SPRINGFIELD, Ill., May 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA):

Illinois gun control advocates and their allies in the General Assembly delivered a "triple-whammy" against public safety recently when they sabotaged passage of HB148.

Under the provisions of HB148, well-trained, well-qualified Illinois citizens would be permitted to carry defensive firearms to protect themselves and their families from violent criminals. At the same time, HB148 would have provided upwards of $40 million in permit fees to the Illinois State Police to pay for upgrades to the state's antiquated gun buyer background check system.

But, thanks to the short-sighted efforts of the gun control movement and its friends in the Illinois House, tens of thousands of law-abiding Illinois citizens will continue to suffer at the hands of murderers, robbers and rapists because they cannot lawfully defend themselves. Likewise, the gun control movement can take credit for saddling the state police with a background check system based on software developed in 1959.

Rounding out the triple whammy-against the citizens of Illinois is the fact that the actions of gun control advocates are to blame for a pair of lawsuits filed this week in federal court against the State of Illinois. Both lawsuits – one filed by the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), the other filed by the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the ISRA – contend that the state is damaging law-abiding citizens by prohibiting the carrying of defensive firearms.

In a nut shell, the gun control movement's efforts the kill HB148 have ensured that Illinois remains one of the most dangerous places to live in the United States. In addition to causing the loss of $40 million for better background checks, the gun control movement is now responsible for Illinois having to shell out millions in taxpayer dollars to pay legal bills related to the SAF and NRA/ISRA lawsuits. Once again, the extremist views of the gun control movement are costing the good people of Illinois dearly.

"The ISRA is very excited about being a plaintiff in the NRA/ISRA lawsuit," commented ISRA Executive Director, Richard Pearson. "This lawsuit defines the cutting edge of one of the most important questions of the day. That is, does the state have the right to decide who is worth defending and who is not?"

"The fact that two lawsuits have been filed against the State of Illinois this week is proof-positive that this issue is not going to go away," continued Pearson. "The behind the scenes political gamesmanship that resulted in the scuttling of HB148 has not diminished the resolve of the good people of Illinois. Whether it is in the courts, in the legislature, or at the ballot box, we will relentlessly push forward until the citizen's right to self defense is restored in Illinois."

The ISRA is the state's leading advocate of safe, lawful and responsible firearms ownership. For more than a century, the ISRA has represented the interests of millions of law-abiding Illinois firearm owners.

 

HB3500 has just passed out of Executive Committee. Now is the time to contact your State Senator and politely ask them to support HB3500 which amends the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) to keep your FOID (Firearm Owners ID) information private. Your State Senator needs to hear from you, directly.

HB3500 will be on Second Reading on Friday, and could be voted on as soon as Monday.

 

 

Dear ISRA members,

HB3500 passed both the House and the Senate today (Passed the Senate with 42 votes). HB3500 amends the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) to keep your FOID (Firearm Owners ID) information private. Please see: http://ilga.gov/legislation/BillStat...ionID=84&GA=97

HB3500 will now go to the Governors Desk.

We are urging you to make contact with the Governors office and to politely request he sign HB3500 into law. Governor Quinn can be reached at 217-782-0244 (Springfield Office) or at 312-814-2121 (Chicago Office). Further, the Office of the Governor can be emailed here: http://www2.illinois.gov/gov/Pages/C...eGovernor.aspx

The Illinois State Rifle Association would like to thank those who have contacted your State Senators about HB3500 in the past week.

The ISRA is the state's leading advocate of safe, lawful and responsible firearms ownership. For more than a century, the ISRA has represented the interests of millions of law-abiding Illinois firearm owners.

 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Legislation bolstering the Illinois state police’s resistance to disclosing the names of registered gun owners has been sent to Gov. Pat Quinn.

In a victory for gun owners over advocates of open government, the Senate voted 42-1 to overturn a ruling earlier this year by Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office that the names are public under the Freedom of Information Act.

“I don’t believe we should give burglars a map to systematically burglarize our homes and farms,” said Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale, the main sponsor of the bill. “Constitutionally and from a law enforcement perspective, these names should remain private.”

The bill now goes to Gov. Pat Quinn. The Democrat said in Chicago he agrees the information should be confidential.

Madigan’s office issued the decree after the Illinois State Police refused to release to The Associated Press the names of 1.3 million people who are registered to own firearms.

The Illinois State Rifle Association sued the state police and the AP in Peoria County trying to block release of the names. The state police agreed with the rifle association’s position. That lawsuit is on hold.

The AP sought the records under the Freedom of Information Act to, among other things, review governmental action.

