Chicago Dems attempt all out Illinois gun ban

ILLINOIS SENATE MOVES TOWARD TOTAL GUN BAN

The NRA-ILA is asking all Illinois Second Amendment supporters to take immediate action and call their state senators at (217) 782-2000 and urge them to vote against House Bills 815 and 1263.

Thanks, Chicago!

This is one of those rare times that the City of Chicago really does something FOR downstate.  Thank-you, Mayor Rahm Emanuel. It really IS for the children.
This is a great story about how the Chicago gun buyback program money sponsors an NRA youth shooting camp.

Rahm's Autograph

Rahm Emanuel's autograph for the Second Amendment Foundation. There will be more. Rahm is bitter about this and now wants all of Illinois to begin a gun registration program, purportedly to fight crime in Chicago. Will he ever realize that going after the legal gun owners doesn't fight crime, but going after the criminals will work every time it's tried? $400,000. paid out by Chicago tax payers should be a reminder, or even a wake up call.

Evacuation of Illinois continues

Illinois metals company moving operations to Indiana

Last one out, turn off the lights. If there are any lights left.

Illinois citizens: Disarmed, overtaxed and tightly ruled by incompetent and dishonest politicians north of I-80 and their helpless accomplices to the south/downstate. It is not surprising that more and more companies are abandoning this state. Indiana will gain nearly 100 jobs, Illinois loses more, continuing its destructive cycle.

HB148 - Family and Personal Protection Act 2011

Illinois lawmakers debate Right-to-Carry

Illinois lawmakers are taking aim at some new legislation that would make it legal for gun owners to carry concealed weapons. House Bill 148, named the Family and Personal Protection Act, is seen as giving gun rights advocates their best chance at getting the legislation passed.

Fox Chicago story

Family and Personal Protection Act 2010

Here are two Illinois House Bills to watch for concealed carry permits in Illinois. HB462 and HB6249.

Bill Status of HB0462 96th General Assembly
Hearing scheduled:
Agriculture & Conservation Committee Hearing Mar 9 2010 2:00PM Capitol Building Room 122B Springfield, IL - House Floor Amendment 1

Synopsis As Introduced
Creates the Family and Personal Protection Act. Permits the county sheriff to issue permits to carry concealed firearms to persons at least 21 years of age who meet certain requirements. Requires an applicant for a permit to have completed specified training requirements developed by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board consisting of classroom instruction and live firing exercises. Preempts home rule. Amends the Illinois Police Training Act and the Criminal Code of 1961 to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.
House Sponsors
Rep. Brandon W. Phelps - David Reis - Patrick J. Verschoore - John D. Cavaletto, Shane Cultra, Bill Mitchell, Mike Bost, Ron Stephens, Robert F. Flider, Paul D. Froehlich and Daniel V. Beiser

And the following similar bill, with issuance of permits by ISP rather than County Sheriffs.

Bill Status of HB6249 96th General Assembly

Short Description: FIREARMS-CONCEALED-PERMITS

Synopsis As Introduced

Creates the Family and Personal Protection Act. Establishes statewide uniform standards for the issuance of permits to carry concealed firearms in this State. Vests in the Department of State Police the authority to issue concealed firearms permits to qualified applicants. Requires an applicant to complete a training course in handgun use, safety, and marksmanship. Also requires instruction in the law relating to firearm use. Creates the Citizen Safety and Self-Defense Trust Fund administered by the Department. The moneys in the Fund shall be used to administer the Act. Establishes restrictions on carrying concealed firearms. Establishes standards for the training course and for certifying instructors. Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that the Family and Personal Protection Act supersedes an ordinance of a unit of local government inconsistent with that Act. Prohibits a home rule unit from regulating the issuance of permits to carry concealed firearms. Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Exempts, from an unlawful use of weapons and aggravated unlawful use of weapons violation, persons who carry or possess firearms in accordance with the Family and Personal Protection Act. Effective immediately.

House Sponsors

Rep. John E. Bradley - Paul D. Froehlich

Indiana newspaper targets gun owners

Indiana newspaper prints handgun carry permit database

More from Caleb about the interview.

Making something illegal, more illegal.
Why is that Reasonable?

Free Rifles and Ammo from Uncle Sam?

The anti-2nd ammendment Coalition To Stop Gun Violence and the unintended consequences.

Wherein We All Get Free Rifles And Ammunition

"Over at the Coalition To Stop Gun Violence website, there is a post up on recasting the Second Amendment as a mandate for militia service. If executed faithfully, this would be a great idea, since every able-bodied male (probably females too, given sex-discrimination jurisprudence) would get a militia-compatible rifle, possibly a pistol, and a bunch of ammunition out of the deal. This new twist on gun control would actually increase the availability of guns and call into question the validity of any “assault weapon” legislation, since those are exactly the arms required for militia service..."

