Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
An armed activist group patrolling Philadelphia streets with rifles says the city retaliated against them by revoking several members’ concealed carry permits after a tense confrontation with police earlier this year.
According to reporting from The Trace, five members of the Black Lion Party for International Solidarity — including chairman Paul Birdsong — received letters from the Philadelphia Police Department informing them their licenses to carry firearms had been revoked.
And yeah… this story gets complicated fast.
The Black Lions have drawn major attention in recent months for conducting heavily armed patrols through Philadelphia neighborhoods while openly carrying rifles and wearing black uniforms modeled after the historic Black Panther Party.
Depending on who you ask, they’re either community defenders, political activists, or a walking heart attack for suburban Facebook groups.
The permit revocations reportedly stem from a January 31 confrontation between members of the group and a Philadelphia police officer in North Philly.
According to Birdsong, members noticed an officer had parked his cruiser facing the wrong direction and partially blocking traffic. Words were exchanged after someone in the group told the officer to move the vehicle.
Birdsong claims the situation escalated when the officer allegedly confronted him with a hand on his firearm before additional officers arrived. No arrests were made. No shots were fired. Everyone eventually walked away.
SEE ALSO: Taurus TX9 Sub-Compact Review: Duty DNA for EDC
Then, nine days later, the permit revocation letters showed up.
The letters reportedly cited “good cause” and concerns over “character and reputation,” while also claiming the armed encounter created “an unreasonable danger to public safety.”
The group’s attorney, Lyandra Retacco, argues the city is abusing vague language inside Pennsylvania’s firearm licensing laws to punish protected First and Second Amendment activity.
And honestly, even people who don’t love the Black Lions politically may find themselves paying attention to that argument.
Because once governments start deciding whose “character” qualifies for gun rights, things get murky fast.
The case has also attracted support from Eric Davanzo, a Republican lawmaker backing legislation that would remove Pennsylvania’s controversial “character and reputation” standard from the state’s gun laws.
Meanwhile, Birdsong says the group’s patrols haven’t stopped.
He claims he’s continued leading them while carrying only non-lethal tools since losing his permit, while other licensed members remain armed.
And in classic Philly fashion, Birdsong already sounds ready for round two.
“I expect to get my license back,” he told The Trace, “and after that I’m going to sue the hell out of them.”
*** Buy and Sell on GunsAmerica! ***
Available on GunsAmerica Now
is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
Experience:
– Licensed Bowhunter, Hunter, and Trapper – Experienced in ethical hunting and wildlife conservation.
– Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS & AZ) – Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.
– 2A Journalist – Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.
– Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – Certified to provide emergency medical care in the field.
– Field-Tested Gear Reviewer – Hands-on experience with firearms, optics, and hunting tech.
While I would defend their right to carry, I this is a group of Marxist’s who hate America, Israel, ICE, and are useful idiot’s who support all the wrong causes. Screw them.
Doesn’t PA law allow open carry without a permit? What difference does it make if his permit is revoked? That’s for concealed carry.
I only lasted 3:30 of that idiot talking. That being said, anyone with that level of ignorance shouldn’t have a gun.
You can’t fix stupid!!!
Let’s watch and see how these idiots make out…..
It’s obvious to see they have no common sense and probably should not have firearms….
Other reports claim that the Black Lions are out on the street armed with the intention of interrupting ICE arrests of illegal aliens. If true, this story should have reported that. If false it should have also been reported. If I want a one sided half of a story I’ll listen to NPR.
There’s a lot of both sides of the issue on this one.
A. Philly is insanely dangerous and there aren’t enough police to do much other than respond to an incident afterwards so I applaud the citizens picking up the slack.
B. The Black Lions, like the Black Panthers, have a very dubious and probably well earned, reputation for being racists, cop haters (that’s what started this whole license issue) and engaging in criminal behavior themselves.
C. At the core of the issue their rights were violated and they deserve to win this case.
D. That’s life in the big city (pick a city) and why I left the big city. You can’t win because the game is rigged.
It’s about time the people start taking their country back. The second amendment was written to protect the people from civil servants, and government who have went awry and committed acts of tyranny against them. This is exactly why the second amendment was written. When government refuses to obey the rules of the people the constitution and the Bill of Rights. Take note politicians the people are tired of your bullshit and they know what’s going down and they ain’t happening in the US of A!
The “Black Lions” sell themselves much like the Black Panthers did years ago. The clinched fist for “Black Power” that first was used by German Communists of the 1930’s.
