Quinn, Chicago machine soft on crime?
By Mark G. Woodworth
Illinois is the only state in America refusing to permit trained, law-abiding citizens to protect themselves from criminal attacks with a defensive weapon. Having already coddled murderers by eliminating the death penalty, Gov. Pat Quinn and the Democratic Party hegemony seem to be doing all they can to use state law to protect criminals from harm and danger.

The governor and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel enjoy taxpayer-funded security staffs of armed personnel. Chicago aldermen have the right to carry firearms to protect themselves. Ordinary citizens like you and me are not adult enough or important enough, in their estimation, to have similar rights.

No matter that Chicago and Cook county are rapidly disintegrating into third-world war zones. Just a few weeks ago the Windy City struggled through seven shooting deaths in a 24 hour period. Add flash gangs raiding businesses, the Lake Shore beach having to be closed due to violent gang activity, and you have a very dangerous environment.

House Bill 148, the Family and Personal Protection Act, would allow local sheriffs to license trained, background checked, law-abiding citizens to carry a weapon in order to help protect themselves, their family, and property from criminal threat.

Law enforcement organizations in support of HB148 included the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, the Chicago Police Sergeants Association and The Illinois Sheriffs' Association. The Illinois State Police, in contrast, rather weakly stated that they were following the governor's direction in opposing the bill. Virtually every Republican and downstate Democrat supported the legislation.

The only legislators voting against the bill were the usual suspects: Chicago area Democrats led by Mr. Madigan. Gov. Quinn, fresh from hindering the democratic process by signing into law a partisan redistricting map, foreshadowed his displeasure with the bill by promising a veto should it pass.

Study after study has proved beyond any reasonable doubt that gun-carry laws reduce violence. Handguns are used for defense against criminals four times more often than they are used by criminals.

Facts, common sense and the Second Amendment support the right of American citizens to be able to legally use weapons if necessary to defend themselves. But how do the opponents justify their stand?

State Rep. Monique Davis, D-Chicago recently said that she is worried that if a criminal opens fire in a crowd, and several law-abiding citizens return fire at the criminal, it may increase the number of injuries that occur. Is she sane?

She blithely continued, "Downstate, kids grow up with guns and they don't shoot each other. They hunt. It's not the same in the city." Ironically, her own statement is against her position: kids growing up with guns do not shoot each other, so we can not allow children to grow up around weapons?

Mark Walsh, campaign director for the Illinois Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence said, "We think (HB 148) a bad idea, the No. 1 concern we have is what you're talking about is putting more guns out on the street and not knowing who has those." Criminals are blasting away on innocent people, but what is important to Mr. Walsh is knowing who has a pistol to defend herself?

Admirably, there are two Illinois court cases right now attacking their illogical, unconstitutional position against the right to bear arms and protect ourselves: Moore v. Madigan and Ezell v. Chicago.The governor and the Chicago political machine will have to be dragged kicking and screaming into granting carry rights to its purportedly free citizenry.

If their stranglehold on our freedom can not be negated in the legislature, perhaps liberty, self defense and sanity can be found in the courts.

Mark G. Woodworth, Ph.D., of Geneseo is an attorney and public policy analyst.

 

Woman’s bullets fell out of gun just before she tried to shoot cop
BY FRANK MAIN
Updated: July 22, 2011 9:08AM

Shandra Kidd didn’t realize her gun was empty when she tried to shoot a Chicago Police officer.

All the bullets fell out when she was running from the officer.

Unfortunately for her, the officer’s gun was loaded. And the officer shot her in the buttocks.

On Thursday, Kidd was sentenced to 55 years in prison for attempted murder and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon.

In May 2007, officers were investigating a report of shots fired near 78th and Burnham when they stopped a car Kidd was riding in. She ran and when an officer caught her, she stuck a gun in the officer’s chest and pulled the trigger.

But the gun didn’t go off.

The officer and Kidd struggled and they fell down. When they got up, she stuck the gun in the officer’s chest again and pulled the trigger.

