Letter to the editor at Rock River Times

[Kenny]

Guns are not the answer

 

There is a lot of concern about the concealed carry of guns. What is the answer? I do not believe that most of the people who want to carry a gun are ready for that kind of responsibility. They do not have the training or the discipline. I had to use a weapon in Vietnam. Because of the training and discipline, I knew when to shoot and when to hold my fire. Yes, many others had the same training and shot anyway. Most of us did not shoot just because we could. When we had the meeting at Memorial Hall, some came to me and asked about WHAT IF. What if this happened or that happened? All that does is feed someone’s fear. I tell everyone that the odds of being attacked by anyone are very low. As for the cowards who are in the street gangs, I wish they would be brave enough to get rid of their guns. A young man was on TV. Recently, he said he would not have a life without his gun. I say who he does not have a life with the gun. That gun will either get him killed, or he will kill someone else. Then, he can waste his life in prison. Pathetic, isn’t it?

 

How many times have we heard that someone was shot because of an argument? One died, and one went to jail. All because of a gun that is in the wrong hands. Yes, I believe we do have the right to own weapons and to carry them. I choose not to own any. If someone wanted to harm a president, with all the protection that they have, it has been tried before.

 

It has succeeded. None of those guns protected them. Trying to shoot someone never bothered me at the time. However, there is a price to pay for doing so. As far as the psychological testing is concerned, I am not sure that is good for anything at all. I still believe the cops need to do a lot more than what they have been doing. Writing tickets is needed, but the priority is to be on the gangs and drugs. Drugs are the main reason we have so much crime.

 

However, it is not the only reason. I wonder how many people die each year from drug use? How many others are being saved in the hospitals from those drugs? How many have been shot because of drugs? With the high price of gas, the opportunity to write tickets is going down. All over the city, I see people slowing down with their driving. Many do not even drive the speed limit. They drive slower than that. No, I do not want to see many people in the jail system, either. Everyone deserves a better life than that. As I said, that is just wasting your life, by sitting in a jail cell. The same should be said for those who waste their lives on drugs.

 

I hope this will be an awakening for everyone. Do I have the answer on concealed carry? No! I wish I did. Even if the state approves the concealed carry law, does anyone believe everyone who applies for the license will get it? Do not hold your breath on it.

 

Butch E. North

 

Rockford

[Kenny]

Followed by my LTE.

 

Concealed carry makes sense

 

Concealed carry is a great concept, and in 48 states that have adopted concealed carry, crime rates have gone down significantly; FBI studies have proven this fact. Why are the lives of Illinoisans any less valuable than people in these other states, and the politicians here that have their own personal security guards? Is it a coincidence that Chicago and Washington, D.C., have the strictest gun laws in the nation AND some of the highest murder/violent crime rates? The anti-gun lobby has used emotion as an argument against this issue for so long that many people are misinformed on this topic. As of late, people are starting to see through all the rhetoric and realize that the people who are committing the crimes really don’t care about the laws. Why will a gangbanger or burglar obey a law that prohibits carrying of firearms if they’re already in the commission of a crime? The law-abiding citizens, however, will not carry for self-defense because it’s against the law.

 

Numerous studies have shown firearms are used in self-defense at least 1.5 million times every year in the U.S. If Winnebago County passes concealed carry, the criminals will no longer know who has a firearm on them or who doesn’t. With concealed carry, it becomes a gamble if the person they are going to mug, rob, rape, murder or carjack could defend themselves. Interviews with convicted felons confirm they are more scared of citizens with firearms than the police, and most would not “mess with” someone if they thought they might have a gun. Self-defense does not require violence; over 99 percent of the time, a shot is never fired, but the mere display of a firearm stops the crime in progress.