“These records and open access to government officials help shine a light into the dark places where wrongdoing can occur, and historically always has,” said Michael Oreskes, the AP’s senior managing editor for U.S. news.

“The actions of government should be transparent to all, which is why we sought the FOID cards and will continue to seek other government records in the future.”

Anti-violence groups agreed the information should be public to help determine whether cards have gone to people who shouldn’t have them.

But concerns that criminals would use the information to target gun-owners or those who aren’t armed, an argument Madigan’s office rejected, won the day in the Senate, as it did 98-12 in the House last month.

“I worry that if this list was made public, we would be creating a situation that singles out certain groups of citizens and their families for criminals to target,” said Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton, a co-sponsor of the bill.

 

sent

 

PITTSFIELD, Ill. -- The Pike County Board is throwing its support behind a Brown County push for a concealed-carry law in Illinois.

Board members agreed Monday to prepare a resolution and send a letter of support to the county's senators and representatives, the leadership team of both parties in the House and Senate, Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon, Gov. Pat Quinn and new Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

"I personally am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment," said board member Mike Boren, who made the motion approved on a voice vote. "I feel the majority of people of Pike County feel strongly about the Second Amendment ... the right to keep and bear arms."

Pike County's decision follows a letter sent to all County Boards in March by Brown County Board Chairman David Ferrill.

Ferrill wrote about the "genuine concern" in Brown County that Illinois may be "the last and only state in the Union" without concealed-carry rights.

"Our constituents believe, as do we, that we have the right guaranteed by the Second Amendment to protect ourselves and our families. We also believe that the restrictive gun laws in Illinois are in violation of our Second Amendment rights and therefore unconstitutional and unlawful," Ferrill wrote. "These restrictive gun laws only affect law abiding citizens anyway: The law breakers already have concealed carry. We are only asking for the right to protect ourselves."

Gun issues are important in Pike County because hunting provides recreation for residents and generates income from visitors.

Pike was one of the first counties to adopt a concealed-carry resolution in a 2009 effort, dubbed Pro 2A and spearheaded by then-board member Mark Mountain, which won support in 90 of the state's 102 counties.

The long-standing interest by Illinois residents in concealed-carry got a boost that year when the Illinois Sheriff's Association adopted a resolution of support with specific limitations.

Only two states, Illinois and Wisconsin, do not allow some sort of concealed or open carry, but residents can obtain such permits from other states.

Ballot measures supporting concealed-carry have passed in at least 10 Illinois counties.

Board Chairman Andy Borrowman read the letter from Ferrill, with the board moving forward to support the measure. The only discussion centered on how many legislators to contact on the issue, and whether to send letters or emails, before opting to save some postage and mail information to a limited number of elected officials.

Board member Walker Filbert urged sending the letter to Emmanuel.

"We know the former mayor of Chicago was anti-gun rights," Filbert said. "The new guy hopefully is open-minded."

 

ISRA Alert:
A Message From ISRA Executive Director Richard Pearson

There has been a great deal of conjecture out there about what we are going to do after placing HB148 on postponed consideration. First let me explain what postponed consideration means.

It simply means the sponsor with drew the bill before the vote could be recorded. The bill is still alive and will be until the second Wednesday in January 2013. This means we can bring the bill back during veto session, next session, or next veto session.

You will not see HB148 brought up again before May 31st ,which is the end of the Spring 2011 session. There is no way to do it and have any better results. Long before the vote it was decided that if the bill did not pass we would sue the State of Illinois over the inability of Illinois citizens to defend themselves outside of their home. Illinois is the only state that does not allow either open carry or concealed carry. We have now begun the legal challenges to the Illinois laws with the NRA. The is another challenge from the Second Amendment Foundation on a similar basis. Illinois is now facing two law suits over the inability of Illinois citizens being able to defend themselves outside their homes. Brandon Phelps the CCW sponsor warned the House of Representatives that they would be in court if the bill was not passed. Within seven days we delivered on that promise. If we get CCW by court order I am happy with that. If it comes by court order the legislature will have to still enact some legislation but they will find their hands are tied. We offered a good bill and they turned it down.

These lawsuits will take time to make their way through the court system. There is a great deal of work that goes into these suits every day before they are heard in court. It is not a simple thing to file a law suit. There is always on going work behind the scenes. Be patient.

We promised that in 2011 we would get a up and down vote on CCW and we did. We had to probe and find out the other side’s strengths, weakness, and reactions. We have done that. There were a few surprises but not many. We have a lot of work to do in the next few months. This effort has taken a toll on our resources and our energy. We have to develop new strategies and reinforce old ones that work. We are not quitting. Remember we fiercely believe in the Second Amendment and the right to self defense. We will win this battle. As I reminded one of our opponents – “You don’t defeat us- we just fall back reload and attack again.”