Again, it didn’t go off.

That’s when the officer shot Kidd, 22, of the 7700 block of South Phillips.

Police later found that the cylinder of Kidd’s gun had opened during the chase and all the bullets fell out.

Judge Neil Linehan sentenced Kidd on Thursday.

“This is a fitting and a just sentence for anyone who would be so bold as to fire a gun at a police officer,” Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez said. “We are grateful that this officer was uninjured in this incident and we will continue to prosecute violent crimes against police officers to the fullest extent of the law.”



A man asked his girlfriend to marry him and when she said no, he fired a gun at her, according to reports By Sandra Torre Friday, Jul 22, 2011

An Indiana man allegedly fired gunshots at his girlfriend after she denied his marriage proposal.

Robert Allen Kleman, 29, is facing three counts of criminal recklessness in Lake Superior court, according to the Northwest Indiana Times.

Reports indicate someone called police after they heard shots fired in the 300 block of North Colorado Street in Hobart, Ind.

When police arrived, Kleman first told them that a friend who was visiting him dropped a gun and caused it to go off, according to the paper.

The woman told police Kleman asked her to marry him and when she said no, he got angry. She said her boyfriend then pulled out a gun, pointed it over her head and fired several shots, according to the paper.


Good View here... http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/wild...ation-20110708



FYI - CHICAGO (CBS) — It’s a growing problem facing all kinds of aircraft – lasers aimed at cockpits that can leave pilots temporarily blinded.

As CBS 2’s Kris Habermehl reports, Illinois lawmakers have now made the act illegal at the state level. There is already punishment under federal law.

The law was signed into legislation by Gov. Pat Quinn on Thursday. It makes shining a laser at an aircraft a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail.

 

I"m from MI., I just tried the link and it worked for me!

 

URGENT ALERT – YOUR ACTION REQUIRED
ANTI-CONCEALED CARRY STATE REPRESENTATIVE TO HOLD TOWN HALL MEETING

BE THERE TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR YOUR RIGHT TO SELF DEFENSE

Anti-Concealed Carry State Representative Fred Crespo will be holding a town hall meeting on Monday, July 25, 2011 at 6:00 PM.

Crespo was one of 52 state representatives who voted against HB148 – the concealed carry bill. Crespo voted against HB148 because he felt it is more important to please the Daley/Emanuel Gun Grabbing Machine than it is to protect you against violent criminals.

HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO SUPPORT YOUR RIGHT TO SELF DEFENSE:

1. No matter where you live, be sure to attend Rep. Crespo’s town hall meeting. The town hall meeting will take place on Monday, July 25, 2011 at 6:00 PM. The location for the meeting is at the VFW 5151, 520 S. Bartlett Road, Streamwood. Be sure to wear your IGold t-shirts and hats if you have them.

2. Be prepared to politely engage our opponents and defend your right to protect your self and family against violent criminals.

3. Pass this alert on to your family and friends. Tell them to be there too.

4. Please post this alert to any and all Internet blogs or bulletin boards.

 

...Nominates Anti-gun Activist to Country’s Second Most Important Court

http://gunowners.org/a07252011.htm

 

Thanks Ron, I’ve seen him before (not exactly Mr. Safety). I would appreciate we stay on point here and do all we can to bring CCW to the “holdout state”…

 

Columbine.

Virginia Tech.

Fort Hood.

What do all of these shootings have in common?

The answer is they all occurred in government facilities where the private possession of firearms was prohibited.

In Washington, unconstitutional legislation is commonplace. But sometimes unconstitutional laws can have deadly consequences. The so-called “gun free school zones act,” written by radical anti-gun Senator Heb Kohl, is one such law.

Slammed through in 1996 as an amendment to a giant last-minute must-pass appropriations bill, the legislation disarmed school staff and other adults – leaving elementary and secondary school children defenseless to serial killers.

It also made it virtually impossible to drive your car down the street with your gun inside without violating the law by creating a 1000-foot so-called “gun-free zone” around every public and private school in the country.