Second Amendment Restored in National Parks

On Wednesday, NRA-backed legislation to restore the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens in national parks and wildlife refuges passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by an overwhelming bipartisan majority of 279-147. Today, the measure was signed into law and, as specified in the legislation, will take effect in nine months, on February 22, 2010. This was a major repudiation of the gun control community's anti self-defense agenda.
story here.

Illinois politicians do things differently, promoting only what Daley/Madigan/Cullerton want, the voters and constituency be damned. We are still waiting for our 2nd ammendment rights to be recognized in Illinois. 48 other states allow some form of legal carry of firearms. Let's not finish last in the country in allowing our citizens to utilize effective personal protection, allowing our rights in Illinois to be blocked by Chicago political patronage

Family and Personal Protection Act - 2009

Well, it's another session, the 96th General Assembly, and we have to try again. As far as I can tell, there are three similar "conceal carry" bills introduced in the Illinois House, each being called the "Family and Personal Protection Act".

I will note all three, and try to sort out the basic differences as I see them.

HB 245, introduced by John E. Bradley (D) 117th District, and referred to the Rules Committee on 1/20/2009.

HB 367, introduced by Bill Mitchell (R) 87th District, and referred to the Rules Committee on 1/30/2009.

HB 462, introduced by Brandon Phelps (D) 118th District, and referred to the Rules Committee on 2/4/2009.

Here are some of the main differences I see so far.
Rep. Bradley's bill vests in the Department of State Police the authority to issue concealed firearms permits to qualified applicants.

Rep. Mitchell's bill vests that authority in each county's Sheriff, and creates the funding to reimburse the County Sheriff and administer the act.

Rep. Phelps' bill, like Mitchell's, vests the authority of administration with the County Sheriff, with different training requirements developed by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board. I'm not sure about the funding on this bill yet.

I spoke with a well informed person in Rep. Mitchell's office today to ask about the bills and got good information and a call back from Rep. Mitchell with more details.

I personally prefer HB 367 and HB 462 over HB245, with the administration of the act being done by local County Sheriffs rather than the Illinois State Police. The Sheriffs are closer and more responsive to the citizens than a state bureaucracy can be. That said, any one of these, if passed, would finally allow Illinois citizens to be safer, becoming state number 49 to allow conceal carry. Let Wisconsin be the last state to recognize the safety of their citizens.

Any suggestions?

more to come on this...

related...
Illinois Sheriffs Association supports concealed-carry handgun law

Obama, DNC assault on 1st and 2nd amendments

'Truth Squad' using sheriffs, DAs to police bias against candidate
Obama Campaign and DNC Launch Assault On First Amendment!
"...Obama and the DNC have been using strong-arm tactics reminiscent of Chicago machine politics to try and cover up the truth and silence NRA by forcing the stations to assist them in hiding Obama's radical anti-gun record..."
More details on Obama's gun banning positions... GunbaNObama.com
"Just like fellow Democrats Edward Kennedy, Charles Schumer and Dianne Feinstein, Biden has voted for, and actively pushed, major anti-gun bills, including those:
Banning semi-automatic firearms; Banning hunting, sporting and self-defense ammunition; Banning magazines holding more than 10 rounds; and Imposing a waiting period on handgun sales..."
"...During a debate with Obama, Sen. Hillary Clinton, and other contenders for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, Biden said, "I'm the guy who originally wrote the assault weapons ban."
While the Obama campaign wants voters to think that Joe Biden complements him, bringing a different perspective to the Democrat ticket, the reality is that both candidates have long records throughout their careers of not merely of going along with gun control, but originating and pushing the anti-gun agenda aggressively. It is fair to say that if Barack Obama is elected president, Joe Biden will be the most anti-gun vice president in American history."

Organizer Missing in Chicago

Somewhere in Chicago, a community is missing an organizer...

In other news, Democrat Representative Alcee Hastings, of Florida plays the race card ... hard.

(CNN) – Rep. Alcee Hastings told an audience of Jewish Democrats Wednesday that they should be wary of Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin because “anybody toting guns and stripping moose don’t care too much about what they do with Jews and blacks.”

And the Democrat Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, thinks Hastings should be a Federal Judge? The left is in the process of losing any of the sanity that it has been hiding so well for years.

No thanks, keep the change.

Zero dollar repair

Tam says, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Yep.

The zero dollar pistol repair.

Feel Good Programs

Webliography: Gun buy-back programs

Useless against crime, but makes Mayor Daley feel safer.