UPDATE: Wilson v Cook County, the ISRA’s suit seeking to overturn the
Cook County Assault Weapon ban, was granted leave to appeal by the Illinois
Supreme Court yesterday, meaning the Court will hear the case.

 

Buckeye Firearms Foundation
Ohio --(Ammoland.com)- Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Brian Corrigan has ordered Cleveland to stop any enforcement of 19 separate local gun control ordinances, effective immediately.

Buckeye Firearms Foundation is the lead Plaintiff in the case, which was filed in early 2009. In the interim, Cleveland sued the State of Ohio in an attempt to have the state’s firearm laws declared an unconstitutional usurpation of a city’s home rule authority. In December 2010, the Ohio Supreme Court entered final judgment against Cleveland, ruling (for a second time) that the state’s laws were valid.

The Cleveland ordinances invalidated dealt with gun registration, owner I.D. cards, assault weapon bans, limits on firearm dealers within city limits, possession of firearms in parks and other public places, seizure and destruction of firearms, storage of firearms, reporting theft of firearms and concealed carry of firearms.

Judge Corrigan wrote, “R.C. 9.68 clearly invalidates any and all municipal ordinances regulating ‘the ownership, possession, purchase, other acquisition, transport, storage, carrying, sale, or other transfer of firearms, their components, and their ammunition.’” Judge Corrigan set July 7, 2011 as a hearing on Buckeye Firearm Foundations request for mandatory attorney fees. The Ohio Supreme Court has already upheld the validity of the mandatory attorney fee provision.

Attorney Ken Hanson, who represented Buckeye Firearms Foundation in the litigation, said “”We are gratified that the trial court took the time to understand the arguments and the law, and consider the case without being sidetracked by emotional, discredited arguments. Public records requests clearly showed that these ordinances were almost never used to prosecute criminals, and instead operated only as a bar to ownership/possession by those inclined to follow the law in the first place.”

Jim Irvine, a board member of Buckeye Firearms Foundation, observed “When we originally filed this case, Cleveland Law Director Robert Triozzi said the case was ‘more of a publicity stunt than a legal maneuver’ and concluded that none of the city’s ordinances conflicted with state law. Clearly this ruling shows that he was wrong on both counts, and it is the taxpayers of Cleveland that will end up paying for his incorrect conclusions.”

 

GRPC 2011

Come meet national gun rights leaders and your fellow grassroots activists at the 26th Annual Gun Rights Policy Conference (GRPC 2011) in Chicago, IL, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago O'Hare hotel on September 23, 24, & 25, 2011. This is your once-a-year chance to network, get an insider's look and plan pro-gun rights strategies for the coming year.

Past GRPCs have outlined victory plans and made public the latest firearms trends. They allow you a first-hand chance to hear movement leaders--and make your voice heard.

This year we'll take a look at critical issues such as: city gun bans, "smart" guns, concealed carry, federal legislation, BATFE policies, legal actions, gun show regulation, state and local activity. We'll also review the 2010 elections, discuss the 2012 Presidential race and analyze Right to Keep and Bear Arms court cases.

The full roster of GRPC 2011 speakers has not yet been set. Past speakers include: Alan M. Gottlieb, Joseph P. Tartaro, Eugene Volokh, Bob Barr, Alan Gura, Wayne LaPierre, John Lott, Sandy Froman, Massad Ayoob, Tom Gresham, G. Gordon Liddy, Michael Reagan, Larry Elder, Ken Hamblin, and many others.

http://saf.org/images/grpc2011flyer.pdf

 

ISRA Alert:
WARNING – AVOID CHICAGO AS A VACATION DESTINATION

The ISRA is warning its members to think twice about selecting Chicago as a vacation destination this summer. This warning was issued in response to a recent dramatic upswing in violent crime in the windy city. Most notably is a spate of so-called “flash mob” attacks where as many as two dozen young men ambush and savagely beat their victims before robbing them of their valuables. One recent flash mob victim was a 68 year-old man.

The bulk of the flash mob attacks have taken place on Chicago’s near north side and Gold Coast areas to include North Avenue Beach and the Magnificent Mile. The attack locations are within the general vicinity of tourist attractions including Navy Pier, Lincoln Park Zoo, and Millennium Park.