“Gun free,” that is, except for the criminals.

No one – including politicians, the police, or the individual citizen – can predict where the next deranged serial killer will attack. And yet politicians continue to create “criminal safe zones” such as schools, churches, parks, restaurants that serve alcohol, etc., where the law-abiding are disarmed.

The net impact of turning schools, in particular, into defenseless targets for serial killers has been dramatic.

When many people over the age of 40 were growing up, ROTC students would march up-and-down high school campuses with their semi-automatic M1’s – and no one would think anything of it. Shooting clubs on school grounds were also not uncommon.

But within a couple a years of the enactment of the Kohl amendment, two disaffected teenagers walked into Columbine High School secure in the knowledge that they would be the only ones in the school who were armed.

And, of course, Columbine triggered a slew of copycat episodes – laying a mounting string of innocent casualties at the feet of Herb Kohl and his misbegotten legislation.

It’s time to say NO to criminal safe zones. And a great place to start is the blatantly unconstitutional gun free school zones act.

Thankfully, Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) agrees and has introduced legislation to do just that.

Rep. Paul recently introduced the “Citizens Protection Act of 2011” (H.R. 2613), which will repeal the Kohl amendment and thus remove the federally created criminal safety zones.

Rep. Paul is one of the few members of Congress who respects the Constitution and who actually introduces legislation to restore federalism. And, unlike some legislators, Paul has a history of forcing the House to vote on his pro-gun proposals, thus putting other congressmen on record.

GOA is proud to stand with Rep. Paul in the effort to repeal the unconstitutional gun free zones law. For anyone who cares about liberty, now is the time to work on getting the 218 votes we need to pass this important piece of legislation.

ACTION: Contact you congressman. Urge him or her to cosponsor Ron Paul’s Citizens Protection Act of 2011, H.R. 2613.

G.O.A. Tuesday, 26 July 2011

 

FYI

New Curfew For Chicago Children Passes City Council
July 28, 2011 CHICAGO (CBS) — It’s 10 p.m., do you know where your children are?

Parents, listen up: the Chicago City Council today passed a new curfew law that requires children to be off the streets earlier.

Under the new ordinance:

•Weekday curfew for minors 12 through 16 years of age is 10:00 p.m.;
•Weekday curfew for minors 12 and younger is 8:30 p.m.;
•Weekend curfew for minors 12 through 16 years of age is 11:00 p.m.;
•Weekend curfew for minors 12 years and younger is 9:00 p.m.
Violators are subject to a fine of up to $500 or community service, according to the mayor’s office. Three offenses in a twelve-month period shall be subject to up to $1,500 in addition to community service.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel applauded the new curfew, saying it will protect children.

“I advocated for curfew laws while serving President Clinton because I believe the safest place for a child is at home,” he said. “This is another tool that will help fight crime and help children from becoming victims of crime.”

Emanuel also said that it won’t just be up to law enforcement to crack down on violators.

“While the government can do its part, we need parents to do theirs. We need parents to help make sure their children are home safe where they belong.”

Police Department statistics show officer-written curfew violations are down, CBS 2′s Kristyn Harman reports.

They went from 23,275 in 2009 – when the city moved up the curfew time by half an hour – to 19,555 last year. Halfway into 2011, there have been 8,398 curfew violations.

In the Harrison District, for example, there have been 279 curfew violations written up in six months, but resident Joan Lowe said she knows there are more kids than that out after curfew.

“They’re getting people, but … I think they can get more,” she said. “The police will ride by and see the kids in the play lot and won’t do anything. … I have a big problem with that.”

 

Last I heard bullets still go through windows especially in those neighborhoods.

 

The curfew is really getting to the "route cause" of making the streets safer in Chi Town?

 

WBBM, the CBS O&O in Chicago, is under fire this week for airing a soundbite from a four-year-old interviewed on the scene of a drive-by shooting out of context.

