Tvandermyde Posted January 28, 2011 at 03:18 AM Share Posted January 28, 2011 at 03:18 AM http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/01/27/man-claims-violation-of-rights-after-gun-permit-was-denied/ CHICAGO (STMW) — A man filed a lawsuit Thursday claiming that his constitutional right to bear arms was violated when he was denied a Chicago firearm permit. Shawn Gowder claims that he lives in a high crime area of Chicago and wished to keep a handgun in his home for self-defense, according to a lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court. He already holds a state firearm owner’s identification card. The suit claims that he filed Nov. 1, 2010 for a city firearm permit but was denied by the city’s Department of Administrative Hearings because he had a 1995 misdemeanor conviction for possessing a firearm on a public street. Gowder has never been convicted of a felony, according to the suit. Gowder contested the decision claiming that denying a permit based solely on a prior misdemeanor conviction violated his fundamental right to keep and bear arms under the second and fourteenth amendments to the U.S. Constitution, according to the suit. The suit claims that Gowder received a decision in the mail affirming the earlier denial. The three-count suit seeks a reversal of the decision and an order to the Chicago Police to issue Gowder a firearm permit. The suit claims judicial review, declaratory judgment and injunctive relief. The suit also names the city of Chicago, Scott Bruner, director of the city’s Department of Administrative Hearings, the Chicago Police and its superintendent Jody Weis. The suit seeks attorney’s fees, court costs, and other relief. A spokesperson for the city’s legal department was not immediately available for comment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vess1 Posted January 28, 2011 at 03:22 AM Share Posted January 28, 2011 at 03:22 AM Sounds good. Maybe the courts need to be flooded with these cases to see that changes need to be made to laws for the sake of their time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted January 28, 2011 at 03:26 AM Share Posted January 28, 2011 at 03:26 AM He should also file to have the previous misdemeanor expunged since the law of which he was convicted has now been shown to be unconstitutional. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarandFan Posted January 28, 2011 at 03:50 AM Share Posted January 28, 2011 at 03:50 AM Who filed this case? Who is supporting it? Is that yet known? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tvandermyde Posted January 28, 2011 at 03:57 AM Author Share Posted January 28, 2011 at 03:57 AM Me thinks it's being supported by NRA. just a hunch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikew Posted January 28, 2011 at 04:03 AM Share Posted January 28, 2011 at 04:03 AM Shawn Gowder spoke at SAFR this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey Posted January 28, 2011 at 04:58 AM Share Posted January 28, 2011 at 04:58 AM Here's hoping for another mark in the Wins column. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersnap1170 Posted January 28, 2011 at 01:37 PM Share Posted January 28, 2011 at 01:37 PM I agree. Sounds good. Maybe the courts need to be flooded with these cases to see that changes need to be made to laws for the sake of their time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
05FLHT Posted January 28, 2011 at 02:00 PM Share Posted January 28, 2011 at 02:00 PM Gowder contested the decision claiming that denying a permit based solely on a prior misdemeanor conviction violated his fundamental right to keep and bear arms under the second and fourteenth amendments to the U.S. Constitution, according to the suit. This will be an interesting case in light of the 4th Circuits holding in Chester. Is there a copy of the complaint available yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xwing Posted January 28, 2011 at 07:09 PM Share Posted January 28, 2011 at 07:09 PM Based on the remarks by Todd and Mike, I assume he’s a good guy who’s simply run afoul of an unconstitutional law. Look forward to the results of this suit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Molly B. Posted January 28, 2011 at 07:34 PM Share Posted January 28, 2011 at 07:34 PM He is a great guy and works hard for Second Amendment rights.You may have met him if you came to the second meeting we had with Todd at the Italian restaurant. He was there with his cousin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
05FLHT Posted January 28, 2011 at 07:40 PM Share Posted January 28, 2011 at 07:40 PM Does anybody have a copy of or a link to the actual complaint? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs. Federal Farmer Posted January 31, 2011 at 05:43 AM Share Posted January 31, 2011 at 05:43 AM Here's a copy of the complaint:Scan - Shawn Gowder v Chicago 01-12-11.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs. Federal Farmer Posted January 31, 2011 at 06:12 AM Share Posted January 31, 2011 at 06:12 AM Based on the remarks by Todd and Mike, I assume he’s a good guy who’s simply run afoul of an unconstitutional law. Look forward to the results of this suit. Now let me add my remarks about Shawn to those of Molly, Mike and Todd: He is a good guy. In fact, he's a pretty *great* guy. He's extremely involved in community safety and awareness, stemming the growing tide of violence. He speaks eloquently and with infectious passion about Chicago's second amendment disparity and he speaks often: Every time I go to a community meeting or town hall meeting or police march or what have you -- there he is, with the same thing in mind. It got to the point where we joke that we should just carpool together. He is vice president of the post-ban organization http://chicagofirearmssafetyassociation.org. As to the misdemeanor? Well, I can't give non-public details during the case without his lawyer's permission, but if you read, in the complaint, his reason for wanting a firearm now, you've pretty much got the picture of the misdemeanor. It was 16 years ago, and he lived in the same crime-ridden neighborhood, and did not "use" the firearm in question in any manner that you or I would call a definition of the word "use". I'm hoping that 15-year-old story gets public soon, as I consider it a vital part of the