latest ICHV rant

[Tvandermyde]

For Immediate Release

 

Contact: Thom Mannard, (312) 341-0939, tmannard@ichv.org

 

Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence Remembers the Victims, Survivors and Families Affected By Valentine's Day Shooting Rampage that Killed 5 Students and Wounded 16;

 

Advocates Call for Renewed Effort to Require Criminal Background Checks On Gun Sales to Save Lives

 

(February 11, 2008, Chicago) ---As the second anniversary of the Northern Illinois University Valentine's Day shooting approaches, the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence (ICHV) is asking all Illinoisans to remember the five students who were tragically killed and to keep the survivors and families in their thoughts and prayers this weekend.

 

The five NIU students killed that day were Gayle Dubowski, 20, from Carol Stream; Catalina Garcia, 20, Cicero; Juilanna Gehant, 32 Mendota; Ryanne Mace, 19, Carpentersville; and Daniel Parmenter, 20, Elmhurst. Sixteen other students were wounded in the attack. Stephen Kazmierczak, a 27-year-old former NIU graduate student, carried a shotgun in a guitar case along with three handguns into a crowded lecture hall when he fired six shotgun shells and 48 handgun rounds before killing himself.

 

“It’s important that we remember the victims and pray for the families and friends who will live with this loss for the rest of their lives,” said Thom Mannard, Executive Director of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence. “That's why lawmakers and citizens alike must ardently commit ourselves to preventing gun violence so that another family doesn't have to face a similar tragedy. But to truly honor these victims means taking action to fix our broken system which allows such easy access to deadly guns.”

 

Since the NIU tragedy, hundreds of other Illinois residents have been killed due to random gun violence.

 

Mark Walsh, Director of the Illinois Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, a project of ICHV, noted that it is time for the Illinois legislature to take urgent action to strengthen the state's gun laws in order to save lives.

 

“We know that the General Assembly can take action that will certainly have an impact on reducing gun violence. Policies such as requiring background checks on all handgun purchases, state licensing of gun dealers and a continued prohibition on the carrying of concealed weapons will all contribute to safer communities and college campuses in our state. What's missing in Springfield, and in Washington, is the political will and courage to tackle gun violence as a serious issue, instead of sucking up to the ideology and special interests of the gun lobby.”

 

The Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence (www.ichv.org) is a tax-exempt 501©(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing firearm deaths and injuries through education, outreach and advocacy.

 

--END--

[45superman]

I note that Thom didn't try to explain how any of those laws would have hindered, much less prevented, the NIU rampage. A rare bit of good sense on his part, since there is no way he could have pulled it off.

[PPK]

A concealed carry law is about the only thing that could have limited the damage. A few people firing back and some of those students might still be alive. The moron.

[Gooch]

I note that Thom didn't try to explain how any of those laws would have hindered, much less prevented, the NIU rampage. A rare bit of good sense on his part, since there is no way he could have pulled it off.

 

Yea.....

 

Seeing how shooter purchased his weapons legally from a gun shop, possessed a valid FOID card AND passed the instant background check!

 

Lotta good those did huh?

 

Ditto on the moron!