Thus far, the Chicago Police Department has had little luck controlling these flash mobs with only 4 participants having been apprehended. This ability to confound the police stems from the very nature of flash mobbing. Participants either get a text message on their smart phone or receive a “tweet” on a social networking site telling them where to show up and how to behave – with the specified behavior usually involving larceny or assault. Flash mob participants arrive at the site at a particular time and, after committing the specified crimes, scatter before police can arrive. The sheer number of flash mob participants overpowers the victims – rendering them helpless against the mob.

As most of our readers know, the most effective defense a victim could muster against a flash mob would be for the victim to draw a concealed firearm. As most of our readers also know, Illinois is one of only two states in the nation that deny citizens the right to carry defensive firearms.

The ISRA supported House Bill 148 in the most recent legislative session. Under the provisions of HB148, qualified citizens would be permitted to carry defensive firearms to protect themselves and their families from the type of violent crimes perpetrated by flash mobs. Ironically, it was the Chicago delegation of legislators that arranged for the defeat of HB148 when the bill came up for a vote.

Through their baseless opposition to legislation such as HB148, the Chicago delegation has provided flash mobs and other criminals the upper hand. As we have seen in recent days, Chicago’s criminal element is taking full advantage of having the upper hand. There is no reason to believe that there will be a happy ending to the flash mobs’ reign of terror. Nobody should be surprised that, before the summer is over, a flash mob has engaged in a gang-rape or even a murder of an innocent civilian.

Again, the ISRA is urging readers to reconsider plans to vacation in Chicago this summer. Indications are that vacationing in Chicago will place readers and their families at high risk of being victimized by violent criminals – including flash mobs. This risk is heightened greatly because law-abiding citizens cannot carry firearms to protect themselves from violent criminals.

PLEASE DO THE FOLLOWING:

1. Pass this alert along to all your friends and family members.

2. Please post this alert to any and all Internet blogs and bulletin boards to which you belong.

3. Please contact your state representative and state senator and politely inform them that you are a law-abiding citizen who wants a bill such as HB148 to be passed and signed into law so that you may protect yourself. If you do not know who your representative and senator are, follow this link: http://www.elections.il.gov/District...archByZip.aspx.

4. Please make a generous donation to the ISRA so that we may continue the fight to pass concealed carry and defeat legislation pushed by the gun control movement that would destroy your right to keep and bear arms. To learn more about making a donation to the ISRA, visit this link: Make a donation.

 

Interesting?

Analysis
Illinois is one of the worst states to live in from a personal-freedom perspective, but on economic freedom it is in the middle of the pack. Illinois has the fifth-harshest gun-control laws in the country, after California, Maryland, New York, and Massachusetts, and the state’s victimless-crimes arrest rates are almost unfathomable. In 2008, more than 2 percent of the state’s population was arrested for a victimless crime (and that figure does not count people under 18), and the vast majority of these arrests were for drugs. Illinois’s drug law-enforcement rate is by far the worst in the country at more than three standard deviations worse than average. Asset-forfeiture laws are also among the worst in the nation. On the plus side, Illinois’s homeschool regulations are effectively as minimal as Idaho’s, a case of benign neglect it seems. Since 2007, smoking bans have come in with a vengeance. Illinois is in the middle of the pack on most economic issues, but could certainly stand to relax its labor laws, improve the court system, and expand eminent-domain reforms.

http://mercatus.org/freedom-50-states-2011

 

Chicago police chief wants to bring gun debate “back to the center”
Wednesday, Jun 8, 2011

Jody Weis wasn’t the only ex-city official that new police chief Garry McCarthy attempted to distance himself from on Monday. He also signaled a distaste for the gun control policies of former Mayor Richard M. Daley.

“My goal is to bring the gun debate back to the center,” McCarthy told aldermen. “I think that we have abolitionists on one side and I think that we have NRA and those kind of folks on the other side, and frankly it’s too polarizing a debate, and 95 percent of the country is somewhere in between.”

That is not something that would have been uttered by a Chicago public official a month ago. Daley was a relentless advocate of tough gun control laws—one of the “abolitionists” McCarthy referred to—and he tolerated no open dissent in city government. […]

“I think that we can protect the Second Amendment rights of people to bear firearms while at the same time preventing the illegal flow of firearms into our urban centers and killing our children,” he said. “That’s a pretty wide gap, and there’s someplace in between that we can come as a country.”

McCarthy noted that he’s the chairman of a policy committee on gun control for the Major Cities Chiefs Association. “That’s one of the things I’m committed to. And with a platform like Chicago, Illinois, I think we can bring attention to the matter and get something done.”

