Paul Birdsong leads the Black Lion Party for International Solidarity, an armed, Black Panthers-inspired mutual aid group in Philadelphia.
Until February, the 39-year-old carried a firearm during the group’s neighborhood patrols to increase neighborhood safety. Then the police revoked his carry license. Four other Black Lion members lost their licenses the same week.
The city’s revocation letters, by published accounts, explained little. They cited “good cause” and Birdsong’s “character and reputation.”
They also pointed to a tense January 2026 encounter between a group of Black Lion members carrying rifles and a group of officers. The argument at a snowy intersection at 23rd and Diamond streets in North Philadelphia ended in hard words – but no arrests, citations or violence.
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This article provides general information about Pennsylvania law and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change and apply differently to particular facts; consult a licensed attorney about your specific situation.