 

People who go through the background checks, training and fingerprinting to obtain CC permits are not the ones committing violent crimes or shooting up schools. The existence of concealed carry in 48 other states has shown that the “wild West” scenario where people shoot each other over fender-benders has simply not happened. These law-abiding citizens are responsible and want to keep their right to self-defense. I know as a gun collector, I would not risk losing my collection over something trivial. I would only use my firearm as a last option to protect my life or my loved ones, as would any other permit holder. I urge anybody who has any concerns about this issue to find a copy of Gun Facts 4.2. It has all proven facts with references to studies that back it up. I know for a fact there is a copy on the home page of www.IllinoisCarry.com.

 

Kenny Polhamus

 

Loves Park

[Kenny]

Link to Articles

[Chris]

Good job Kenny!

 

I think your wife was right, who wrote that?

[Kenny]

I know for a fact there is a copy on the home page of www.IllinoisCarry.com.

 

Publicity Wooo Hooo!!!!!!!!

[Kenny]

Freeport Journal Standard Article

 

Freeport, Ill. -

 

Stephenson County officials in September 2008 will likely debate whether to adopt a resolution urging the Illinois General Assembly to authorize a concealed carry law in this county.

 

 

Such a law would allow county residents who obtain a permit to possess concealed weapons. Winnebago County is pursuing similar legislation, which inspired County Board Chairman John Blum to introduce the issue at the Aug. 5, 2008, County Public Property and Safety Committee meeting.

 

 

“It will be a topic at next month’s Public Safety Committee meeting,” Blum said. “I’m sure there will be a lot of debate.”

 

 

At the Aug. 5, 2908, committee meeting, Blum passed out copies of a sample resolution being considered by the Winnebago County Board that seeks to establish a concealed carry law in Winnebago County. It is unclear how closely the Stephenson County resolution will resemble Winnebago County’s proposed document.

 

 

Winnebago County officials are urging other counties across Illinois to adopt resolutions in support of concealed carry legislation to influence the Illinois General Assembly.

 

 

Blum said he wanted to have this debate locally sooner rather than later. Concealed carry legislation brings up a lot of important issues – such as balancing personal rights versus the government’s obligation to protect the public – and Stephenson County should be engaged in this debate, Blum said.

 

 

“It’s going to come up sooner or later and it may as well be sooner,” Blum said.

 

 

Winnebago County Efforts

 

 

Winnebago County initiated their efforts on this issue in May. However, the issue has gained momentum in Illinois in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in June 2008 to strike down the District of Columbia’s ban on the ownership, possession, and carry of handguns.

 

 

The Winnebago County Board recently approved a resolution placing an advisory referendum on the November 2008 ballot. The referendum asks voters whether they would support a statewide concealed carry law, said Tom Owens, chairman of the Winnebago County Board’s Concealed Carry Subcommittee.

 

 

Owens said the board is also considering a resolution to authorize concealed carry legislation in Winnebago County. Officials are currently discussing the legality of whether Winnebago County could adopt such legislation without the Illinois General Assembly’s approval, he said.

 

 

Owens said his subcommittee has been investigating the concealed carry issue since May 2008. As part of their investigation, subcommittee members have examined how the concealed carry law has functioned in other states and whether there have been any negative impacts.

 

 

So far, the group has found that states with concealed carry laws have lower crime rates, and that crime rates are higher in places where there are more strict gun laws, Owens said.

 

 

According to FBI Uniform Crime Report statistics cited in Winnebago County’s sample resolution, total violent crime rates are 13 percent lower in states with concealed carry laws.

 

 

A public hearing was also held in Winnebago County in May 2008, where the majority of residents in attendance expressed support for concealed carry legislation, Owens said.

 

 

“We want to look at this from a neutral standpoint,” Owens said. “So far, every negative we have heard has not been able to be substantiated, while the positives have been [confirmed] through statistics.”

 

 

Public Safety

 

 

Freeport Deputy Police Chief Robert Smith said public safety considerations must be part of any debate on this issue. Smith said there is real concern – especially in urban environments – that allowing concealed weapons could lead to a disruption in public safety.