Mary L. McCarthy, a Gold Coast resident who is not related to the new chief, said flash mobs are giving her second thoughts about venturing out at night for the first time in the 13 years she’s lived in a high-rise in the 1400 block of North State Parkway. On Friday night, a crowd of about 20 youths gathered outside her building, she said. She claimed the youths pulled people out of cars and taxicabs, leading the doorman to lock the doors to her building.

“We need a bigger police presence. I don’t know, maybe bringing horses back would help. A show of force would stop this nonsense. This does not portend well for the summer,” she said.

Several officers have also told the Sun-Times they were recently warned by superiors to tell family members not to ride their bikes on the lakefront because of incidents of mobs pushing people off their bikes — and sometimes pushing cyclists into the lake.

 

Madison - Republicans in the Legislature are rallying around a bill that would allow people to get permits to carry concealed weapons if they went through training, after a proposal that would have allowed them to carry hidden guns without permits stirred controversy.

The Joint Finance Committee approved a new version of the bill that would require people to get training and apply to the state for permits. It passed 12-4, with all Republicans voting for it and all Democrats voting against it.

Law enforcement would have to issue permits to any state residents who are 21 or over, get training and clear a background check that shows they were not a felon or otherwise prohibited from carrying a gun.

The committee's vote is a sign lawmakers will change the state's concealed weapons law soon, but it is also a setback for those who sought a more dramatic rollback of the state's gun laws. They had pushed for allowing Wisconsin to join the ranks of four other states that allow "constitutional carry" - giving people the ability to carry hidden guns under the Second Amendment without having to get permits or training.

Wisconsin and Illinois are the only two states have outright bans on carrying concealed weapons, and gun rights advocates have long tried to overturn Wisconsin's ban.

Permits would cost a maximum of $50 and be good for five years. To get one, people would have to offer proof they have passed a course on firearms training, firearms safety or hunter safety.

Whenever they carried concealed weapons, they would have to have their permit and photo ID with them. If they did not, they could be fined $25, though the fee would be waived if they presented their permit and ID within 48 hours.

The database that includes permit holders would not be public record.

People with permits from other states could carry concealed weapons in Wisconsin as long as their home state also required training and background checks.

Guns would be banned from law enforcement offices, prisons, jails, courthouses, secure mental health facilities, schools, and the areas of airports past security checkpoints. Private businesses could post signs banning guns; similar postings could be put up in city halls, the Capitol and other public buildings.

Guns would be allowed in all city and state parks, an issue that raised concerns among some opponents of the bill.

Permit holders could carry guns in taverns and other places that sell alcohol, provided they were not drinking.

Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) said she saw a loophole in the bill because people would be able to drink in some parks while carrying guns.

Last month, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a "constitutional carry" bill on a 3-2, party-line vote. But shortly thereafter, Republican Gov. Scott Walker said he wanted the bill to require permits and training.

Meanwhile, Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn and Milwaukee District Attorney John Chisholm have sought changes to the bill to stiffen penalties for those who illegally carry guns or buy guns for felons.

The bill the committee passed does not address those issues.

Democrats for years have halted efforts to repeal Wisconsin's concealed weapons ban, but Republicans now control the Legislature and governor's office.

Lawmakers passed bills to allow concealed weapons in 2003 and 2005, but then-Gov. Jim Doyle vetoed them. From then until recently, Democrats were able to block such bills because they controlled at least one house of the Legislature.

Republicans said the measure was essential to allow people to protect themselves, while Democrats said it would make city streets more dangerous.

Those who got permits would also be able to carry Tasers and other electric weapons, which are banned under current law.

 

Madison, WI -
The GOP-controlled Assembly approved the bill on a bipartisan vote of 68-27.

The Senate backed the bill last week on a 25-8 vote, and the measure now goes to Walker, who supports it, for his signature.

Wisconsin would become the 49th state to legalize the carrying of concealed guns.

The legislation would require those who want to carry concealed firearms to obtain permits. It would allow people to carry concealed weapons in the state Capitol and other public buildings but not places like police stations and courthouses. Weapons also would be prohibited in buildings where posted notices bar them, and in places like Summerfest music festival at Milwaukee's lakefront.

Backers say it will help people protect themselves; detractors worry that it could escalate tense situations in public.

Last week, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi also unveiled a proposal late last week that would prohibit people from carrying concealed guns on county property, such as Henry Vilas Zoo, Dane County Regional Airport, and the City-County Building.

Also, Mayor Paul Soglin said he plans to enact an ordinance that would require written permission for gun owners to carry a weapon on private property in Madison.