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvspy/wbb...context_b16629

 

Ten years after Michigan made it much easier for its citizens to get a license to carry a concealed gun, predictions of widespread lawless behavior and bloodshed have failed to materialize.

Today, nearly 276,000 -- or about four out of every 100 eligible adult Michiganders -- are licensed.

That's more than twice the number predicted when the debate raged over whether Michigan should join the growing ranks of so-called "shall issue" states.

Before July 1, 2001, applicants had to prove why they needed to carry a gun for protection. Since then, any nominally sane adult without a felony record qualifies.

During the debate, opponents of the change warned of gun-toting, trigger-happy citizens loose on the streets.

But violent crimes have been rare among carrying a concealed weapon license holders. Only 2% of license holders have been sanctioned for any kind of misbehavior, State Police records show.

Still, anti-gun activists say changing the law was a grave mistake. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence Web site describes state reforms like the one enacted in Michigan as "a recipe for disaster."

Michigan's prosecuting attorneys association led the push against changing the law in 2001. Today, Ionia County Prosecutor Ronald Schafer, president of the group, says it's hard to remember what the fuss was about.

"I think you can look back and say, 'It was a big nothing.' "

Concealed weapons haven't changed state much, both sides of debate say It was only 10 years ago. But it seems more like another lifetime, when one of the biggest issues facing Michigan's politicians and the public was whether to make it easier for ordinary citizens to obtain permits to carry concealed weapons.

At the time, advocates and opponents raged, hurling arguments about bedrock constitutional freedoms and Columbine massacres on every corner.

The reformers -- who wanted Michigan to join the growing number of states where carrying a concealed gun is the right of any nominally sane adult without a felony record -- sneaked the legislation through in a lame duck session (and managed to immunize it from potential referendum). They predicted it would usher in a new era of civility as criminals came to realize they weren't the only ones on the street packing heat.

The opponents gnashed teeth about an impending bloodbath.

What happened?

By nearly all accounts, not much.

The number of citizens issued Concealed Pistol Licenses has soared. In 2001 when the law took effect, about 52,000 people were authorized to carry concealed weapons in Michigan (in most counties, permits were limited to retired police officers and those deemed by authorities to have a need, such as cash couriers).

Since then, the number has grown to nearly 276,000.

But the effects on Michigan's civil society appear to have been far less dramatic.

Whether licensing more people to carry concealed weapons results in more or less violent crime remains debatable. Michigan still has more than its fair share of crime, even as overall crime rates have mostly declined. But it's difficult to argue that CCWs have much impact either way.

Paul Long, president of the Michigan Catholic Conference, was part of the vocal opposition to CCW reform in 2001. He helped organize church-related participation in a petition drive aimed at repealing the law (the one short-circuited by a provision in the CCW legislation that made it referendum-proof).

But asked last week about his current views, Long said, "In all honesty, I don't give it much thought. It just hasn't been much of an issue."

One factor contributing to the decline in the focus on gun regulations was everything that happened in the intervening years. Months after Michigan enacted more permissive CCW licensing, the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks stunned the country. The country went to war and later into an economic tailspin.

"There haven't been as many incidents as we feared," said Tom Hendrickson, executive director of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, which vigorously opposed the reforms.

"It really hasn't been an issue ... because so many superseding issues came along," he said. "In the total scheme of things, it just faded away."

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said he has always been a proponent of people being able to protect themselves. The troublemakers, generally, aren't the people who go through the process to legally own and carry a gun -- it's the people who carry illegally who cause problems, he said.

"My position was, and still is, is that the people we have a problem with with guns aren't the people who are willing to follow the law and go through the hoops and training," Bouchard said.

Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon said he had been opposed to the law and was concerned about flooding the streets with guns. But, he said, "it has turned out not as bad as I suspected that it would."

Napoleon said he would like to see expanded training for people seeking concealed weapons permits.

Advocates for concealed carry rights contend they have been vindicated. Violent crime is down, said Steve Dulan, a board member for the Michigan Coalition of Responsible Gun Owners.