 

 

Some people overreact to certain situations and if they had a concealed weapon, this could lead to trouble, Smith said. In particular, traffic disagreements in larger urban areas can sometimes escalate quickly into a dangerous situation, he said.

 

 

“Anyone who lives in an urban environment has to appreciate the danger of people walking around with concealed guns,” Smith said. “The fear is that otherwise law abiding citizens may do rash things. ... I don’t know that the same risks exist in a rural environment.”

 

 

Stephenson County’s proposed resolution seeking concealed carry legislation has not yet been drafted, so it is unclear how such a law would be carried out locally. It would likely involve setting up a system whereby residents could apply for a permit to carry concealed weapons.

The concealed carry issue will likely be discussed at the Sept. 2, 2008, meeting of the County Public Property and Safety Committee. This meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the local courthouse.

[lockman]

Great Job Kenny!

As for Butch, He admits he does not have the answer but is willing to pass-over a proven and irrefutable tool in self preservation. I don't think anyone here looks at personal arms as a cure-all or end-all for crime but that is how the Butch's of this world construe what we think about gun carry. It is just one more tool in the arsenal to combat crime and preserve life and a very effective one at that.

[whyzdom]

.....At the Aug. 5, 2908, committee meeting, Blum passed out copies of a sample resolution being considered by the Winnebago County Board that seeks to establish a concealed carry law in Winnebago County. It is unclear how closely the Stephenson County resolution will resemble Winnebago County’s proposed document.

 

 

You know Kenny is good when he knows history in advance!

 

 

 

On a serious note, great LTE Kenny.

[Kenny]

.....At the Aug. 5, 2908, committee meeting, Blum passed out copies of a sample resolution being considered by the Winnebago County Board that seeks to establish a concealed carry law in Winnebago County. It is unclear how closely the Stephenson County resolution will resemble Winnebago County’s proposed document.

 

 

You know Kenny is good when he knows history in advance!

 

 

 

On a serious note, great LTE Kenny.

 

 

I thought that was a funny typo too. Lets hope it is not a sign of what is to come in the future. (still fighting it in 900 years)

[Kaeghl]

I noticed this in the local throw-away paper yesterday, pretty good article/LTE, Kenny.

 

I smiled at the thought that our dear friend, Comrade Stan Campbell's head would just spin and then explode at the thought that someone published a pro-gun piece in 'his' personally owned "Pravda".

[Mike]

I noticed this in the local throw-away paper yesterday, pretty good article/LTE, Kenny.

 

I smiled at the thought that our dear friend, Comrade Stan Campbell's head would just spin and then explode at the thought that someone published a pro-gun piece in 'his' personally owned "Pravda".

 

Stan doesn't own the RRT, Frank Schier does. I doubt Frank is anti concealed carry, but I could be wrong. I'm pretty sure he's not a rapid anti.

 

He may even be sympathetic to our cause. If someone is willing to write a fair and factual article discussing the issue he may be willing to publish it. Why not call him and ask?

[Kenny]

If someone is willing to write a fair and factual article discussing the issue he may be willing to publish it

 

I did & they did.

[Mike]

If someone is willing to write a fair and factual article discussing the issue he may be willing to publish it

 

I did & they did.

 

I meant an article, not a letter to the editor. Articles can contain more words and even be a weekly series. Anti-gun groups get press releases printed as news articles all the time. Maybe we could actually write news articles such as "An examination of Missouri's experience with concealed carry" or "'Florida's experience with the Castle Doctrine" or "A comparison of state's firearm laws". We don't have to spin the issue, the facts speak for themselves. Its just that the media has kept most people ignorant of what the facts are. Lets use the media to educate them.

[Kenny]

If someone is willing to write a fair and factual article discussing the issue he may be willing to publish it

 

I did & they did.

 

I meant an article, not a letter to the editor. Articles can contain more words and even be a weekly series. Anti-gun groups get press releases printed as news articles all the time. Maybe we could actually write news articles such as "An examination of Missouri's experience with concealed carry" or "'Florida's experience with the Castle Doctrine" or "A comparison of state's firearm laws". We don't have to spin the issue, the facts speak for themselves. Its just that the media has kept most people ignorant of what the facts are. Lets use the media to educate them.