Frederick, the gun store employee, said he would boycott businesses that bar concealed carry.

Concealed carry bills have previously passed the Legislature twice before, but both times were vetoed by Democratic former Gov. Jim Doyle.

Wisconsin and Illinois are the only states that prohibit concealed weapons.

 

"SPRINGFIELD — Wisconsin is on the verge of becoming the 49th state to allow its citizens to carry concealed guns, leaving only Illinois without such a law.

"It's embarrassing. We're the last ones," said state Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg. "Every other state tends to believe this is a right, not a privilege, and they have let their law-abiding citizens do it, and I don't know why we should be any different.

"We're not going to go away. We're going to keep pushing it."

But Phelps faces stiff opposition from Chicago and suburban lawmakers and Gov. Pat Quinn, who said last week he is proud Illinois is the last state not to allow concealed carry and that he would veto any bill allowing it.

So Phelps said he plans to talk to officials in Cook County and Chicago about a compromise, including the possibility of allowing local officials to decide whether people can carry concealed weapons.

"I don't want to leave anybody out, but you know what, we've got to start looking at things and maybe try a different approach," said Phelps, acknowledging the National Rifle Association believes any Illinois law should allow every citizen in the state who is eligible to carry a concealed gun. "A lot of their (NRA) members would support it (allowing local governments to decide). We're going to talk to them. We're going to talk to every other group, too."

Six votes short

Hoping to break the logjam, a group of downstate Republican lawmakers introduced a bill last week that would allow county boards to decide whether or not their citizens could carry concealed firearms. Phelps' bill received 65 votes in the House, a majority, but not enough of one to overcome a decision by the House Democratic leadership that the bill needed 71 votes to pass because it overrules the home rule powers of local governments.

"Forty-nine states can't be wrong, and to be the very last state is unfortunate,' said Rep. Michael Unes, R-East Peoria, a chief co-sponsor of the bill.

Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, believes his legislation, House Bill 3794, would solve that problem.

"It came up through people, constituents, calling and frustrated that you get 65 votes, which is usually a constitutional majority, and yet it didn't move on (to the Senate). So the frustration is, OK, Cook County legislators, Chicago don't want it, well, let us have it," Mitchell said.

Mitchell agrees the gun lobby won't like his bill because the same rights wouldn't apply to every Illinoisan and the possibility exists gun owners carrying concealed weapons could run afoul of another jurisdiction's law if they cross county lines with a concealed firearm.

Mitchell views his bill as a backup plan in case Phelps cannot find the votes for his bill or if the courts do not determine concealed carry is a constitutional right, which is the contention of several lawsuits filed on the subject.

"I have never been on a district tour saying another bill is better than the bill I just filed. But I did yesterday," Mitchell said. "There's problems with it. And I understand that completely."

Chicago vs. downstate

In recent years, neither side of the gun debate has been effective at getting their bills passed.

Chicago lawmakers who favor banning assault weapons or limiting gun purchases on a monthly basis have been unable to gain traction, due to lack of downstate support.

Democratic Rep. Edward Acevedo, a Chicago police officer and opponent of concealed carry, said there may be room for urban lawmakers to consider Mitchell's bill, if he and other gun-rights supporters are willing to compromise on other issues, such as placing more restrictions on assault weapons.

"It's something I might be willing to look at. I think this subject will continue to come up. If I'm willing to deal with that . . . then maybe they should hear me out as far as my ban on assault weapons," Acevedo said. "I would be willing to sit at table and negotiate a deal where you give me something and I'll give you something."

The arguments for and against concealed carry remain largely the same. Phelps argues that fears about Wild West-style shootouts have been unfounded.

"Every other state that's had concealed carry has not repealed this, has not even tried to repeal this. it's working. I know it'll work here," Phelps said, noting his legislation, House Bill 148, does not allow guns in bars and restaurants.

But Brian Malte, director of state legislation for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, points to a study by the Violence Policy Center that shows more than 300 people have been killed by those who have concealed carry permits, including 11 law enforcement officials and 18 cases of mass shootings. The Brady Campaign opposes concealed carry laws in which citizens do not have to have permits and/or law enforcement does not have discretion over who gets a permit and how many permits are issued.

"We have never seen a state government release an audit of their concealed carry system," Malte said.

"Not only do you have permittees actually committing homicide or murder, but you also have dangerous people slipping through the cracks with what appear to be valid concealed carry permits."

_____

Concealed carry lingo

SHALL ISSUE: A law that says a governmental body has to issue a concealed carry permit if a citizens meets certain requirements, such as age limits, completing a gun safety course and going through a background check. All of Illinois' neighboring states currently or will fall into this category, once Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signs a bill allowing the practice in that state.