complaint. What's more public, though, is the fact that he stopped for cigarettes at a gas station near his home one night, and his minivan was shot full of holes during that stop. What did he do to deserve it? Just got out of the car, walked into the station and walked back to the car. It was a typical "reason" to get shot in his area and, for all I know, it still is. The story is a public one because he drove around in that van for years, refusing to have it repaired, so that others would know the extent of the dangers he and his neighbors face daily. He's courteous, chivalrous and an enviable role model in any community, and I've never met anyone who didn't like him within 2 minutes flat. Here's hoping you all get to meet him sometime -- he's one of the good guys, no doubt at all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lou Posted January 31, 2011 at 12:20 PM Share Posted January 31, 2011 at 12:20 PM He is a great guy and works hard for Second Amendment rights.You may have met him if you came to the second meeting we had with Todd at the Italian restaurant. He was there with his cousin. It sounds like he's one of the "Good Guys."Is he a member here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tvandermyde Posted January 31, 2011 at 02:04 PM Author Share Posted January 31, 2011 at 02:04 PM A couple of the bills we introduced this year were inspried by Shawn. As a matter of fact I plan on having Shawn testify at the hearings. I can't wait to see the Chicago Lobbyists stand up and justify their ordinace. I said Shawn is one of the good guys, Ms. FF is correct that Shawn is a great guy. I have enjoyed getting to know shawn and look forward to having him by my side during this session and fight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Molly B. Posted January 31, 2011 at 10:54 PM Share Posted January 31, 2011 at 10:54 PM Shawn works closely with our Dr. G in all the events and efforts we have going in the Chicago area. He spoke at our SAFR rally in downtown Chicago this past year and has done media interviews for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Federal Farmer Posted February 4, 2011 at 03:50 PM Share Posted February 4, 2011 at 03:50 PM By the way, here is a link to the court docket for Shawn's case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mstrat Posted February 4, 2011 at 04:11 PM Share Posted February 4, 2011 at 04:11 PM By the way, here is a link to the court docket for Shawn's case. August court date? My, how the wheels of justice grind slowly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sigma Posted February 5, 2011 at 01:04 AM Share Posted February 5, 2011 at 01:04 AM I think I know him, doeas anyone have pictures of him from the SAFR rally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Guardian Posted March 11, 2011 at 10:59 PM Share Posted March 11, 2011 at 10:59 PM Ask and you shall receive. ~ There's been some confusion on this... Silver Guardian's signature below is not part of this post, nor is it directed towards the individual pictured. Sorry for the confusion. Templar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USAG Posted March 22, 2011 at 02:02 AM Share Posted March 22, 2011 at 02:02 AM Are you saying he is the ENEMY? " silver guardian" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Federal Farmer Posted March 22, 2011 at 02:25 AM Share Posted March 22, 2011 at 02:25 AM Are you saying he is the ENEMY? " silver guardian" That is simply Silver Guardian's signature line, not related to the picture or topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ishmo Posted March 22, 2011 at 02:56 AM Share Posted March 22, 2011 at 02:56 AM Are you saying he is the ENEMY? " silver guardian"Just asking but how did you go from SG posting Shawn's picture in response to a request to the "ENEMY" comment? FYI I spoke to the "enemy" as you refer to the man after he spoke and he seemed like a pretty decent guy to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Federal Farmer Posted March 22, 2011 at 03:02 AM Share Posted March 22, 2011 at 03:02 AM Are you saying he is the ENEMY? " silver guardian"Just asking but how did you go from SG posting Shawn's picture in response to a request to the "ENEMY" comment? FYI I spoke to the "enemy" as you refer to the man after he spoke and he seemed like a pretty decent guy to me. I can see how a misunderstanding can come about if someone isn't familiar with the forum world and signature lines and such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Roark Posted March 22, 2011 at 01:58 PM Share Posted March 22, 2011 at 01:58 PM OK. But I like that IGOLD shirt he's wearing. Seriously. Did Shawn speak at SAFR 2 years ago? I missed last year, attended the prior year. Maybe Shawn spoke 2 years in a row? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junglebob Posted March 22, 2011 at 07:30 PM Share Posted March 22, 2011 at 07:30 PM Are you saying he is the ENEMY? " silver guardian" That is simply Silver Guardian's signature line, not related to the picture or topic. Since Silver Gardian's signature line is larger than most of ours and the size of the other text in his posting reply it seems to have been mistaken as refering to Shawn's picture. I am sure that is not the case. Shawn should really include in his case something for "pain and suffering" imagine having your van riddled with holes and knowing you can't protect yourself with a firearm even in your own home. That would be mental suffering for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sigma Posted March 22, 2011 at 09:20 PM Share Posted March 22, 2011 at 09:20 PM Yes I do know him, he is a good guy, 100% on our side and he will represent us well.Thanks for the pic silver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Gwinn Posted March 23, 2011 at 12:26 AM Share Posted March 23, 2011 at 12:26 AM Very good guy, forceful speaker, and really wired into the politics in his part of Chicago, too. He knows which alderman has his nephew working in which other alderman's office and why, and he holds their feet to the fire. I was impressed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USAG Posted March 28, 2011 at 10:14 PM Share Posted March 28, 2011 at 10:14 PM This Case has been moved to The U.S Northern District Court (11CV1304) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.