Illinois Family and Personal Protection Act - Update

Bill Status of HB4544 95th General Assembly

I want to publicly thank our local State Representatives, Bob Flider and Bill Mitchell, who have signed on as co-sponsors to House Bill 4544, the Family and Personal Protection Act.
This bill has now been moved from the Rules Committee to the Agriculture & Conservation Committee, which holds hearings this afternoon at 1:00PM in Springfield, Capitol Building Room 122B.

HB4544 was introduced by Rep. Aaron Schock
Co-sponsors: Michael K. Smith - John E. Bradley - Brandon W. Phelps - Bill Mitchell, Robert F. Flider, Roger L. Eddy, Daniel V. Beiser and Patrick J Verschoore.

previous post - January, 2008

Gun Control Myths

Myth: Gun control reduces crime

Cheney urges SCOTUS to strike down DC gun ban

from the SCOTUS blog:
Cheney disagrees in D.C. gun case
"Vice President Richard Cheney, parting company with the official Bush Administration position on the test case before the Supreme Court on the Second Amendment, signed onto a brief Friday urging the Justices to strike down the District of Columbia handgun ban without ordering any further proceedings...
...The congressional brief [co-authored by Senators Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Jon Tester] represents the views of 55 senators — 46 Republicans, nine Democrats — and 250 representatives — 182 Republicans, 68 Democrats, along with the Vice President."
Thank you, Mr. Vice-President.

Heller's Friends in Congress, And One More
NRA statement on congressional amicus curiae brief

Calling 911 Doesn't Always Work

Armed Citizens: Calling 911 Doesn't Always Work.
Hammond, Indiana - The following is a recording of a 911 emergency call about a serial stalker breaking into the Indiana woman's home.


This newspaper article has more information about this case.
No charges in shooting of accused stalker
I found this at Laurel Zimmer's Politics, Guns & Beer blog

Remember, when seconds count, the police are only minutes away.

San Francisco Gun Ban Ruled Null and Void

Liberal slapdown by court!

NRA Wins Big in California State Court of Appeals
Fairfax, VA
The California State Court of Appeals announced today their decision to overturn one of the most restrictive gun bans in the country, following a legal battle by attorneys for the National Rifle Association (NRA) and a previous court order against the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. "Today's decision by the California State Court of Appeals is a big win for the law-abiding citizens and NRA Members of San Francisco," declared Chris W. Cox, NRA's chief lobbyist. In 2005, NRA sought an injunction against the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to prevent them from enacting one of the nation's most restrictive gun bans. NRA won the injunction, but the City's mayor and Board of Supervisors ignored the court order and approved a set of penalties, including a $1,000 fine and a jail term of between 90 days and six months, for city residents who own firearms for lawful purposes in their own homes. "We promised our California NRA members in 2005 that we would fight any gun ban instituted by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, and we haven't given up that fight," continued Cox. "Today we see our second win for the Second Amendment against the San Francisco gun ban. We beat them once in court and the City's attorney appealed based on his personal disagreement with the court's first decision to overturn the ban. Now we've beaten them again. The California State Court of Appeals has upheld the state preemption law." Today's decision came in the form of a 3-0 opinion in favor of the lower court ruling overturning the gun ban. "This decision is a thoughtful and well-reasoned legal opinion," concluded Cox. "I'd like to thank our approximately 4 million members, including the hundreds of thousands of members in California, for their continued commitment to protecting our cherished freedoms."
-nra-

Fred on the second ammendment

Second Amendment
"I strongly support the Second Amendment of the Constitution, which protects an individual’s right to keep and bear arms. Gun control is touted as a major crime-control measure. But some of the places with the strictest gun-control laws also have high violent-crime rates. Disarming law-abiding citizens does not prevent crime. The answer to violent crime is smart, effective, and aggressive law enforcement. The real effect of these gun-control measures is to place onerous restrictions on law-abiding citizens who use firearms for such legal activities as self-defense, sport-shooting, hunting, and collecting. I am committed to:
Strictly enforcing existing laws and severely punishing violent criminals. Protecting the rights individual Americans enjoy under the Second Amendment."

Thompson on gun control
(interview with Mike Wallace)
WALLACE: So this federal court — appeals court ruling this last week, I guess Friday, in the case of D.C. — you'd be perfectly happy to have people have handguns in their homes?
THOMPSON: Yes. Absolutely. The court basically said the Constitution means what it says, and I agree with that.

Contrast that with Romney's varying positions on the 2nd ammendment.
Romney and Gun Control
Romney supported gun control in previous runs
Lethal Weapon: Could Romney's Gun Position Kill His Campaign?