MAY ISSUE: A law that says a governmental body can issue a concealed permit if citizens meet certain requirements and law enforcement believes they should have a permit. These types of laws allow police to exercise discretion in whom they allow to carry a weapon and how many permits are issued in any jurisdiction. Larger states, such as New York and California, and several Northeastern states have this type of law.

UNRESTRICTED: Residents can carry concealed weapons without a permit. Alaska, Vermont, Arizona and Wyoming (as of July 1) are the only states that allow unrestricted concealed carry.

Michael Boren of the Journal Star contributed to this report."

 

URGENT ALERT - YOUR IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED!
ANTI-CONCEALED CARRY LEGISLATOR TO HOLD TOWN HALL MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY – YOU NEED TO BE THERE!!!

As most of you readers know, Concealed Carry failed by just a few votes in the House this spring. Many of the “NO” votes were the result of arm-twisting by the Daley-Emanuel Gun Grabbing Machine.

One of the state representatives who voted “NO” on Concealed Carry is having a town hall meeting this Wednesday night. He has invited the public to come to the town hall to express their ideas to him for next session.

Regardless of where you live, this is your opportunity to inform an anti-gun legislator of your disappointment that Concealed Carry failed to pass. Again, even though you may not live in this legislator’s district, your appearance at his town hall to object to his “NO” vote on concealed carry will send a message to all the other representatives who voted “NO.” That message is, “We will not be quiet on this issue – we will not rest until the law-abiding citizens of Illinois are allowed to protect themselves and their families from violent thugs.”

HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO HELP PASS CONCEALED CARRY DURING THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION:

Attend Rep. Keith Farnham’s town hall meeting and let the Representative know you are unhappy with his “NO” vote on Concealed Carry.

Please post this alert to any and all blogs or Internet bulletin boards to which you belong.

Please send this alert along to your friends and family, tell them to attend too.

HERE IS INFORMATION ON THE TOWN HALL – READ IT CAREFULLY AND PLEASE ATTEND:

WHAT: Town Hall Meeting – open to the public

WHO: Rep. Keith Farnham (voted “NO” on Concealed Carry)

WHEN: Wednesday, June 29, 2011, 7:00 PM

WHERE: Carpentersville Village Hall, 1200 L.W. Besinger Drive , Carpentersville, IL

REMEMBER – ONLY YOU CAN ENSURE THAT CONCEALED CARRY GETS PASSED. ATTEND THIS TOWN HALL – STAND UP AND BE COUNTED AS BEING ON THE SIDE OF WHAT’S RIGHT!

 

^^^ Hope to see some of you big shooters tonight !!! ^^^

 

Trib - 11:42 a.m. CDT, July 2, 2011
The names of licensed gun owners in Illinois will remain private under a measure Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law today.

The governor approved legislation to prevent Illinois State Police from releasing the names of those who hold or have applied for a Firearm Owner’s Identification card. The permits are required to legally own or purchase guns in Illinois.

Lawmakers moved to exempt gun owner information from being released under the state’s Freedom of Information Act after the Associated Press sought the names of FOID card holders earlier this year. The state police resisted, saying it would be an invasion of privacy.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan intervened, ruling the data should be made public under state law. Members of the gun lobby sued to block the release, and that’s when lawmakers stepped in.

Quinn cited safety concerns as the reason he signed the bill, saying in a statement that the law would protect gun owners "from having their personal information made public, which could make them vulnerable to potential crimes and jeopardize public safety.”

Proponents argued the bill was needed to stop the release of information that criminals could use to find gun owners and steal their weapons. They argued those who didn’t own guns might also be put in the way of harm because bad guys might target homes where they know people aren’t armed.

“This is just a common sense thing,” said sponsoring Rep. Richard Morthland, a freshman Republican from downstate Cordova. “We have freedom of information laws to protect citizens from their government, not give out private information.”

But critics contend those with permits to own guns should not be treated any differently than other license holders in the state, such as those with permission to hunt or fish, saying those are open to public review.

“Why exempt gun owners? We’re not taking away any of their rights,” said Rep. LaShawn Ford, a Democrat from Chicago who voted against the bill. “What are gun owners afraid of?”

Gun proponents were happy with Quinn’s decision to sign the bill, saying they hope his willingness to understand this issue will open the door for broader talks about gun rights in the state.

Illinois is poised to become the only state that does not allow some form of concealed carry of guns in public after Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said he would sign a measure giving citizens that right. Quinn is staunchly opposed to that idea.