CCW holders, in the aggregate, have been shown to be more law-abiding than the broader public, he said.

"The debate is pretty much over, and we won," Dulan said.

Washtenaw County Prosecutor Brian Mackie wouldn't go that far. Mackie opposed the 2001 law, and resigned from the county gun board so that he wouldn't be put in the position of authorizing permits for applicants he considered sketchy.

But, on balance, "we've done better than I thought," Mackie said, "We've had far fewer violations by (permit) holders than I feared we would."

Mackie would still like to see more effective procedures to screen for mental instability among applicants.

Ionia County Prosecutor Ronald Schafer said the raging debate that preceded enactment of the new CCW law appears, in retrospect, to have been a little overwrought.

"We were all a little too caught up imagining what might happen," he said.

Contact Dawson Bell: dbell@freepress.com

 

WISCONSIN’S NEW CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPON LAW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

http://www.doj.state.wi.us/dles/cib/..._questions.pdf

 

CHICAGO – August 2, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation that will help reduce gun violence in Illinois. Senate Bill 1589 will increase penalties for convicted felons who are found carrying guns.

The new law was sponsored by Sen. Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) and Rep. Michael Zalewski (D-Summit) following the shooting death Chicago Police Officer Thomas Wortham, who was killed during a robbery attempt. The Iraq War veteran had recently returned from his second tour of duty in Iraq when he was killed outside his family home. More than one of the suspects had previously been convicted of gun charges.

“Officer Wortham was a true hero who lost his life to senseless violence,” Governor Quinn said. “No family should lose a loved one to gun violence, and this law will help us ensure safer neighborhoods for families across Illinois.”

Senate Bill 1589 will fight gun crime in Illinois by ensuring that felons who are convicted of new weapons offenses will be sent to prison – not allowed to walk the streets of Illinois. Under the new law, a defendant convicted of unlawful use or possession of a weapon, who has previously been convicted of a felony, will be sentenced to two to 10 years in prison. Under current law, the unlawful use or possession of weapon by a convicted felon is punishable by two to five years in prison or probation. The new law removes probation as a sentencing option.

Additional violations will now carry a sentence of three to 14 years behind bars. Felons who are currently on parole or mandatory supervised release can also be sentenced to three to 14 years in prison. Under the current law, all of these violators could simply be sentenced to probation.

"This legislation is essential to enhancing the safety of our communities for residents and for our children," said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "Stronger state gun laws complement the City of Chicago's aggressive actions to increase public safety, which include passing an enhanced curfew ordinance, deploying more than 750 additional police officers to our streets, and expanding after-school opportunities to keep our children safe."

“This legislation is a recommendation from the Interstate Gun Trafficking Task Force, of which I am a member and it is supported by families who have lost loved ones to gun crimes,” Sen. Munoz said. “Many people who are charged with or convicted of gun crimes end up back on the streets with little or no penalty. The murder of Chicago Police Officer Thomas Wortham in Chicago last summer was just one high-profile example, but there have been many, many others. This common-sense legislation will help to save lives.”

“This new law ensures that felons who use guns get the punishment that they deserve,” Rep. Zalewski said. “By imposing a mandatory prison sentence on criminals who commit these kinds of offenses, we are creating much safer streets and neighborhoods for our residents.”

The law will go into effect on Jan. 1.

 

Case pushes to roll back Ill. concealed carry law
ANDREW THOMASON, Illinois Statehouse News thesouthern.comAugust 4, 2011

SPRINGFIELD - A two-front push is being made in Illinois to weaken some of the most restrictive gun regulation laws in the country.

Gun-rights advocates claim that Illinois is violating the Second Amendment by prohibiting Illinois residents from being able to, in some fashion, carry a firearm in public. A hearing on one such case, in which Michael Moore, of Champaign, and the Second Amendment Foundation Inc., a gun-rights advocacy group, are suing Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office and the state of Illinois, is scheduled Thursday in the U.S. District Court in Springfield.

Recent events around the nation could give gun-rights advocates the momentum they need to win a fight that's time and again seen them on the losing side.