 

Go for it dude I am not a great writer. Just out of curiosity are you lilredneon?

[Mike]

Go for it dude I am not a great writer. Just out of curiosity are you lilredneon?

 

 

Actually I was hoping someone else would jump on this. I'm not sure I'm that good a writer and I know that I won't have the time to do it properly. I wonder if we could get permission to submit some writings by someone like John Lott or Clayton Kramer?

 

No, I'm not lilredneon. I do use norton (the motorcycle not the sewer worker) on some boards because mike is usually taken.

[Ashdump]

Go for it dude I am not a great writer. Just out of curiosity are you lilredneon?

 

 

Actually I was hoping someone else would jump on this. I'm not sure I'm that good a writer and I know that I won't have the time to do it properly. I wonder if we could get permission to submit some writings by someone like John Lott or Clayton Kramer?

 

 

We actually have some pretty talented, silver penned devils right here on Illinoiscarry. I am not, but I know of a few. (hint, hint, GF )

[Kaeghl]

I noticed this in the local throw-away paper yesterday, pretty good article/LTE, Kenny.

 

I smiled at the thought that our dear friend, Comrade Stan Campbell's head would just spin and then explode at the thought that someone published a pro-gun piece in 'his' personally owned "Pravda".

 

Stan doesn't own the RRT, Frank Schier does.

 

Oh, I knew that, it's just that Comrade Campbell uses the RRT to publish his weekly socialist-flavor-of-the-week-topic screed. And no one from the 'Right" is published weekly call "Bull$hit!" on him, so it stays in print to 'sway the proles'. The RRT used to have Phil Pash on the front page, often with a pro-gun article. And the RRT dropped the Conservative View writter, I forget who that even was, it's been so long ago.

 

Oh, I just had a brain-drizzle for a series of articles that might fly, if offered to the RRT. Instead of one silver-penned wordsmith (hint, nudge GF, pleeeeze), how about a series of question and answer, discussion types of articles between two or more silver-penned wordsmiths, like the old 'serials' that played in the movie houses back in the olden times. Something like listening in on a couple of experts discussing something interesting, almost like evesdropping. Heck, let the authors argue over some bit of whatever, everyone has a bit of curiosity, so why not use that, too?

 

That might keep public interest up, and that could be used as a way to convince the owner to think seriously about that weekly series of articles that are Pro-Gun.

 

Thoughts?

[Mike]

I noticed this in the local throw-away paper yesterday, pretty good article/LTE, Kenny.

 

I smiled at the thought that our dear friend, Comrade Stan Campbell's head would just spin and then explode at the thought that someone published a pro-gun piece in 'his' personally owned "Pravda".

 

Stan doesn't own the RRT, Frank Schier does.

 

Oh, I knew that, it's just that Comrade Campbell uses the RRT to publish his weekly socialist-flavor-of-the-week-topic screed. And no one from the 'Right" is published weekly call "Bull$hit!" on him, so it stays in print to 'sway the proles'. The RRT used to have Phil Pash on the front page, often with a pro-gun article. And the RRT dropped the Conservative View writter, I forget who that even was, it's been so long ago.

 

Oh, I just had a brain-drizzle for a series of articles that might fly, if offered to the RRT. Instead of one silver-penned wordsmith (hint, nudge GF, pleeeeze), how about a series of question and answer, discussion types of articles between two or more silver-penned wordsmiths, like the old 'serials' that played in the movie houses back in the olden times. Something like listening in on a couple of experts discussing something interesting, almost like evesdropping. Heck, let the authors argue over some bit of whatever, everyone has a bit of curiosity, so why not use that, too?

 

That might keep public interest up, and that could be used as a way to convince the owner to think seriously about that weekly series of articles that are Pro-Gun.

 

Thoughts?

 

 

Can't hurt to try.