-Mellon University. His practice includes advising clients with respect to various aspects of law relating to firearms. He is also an experienced firearms instructor, certified to instruct by the NRA (rifle, pistol, shotgun and personal protection) and the State of Arizona (Certificate No. 8769268), and is a member of the International Ass'n. of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors (IALEFI). Peter is the current Executive Director of the Firearms Instruction, Research & Education (F.I.R.E.) Institute, a non-profit, tax exempt, educational organization dedicated to the advancement of firearms training and education.

Harry Schneider is the Legislative Chairman of the Pennsylvania Sportsmen's Association (PSA). He is experienced at writing bills and analyzing legislation, and has worked tirelessly to advance the interests of firearms owners in the Pennsylvania legislature. He is the co-author of several improvements to firearms laws in Pennsylvania, including recent changes in the law governing hunters and trappers and significant improvements to reciprocity between Pennsylvania and other states with respect to licenses and permits to carry. He has attended numerous ATF-PSP Firearms Law Seminars and seminars sponsored by the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, the Federal Bar Association and the NRA. His formal firearms training and experience stretches back 30 years.

Note: This course qualifies for six hours of continuing education credit for NRA law enforcement instructor accreditation, and 5.5 hours of substantive law CLE credit under the Continuing Legal Education Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Paperwork to receive certification will be will be available at the course site.

To Enroll: Send a letter giving your name and contact information, and a check or money order for $90, payable to "Pennsylvania Firearms Development Corporation," to "PFDC, 2130 Fox Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15203." You will receive an enrollment confirmation by return mail. Do not use the F.I.R.E. Institute enrollment form, please download a PFDC enrollment form. Enrollment is first-come-first served.

For Details, Information and Directions:

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"Having a gun and thinking you are armed is like having a piano and thinking you are a musician"
------ Col. Jeff Cooper (U.S.M.C. Ret.)

This course is sponsored by the Firearms Instruction Research & Education (FIRE) Institute,
a Penna. nonprofit corporation.
Training is provided as a public service.
All students must be 18 years or older. Proof of no criminal history is required.

© 2003 F.I.R.E. Institute