Wisconsin passed a concealed carry law earlier this year, leaving Illinois the only state that prohibits nearly everyone from carrying a firearm, concealed or not, anywhere that is not their property or another person's property with permission.

Madigan's office argues in court filings that the state is following constitutional law, because a person isn't outlawed from owning a firearm, just limited in the manner he can wield it.

A nearly identical lawsuit with nearly identical arguments is unfolding in a U.S. District Court in southern Illinois. The Illinois State Rifle Association, or ISRA, a group dedicated to furthering firearm rights and affiliated with the National Rifle Association, or NRA, is backing both cases but is only a plaintiff in the southern Illinois instance.

ISRA is joined by Mary Shepard as the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Madigan and the state of Illinois.

"We have a very strong case," Todd Vandermyde, a NRA lobbyist, said. "When you look at some of the briefs that have been filed by the state and attorney general and some of the arguments they are trying to make, I think it is clear they are very, very nervous."

Vandermyde specifically pointed to an argument made Madigan's office that since the state doesn't outlaw openly carrying a loaded gun outside of cities, towns and other incorporated parts of counties, there is not full scale prohibition.

"The laws being challenged here are reasonable measures to ensure public safety and do not violate the constitution," said Maura Possley, a spokeswoman for Madigan.

Possley declined to comment further because the cases are ongoing.

A recent court decision indicates how gun bans are being found to be unconstitutional. One such case happened in Chicago where the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the city's handgun ban in a ruling that recognized a person's right to have a handgun that can be used for self-defense in the home.

In response, the Chicago City Council required people to be trained at a shooting range if they wanted to own a handgun. Then the council made shooting ranges illegal in city limits.

Judge Ilana Diamond Rovner, of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago, said the court overturned the city's regulations because the court equated it to "a thumbing of the municipal nose at the Supreme Court."

Those two decisions followed a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that ended Washington, D.C.'s gun ban in 2008.

Nearly every year in recent history some lawmakers in the General Assembly take up the case of repealing the concealed carry ban only to see it die for lack of support.

This spring, a concealed carry proposal garnered a vote of 65-52 in the Illinois House. The measure didn't pass, however, because of a technicality that required it to get a "supermajority," or 71 votes, in the House to pass

 

The 2nd Amendment Collective*
PRESENTS
A TOWN HALL MEETING
Guns, Violence, and the Right to Self Defense

Wednesday August 31st, 2011
7pm – 10:00pm
WVON Radio Station’s Legacy Room
1000 E. 87th St. Chicago, Illinois 60619

Master of Ceremonies will be the “Governor of Talk Radio”
WVON’s own Cliff Kelly

Panelists will Include:
Gerald Vernon – Chicago Representative of IllinoisCarry.com*
Shawn Gowder – Vice president of The Chicago Firearms Safety Association*
Rhonda Ezell – Co-plaintiff with ISRA in Ezell v Chicago, the federal case that recently forced Chicago to permit Firing Ranges in the city.
Recruiter for Illinois State Rifle Association*
Lori Meriweather - Second Amendment Sisters*

This Town Hall Meeting will intelligently discuss gun safety,
responsible gun ownership, and the merits of concealed carry.

YOU MUST BE 21 YRS. OLD OR OLDER TO ATTEND THIS EVENT
(unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian)

 

Local lawmen give support to conceal carry
By Matt hanley August 6, 2011 9:32PM

The Illinois Legislature may still be divided on allowing residents to carry concealed weapons, but Fox Valley police chiefs and sheriffs are much less split. Of 10 local law enforcement leaders contacted by The Beacon-News, none said they opposed concealed carry. Aug. 5, 2011. | Photo illustration by Steven Buyansky~Sun-Times Media
Concealed carry

The Illinois Legislature may still be divided on allowing residents to carry concealed weapons, but Fox Valley police chiefs and sheriffs are much less split. Of 10 local law enforcement leaders contacted by The Beacon-News, none said they opposed concealed carry.