“We applaud the governor for taking this position,” said Todd Vandermyde, lobbyist for the National Rifle Association. “We hope that this might be the beginning of an opportunity to sit down with the governor and find some common ground moving forward.”


Times -
"Mayor Rahm Emanuel will introduce an ordinance next week to allow gun ranges to operate in Chicago.

To obtain a gun permit in Chicago, residents must now travel to a suburban gun range to complete a mandated firearms training course.

The city is currently facing a federal lawsuit saying the city’s ban of gun ranges in the city has created a burden for those seeking a Chicago gun permit.

The new ordinance should address the concerns raised in the lawsuit, officials say.

The proposed ordinance limits gun ranges to areas zoned for manufacturing. Outdoor ranges would be banned.

Anyone opening a gun range would have to obtain a gun permit from the city and obtain approval from the Chicago Police Department for a safety plan.

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the city’s 28-year-old handgun ban last year. The city responded with a gun licensing process that banned ranges in the city. Nearly 3,450 permits have been issued.

A permit costs $100 and must be renewed every three years. In addition, it costs $15 to register each new gun. Permit-holders also must submit an annual registration report."

 

Pat Quinn, Lisa Madigan, Lax Laws Kill
Why Lax Gun Laws Could Hurt Illinois
By Edward McClelland

"I don’t begrudge the right of my fellow citizens to own guns. But gun owners shouldn’t begrudge my right to know who they are, so I can stay away from them.

That’s why I don’t feel any safer now that Gov. Pat Quinn has signed a law overturning Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s decision that Firearm Owners Identification Cards are public documents. According to the Associated Press:

Madigan’s office issued the decree earlier this year after the Illinois State Police refused to release to The Associated Press the names of 1.3 million people who are registered to own firearms.
The AP’s request set off howls of protests from gun owners and the state police, who said they feared criminals would use the information to steal guns or target those who weren’t armed.

This new law is based on the gun fondlers’ biggest canard: that licensed gun owners never shoot anyone, and their weapons protect the unarmed masses from criminals who are forced to guess whether a prospective victim is packing heat.

The fact is, the states with the most permissive gun laws have the most gun deaths. That statistic doesn’t just include murders. It also includes suicides and accidental shootings. In one recent year, Illinois’ gun death rate was 7.9 per 100,000, according to this map. That was less than half the death rate in Louisiana, which requires no permit to buy or own a handgun, and allows licensed owners to carry concealed weapons.

After Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was wounded by a gunman who shot six people to death outside a supermarket, the Daily Beast came out with a list of “20 Deadliest Gun States,” ranking states according to a formula that combined permissive firearm laws and shooting deaths.

Mississippi came in first. Arizona, which has the nation’s laxest gun laws, was fourth. Illinois, which is now the only state that doesn’t allow conceal carry, ranked 43th. The facts don’t lie. Gun control is good for your health. From now on, I’m going to have to ask all my acquaintances whether they keep a gun at home, since I can no longer look them up in the FOID registry."

And making my address public knowledge would have what impact on this weekend's report???

Chicago turned violent over the holiday weekend as five men were killed and more than 20 were injured in shootings and stabbings since Friday.
By Jennifer Schwarz
The deaths began Friday afternoon:

•Police found 21-year-old David Caradine unresponsive in a van on the 1300 block of South independence Boulevard around 2:30 p.m. Friday. Cause of death unlisted.

•Javone Oliphant was one of two men shot multiple times on the 1300 block of West Hastings Street around 11:30 p.m. Friday. Oliphant was pronounced dead at 12:09 a.m. Saturday at John H. Stroger Hospital.

•Charles Bell, 25, of Harvey, died Saturday morning after he and a 34-year-old woman were shot while sitting in a vehicle on the 8500 block of South Givins Court early Saturday morning. No word yet on the woman’s condition. She was taken to Advocate Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn.

•Jose Moldonado, 22, died in the street just before 9 a.m. Saturday after getting into an argument with a driver who pulled a gun and shot him in the head.

•Ricardo Hall, 30, died early Sunday morning after sustaining a gunshot wound to the neck. He was on the 6400 block of South Honore Street.

Twenty-three other people survived various violent attacks across the city over the weekend. Chicago Police have not yet made any arrests.

Despite the deluge of shootings and other violent crimes, Mayor Rahm Emanuel Tuesday sent a press release congratualting the city's public safety agencies for making fewer arrests at the city's spolight festivals.

"I commend the City’s public safety agencies and employees for their efforts to make this year’s event the safest in recent memory,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel.