Marcus Allen Weldon – author of the book, titled “The Santa Shooter: Guilty Until Proven Innocent.” In late 2019 Marcus re-issued the book with an updated title of “Surviving the System: The Story of the Santa Shooter.”

Marcus writes about an incident which occurred in Detroit, MI in which he was protecting his own life, the life of his friend, and also the life of a young woman who was being physically assaulted by two men at a gas station.

Why is the book titled “The Santa Shooter”?  The incident occurred a few days before Christmas 2014 and Marcus had just come from a Christmas Party wearing…you guessed it…a Santa Suit.

Marcus’ book is the autobiographical true account of the legal turmoil that follows the use of a firearm, even when the use of force is a justified account of self-defense. The book is planned to release on the Second-Anniversary of the incident.

Marcus’ story is a cautionary tale for all firearm owners. He was facing seven felonies and could have served a maximum sentence of 30 years, a minimum of 16 years, and was continually encouraged by legal counsel to “just take a plea deal, and you’ll be out of prison in a year’s time”. such “prudent expediency” would have altered the course of an innocent man’s life, his career plans, and his ability to raise his young daughter.  Marcus did not listen to that counsel, and after a year and a half of house arrest, and a nearly insurmountable financial and emotional toll was cleared of all charges in June 2016.

Shaneen Allen – many will recognize her name as the single mom of two who was pulled over in Atlantic County, N.J in October of 2014 for an “unsafe lane change” that could have ultimately landed her in prison for three years, for merely possessing a firearm in New Jersey.

During a routine traffic stop, Allen informed the officer that she was a resident of Pennsylvania and had a conceal carry permit in her home state. She also had a handgun in her car. Had she been in Pennsylvania, having the gun in the car would have been perfectly legal. But Allen was pulled over in New Jersey, home to some of the strictest gun control laws in the United States.

 Shaneen spent 40 days in jail before she was released on bail. She was facing a felony charge that, if convicted, would have brought a three-year mandatory minimum prison term. Ms Allen was pardoned by NJ Governor, Chris Christie in April of 2015, but not before living through a harrowing six months of legal nightmares.

Now, Shaneen is actively involved as a Civil Rights, Gun Rights and Woman’s Rights Activist, empowering women to be independent and self reliant. As an inadvertent public figure, she is a vocal public speaker, advocating for firearms safety, training and public awareness of over-reaching and burdensome gun laws.

Shaneen aspires to start a Non-profit organization, in the near future. This organization will be a resource center for women to understand firearms regulations, laws and their legal options within the boundaries of the law.

Ms Allen is proud and loving, single mother of two boys from Philadelphia, where she was born and raised. While she is currently employed by the city of Philadelphia, she is also a Phlebotomist, Certified medical assistant and certified nurse’s aide.