“I believe that if somebody’s properly trained and certified, I don’t have a problem with concealed carry,” said Somonauk Police Chief Richard Smith. “I don’t think it would increase crime. I think it would be a good deterrent. It would be a pity-the-poor-soul-who-breaks-into-my-home situation.”

Smith is in the majority locally. While some department leader’s felt more strongly than others, all would at least consider supporting concealed carry legislation.

And that response is probably not surprising. The Illinois Sheriff’s Association has long been in favor of concealed carry. Last year, the Illinois Police Chief’s Association went from “against” concealed carry to “neutral” — a significant change after years of opposition.

Law enforcement’s opinion on any potential legislation will likely weigh heavily as the debate continues in Illinois. Since Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed that state’s concealed carry bill into law in July, Illinois is the last state with a complete ban on carrying concealed weapons.

That makes it the next big prize in the fierce national contest over gun control, with the National Rifle Association and its allies targeting it.

“We never give up,” said Andrew Arulanandam, public affairs director for the National Rifle Association. “We’ve been around 140 years as an organization. If we don’t get something this time around, we’re going to work until we get it.”

Despite the obstacles, gun-rights advocates believe time and political momentum are on their side. Pro-gun groups expect to make another push this fall or next spring. They’re also pursuing at least two lawsuits. A hearing on one of those suits, filed by a Champaign resident and the Second Amendment Foundation, a gun-rights group, against Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office and the state was held Thursday in U.S. District Court in Springfield.

Local reaction

Of the 10 departments who responded to The Beacon-News, Geneva was the only department to offer less than enthusiastic support. Geneva Police Cmdr. Eric Passarelli said without specific legislation to look over, the department has a “wait-and see approach.”

“If there was legislation that was well-crafted and assured for strict standards for implementation and compliance we would definitely take a look at it,” Passarelli wrote. “In regards to whether or not it would make our town safer, I do not believe it would. We have the privilege of providing police services to a wonderful community with a fairly low crime rate and a low volume of violent crime.”

Leaders from the nine other departments openly support concealed carry, offering similar arguments. (Officials from the Elburn, North Aurora, Montgomery and Sandwich police departments did not return calls for comment.) If bad guys have guns, then citizens should be able to protect themselves, officials said.

“The bad people have guns, but the legitimate people do not,” Kendall County Sheriff Richard Randall said.

“I don’t think (not having concealed carry) makes us safer at all,” said Plano Chief Steven Eaves. “Our Constitution says we have the right to defend ourselves.”

Guns are common at shooting ranges and sporting shows, but there has been no significant increase in crime, Eaves said. Similarly, every other state has decided that concealed carry makes residents more safe and they have not seen an epidemic of vigilante justice.

“I think they’re finally looking at the statistics and seeing we could use a little help out there,” Sugar Grove Chief Brad Sauer said.

The opinion is not unanimous of course. Aurora Cmdr. Joe Groom said he shared the concealed carry question at a meeting of department leaders. In a city with a history of gun violence, the leadership’s opinion was split, Groom said. Personally, Groom has no problem with concealed carry.

“The bad guys are going to carry the guns regardless,” Groom said.

Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez said in departments like his, which cover large territories, back up can sometimes be far away. If an officer were being threatened by a suspect with a gun and a permitted resident came to help, “I don’t know too many officers that would say, no, go away,” Perez said.

Of course, permitting would be key, officials said. The restrictions and training would have to be strict. Yorkville Chief Rich Hart wants local chiefs to be able to instantly revoke permits in an emergency situation.

Some states still restrict concealed weapons in certain areas, like government buildings or schools. Local chiefs were split on what, if anything, should be exempt from concealed carry.

“If you’re going to go out drinking, you probably shouldn’t have your gun because things are going to get stupid,” said Somonauk’s Smith. “Guns and alcohol don’t usually mix.”