Fred Hampton was a Black Panther that claimed “free” breakfasts for neighborhoods kids but hardly ever delivered on that promise. Hampton was a thug and the same for the rest of the Black Panthers. This new-old con job, that will yell and make demands, but will they go out and actually pick up garbage on the streets. I have done those little things that improve a neighborhood and the talkers litter the neighborhood every night.
What crimes has this group stopped by walking around making threats and displaying weapons?
Hampton’s house is a historical sight that had fallen into disrepair until lefty Whites ponied up some money to bail out the endless talkers.
Most likely this group will accomplish nothing worth note, and a few will check out like Huey Newton.
Here’s hoping Black Lions win their case. An attack on their rights is an attack on the rights of all. Glad to see folks defending their community
You are like all the other wannabe “journalists” putting out half truths. 1. This is the black panther party redux. 2. They oppose ICE with armed patrols. They are working for the anti-American dumocRAT party that has been the party of bkack slavery and has been keeping black people down since its inception. Opposing the enforcement of constitutional laws and protecting foriegn invaders against legitimate removal by ICE is treason, a felony, and these oeople should not be armed. I don’t care what any liberal morons answer back to this post. Stick it where the sun don’t shine.
I do not recall who said it and I will paraphrase from memory…. the police were not to replace the citizens in law and order but to augment them.
These men as far as I know have not committed any crimes. They are free to protect their neighbors. Just the presence of a group does more than the police can accomplish. Neighbors know who belongs there, who is up to no good and who needs a little affirmative care to stay straight.
These are racist thugs that have no respect for the law and are out there bullying citizenry, including law enforcement. Use you head.
How people are so quick to embrace a clown show is beyond me. Your struggling average plumber (usually White or Hispanic) does more to keep neighborhoods livable that a group like this ever could.
Kane, I don’t see armed plumbers patrolling their neighborhoods regardless of their ethnic background.
I embrace citizens who are able to show up in force to protect their people regardless of race.
More of this should be happening, the police are restrained by local politics and crime doesn’t care who you vote for, they care about what they can take from productive people.
So, if all plumbers went on strike in Philadelphia for a month and the Black Lions did the same who would be missed first?
BTW, the Black Lions are pushing for a confrontation with ICE (seems like a criminal intent if not insurrection) but are silent on how they intend to confront the common criminals.
6/3/26 11:00 AM
GA shadow banning?
What evidence do you have. The article didn’t present what you are attributing to them. If they are breaking the law, then of course my opinion can change.
Kane. You have told me what they are impending but offered no proof. Links to articles or anything to substantiate what you are telling me?
I responded and GA failed to post.
If the Cops did not spend all their time at coffee and donut shops along with letting “cruiser girls” ride in the back seat of their patrol cars the community would not need vigilante groups trying to make the streets safe to walk on. All in all the vigilante groups have exposed how worthless the police departments usually are.
And when you mix in a lot of racism by Far Right White Groups its not a wonder the corrupt cops did not take away Black Lions license to carry firearms to protect their community.
Serpico proved decades ago that New York Cops were “on the take” from drug gangs so they could do business without harassment from the Cops. Is anyone naive enough to think that New York was an anomaly?
Your posts are not improving, and you are not young anymore.
My stepfather was with CPD for around 42 years 1972-2014 and he was jaded by the job; anyone would be changed. The death and sexual abuse (especially of children) that the average CPD officer has to see is beyond what the average human can take. When the DC-10 dropped an engine a flipped over at O’Hare airport my stepfather had to carry over 20 burned bodies of the many passengers who were killed including whole families. Your cracks about coffee and doughnuts are even more lame your typical diatribes.
okay Claude your going downhill fast.
Your fellow lower-hominid Black Panther-redux are not armed to protect their turf from muggers and street gangs – what they they *are* is a street gang out to interfere with lawful federal ICE operations against illegal invaders, and local LEO actions against their fellow gangsters.
2A-protected actions? Not hardly. Disarm them. At the very least.
“And when you mix in a lot of racism”
You say “racism” like it’s a bad thing. Considering you are a walking pustule full of it, that’s laughable.
Serpico proved NY police are on the take?
A scripted drama?
Did Beauty and the Beast prove that a mob of Frenchman could be thwarted by a houseful of ensorceled flatware?
lets not muddy the issue here with 2A rights, when you have an anti cop organization out on the streets armed looking for an excuse to start a gunfight then i say prevent them from doing that. and how do we know that those people are the ones with licenses…..