Illinois’ gun history

Nobody can be confident about what will happen in Illinois without knowing why it has clung to a policy that every other state rejects. There’s no single explanation, however. Illinois has held out, for a long list of reasons: A strong gun control movement. A dynasty of powerful Chicago mayors. A line-up of state leaders who oppose expanding access to guns.

In much of the state, guns are commonplace, used for hunting and target-shooting. But in Chicago, guns are associated with crime. People worry that concealed guns will mean more shootings. But plenty of states have legalized concealed carry despite having large cities where gun crimes are a major concern: New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania and others.

Harry Wilson, a gun control expert at Virginia’s Roanoke College, suggested the difference could be that the major cities in those states don’t have the same political muscle as Chicago — home to two legendary mayors named Daley, both who served more than 20 years. Both Daleys emphasized gun control. The city’s new mayor, Rahm Emanuel, who took office in May, certainly won’t abandon the issue, but might not consider concealed carry to be a top priority.

The state’s most powerful politicians come from Chicago and collectively dominate the Illinois Legislature. The governor, Senate president, House speaker and attorney general are all Chicago Democrats. Gov. Pat Quinn has promised to veto concealed carry legislation if it were to reach his desk.

Changing demographics

But Quinn’s role might not matter if concealed carry were to win legislative approval, which would require a three-fifths vote under procedural rules. When the Illinois House voted on the issue in June, concealed carry had a 65-32 majority but still failed. It needed 71 votes to pass. But that means if it ever reaches the governor, it would have enough votes to overcome Quinn’s veto.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Brandon Phelps, a Democrat from Harrisburg in rural southern Illinois, said support is inching upward because of the state’s new legislative districts. With Chicago’s population declining, many of the city’s districts have been redrawn to stretch out into the suburbs. So some city-based politicians may wind up running partly in areas that are more sympathetic to legalizing concealed weapons.

“I see more Chicago legislators opening up to talk,” said Phelps.

And if every other state lets people carry concealed guns, it’s no longer possible to argue the idea is radical and dangerous, gun rights advocates say.

Phelps hopes to hold another vote during the Legislature’s brief fall session or when they resume normal business next year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

I did this a couple years ago, loads of fun and good experience for a small amount here!

http://www.thezombieshoot.com/

 

Federal lawmakers want Illinois to approved concealed carry
BY KURT ERICKSON, The Southern Springfield Bureau thesouthern.com | Posted: Monday, August 8, 2011

SPRINGFIELD - Republican members of Illinois congressional delegation - and one Democrat - are urging Gov. Pat Quinn and legislative leaders to allow Illinoisans to carry concealed weapons in public.

In a letter sent to top state officials this week, the 11-member group said Illinois should not be the lone state where it is illegal to carry firearms in public.

The one-page note was sent about two weeks after Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker put his signature on a law making his state the 49th to have a concealed weapons law.

"Exceptionalism can often be a positive thing, but in this case it is a mark of shame," the letter notes.

Among those signing the letter were Republican U.S. Reps. Bobby Schilling of Colona, Tim Johnson of Urbana, Adam Kinzinger of Manteno, Aaron Schock of Peoria and John Shimkus of Collinsville. U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello of Belleville was the only Democrat to sign the letter.

"It is time for the Illinois legislature to act and permit Illinoisans to join the rest of the nation in their ability to carry concealed weapons for self defense," the letter notes.

This spring, legislation legalizing concealed carry fell six votes short of the 71 needed for passage in the Illinois House.

The measure has not been tested in the Democrat-controlled Senate and, even if it were to win approval in the legislature, Quinn remains opposed to the idea.

"Public safety has been and continues to be one of Governor Quinn's top priorities, which is why he is opposed to allowing people to carry loaded, concealed handguns in public places, such as college campuses, parks, malls and our city streets," the governor's office said in a prepared statement Friday.

There currently are two lawsuits pending in federal district court seeking to overturn Illinois' ban on carrying concealed weapons. U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough said Thursday she could issue a preliminary ruling in one of the cases within the coming days.

 

This sure sounds like good news to me!
Tim