We got a little Press

[boog]

Article in the Elmhurst Press

http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/elmhurst/topstories/x673416304/Concealed-carry-activists-host-town-hall-meeting

Boog

[Lou]

They got a few facts wrong as usual.......

 

By Dave Matthews, dmatthews@mysuburbanlife.com

Elmhurst Press

Posted Mar 12, 2010 @ 04:32 AM

Elmhurst, IL —

 

In light of an upcoming Supreme Court decision that might overturn the Chicago handgun ban, a gun-rights group stopped in Elmhurst last week to tell residents that allowing concealed carry of firearms in Illinois would be a proper next step.

 

IllinoisCarry, a southern Illinois-based offshoot of the Illinois State Rifle Association that since 2004 has advocated for statewide permission of concealed carry of firearms, hosted about 300 guests March 4 at the Diplomat West Banquet Halls.

 

“We just want to get people informed,” IllinoisCarry member Greg Powell of Hanover Park said. “We want to get some elected officials that will fight for our rights and want some good Second Amendment people down in Springfield.”

 

For Powell, it’s a matter of protection and reason, as Illinois is one of two states that do not allow some form of concealed carry.

 

“My biggest problem is I got a son who's a junior in high school, he’s going to college here in another year and a half, and I don’t want to send him to a school in Illinois because he’s unprotected,” Powell said. “All the hoodlums, gangbangers, they just carry guns anyway. Why can’t we protect ourselves too?”

 

Powell said the McDonald v. Chicago Supreme Court case is the catalyst for activity in the Chicago area. IllinoisCarry will appear next at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles in April.

 

“This gun case is going to be one of the biggest deals in the United States,” Powell said. “I think the Chicago politicians are really running scared.”

 

IllinoisCarry participated with about 6,000 gun rights activists Wednesday for Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day in Springfield.

 

State Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-24th District, of Hinsdale introduced legislation in 1995 that would have allowed concealed carry with background check safeguards, but the measure failed in the Senate by two votes. However, he said the attitude toward concealed carry since has changed.

 

“Public opinion in the last decade or so has clearly shifted to an understanding of the need for self-defense and the experience is that crime goes down,” Dillard said. “We all benefit from concealed carry because criminals are always apprehensive that someone might be armed ... concealed (carry) is a deterrent to crime but most importantly, it is a basic constitutional right.”

 

Despite support, Dillard said it’s not likely a concealed carry bill will pass through the state Senate.

 

“There’s nothing pending in the senate, and as long as you have Chicago machine Democrats in charge of both legislative chambers and Pat Quinn, the likelihood of having concealed carry in Illinois is rough,” he said.

 

Thom Mannard, executive director of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, disagrees.

 

“It’s one thing for people to say they have a right to have a gun in their home, we don’t disagree with that,” Mannard said. “But when you bring (guns) out on the street that becomes the community’s business. ... I got a brother-in-law in Elmhurst, it’s not too dangerous in Elmhurst. If I went down his block, most people wouldn’t feel too comfortable with me carrying a 9mm with a 30-round magazine.”

 

Mannard disputes Dillard’s claims that there is growing support for concealed carry and that such a law reduces crime.

 

“It wasn’t because of a groundswell of support in any of these states,” Mannard said. “... Most of the people who get the permits are men who live in rural or suburban areas, it’s not like they’re major targets of crime. ... There’s no proof that concealed carry has had a negative impact or positive impact on crime.”

 

Mannard also said suburban Republicans often join Chicago Democrats in their opposition to concealed carry.

 

“If they had the votes to pass the concealed carry bill last year, they would have called the bill in the House,” Mannard said. “People in the suburbs know generally they’re more than safe and don’t see more guns, particularly guns on the street, (improving) the safety of our suburbs.”

 

A state House bill that would allow state police to issue concealed carry permits to 21-year-olds who meet certain requirements passed a House committee this week.

[junglebob]

The Southern Illinoisan (thesouthern.com) had an article Not Concealing Their Hope to Carry, in the paper yesterday about IGOLD. It had a picture of us marching, pretty good article, smaller than last years as I recall.

[spec4]

Mannard is really a tool. Can't see how he would have any credability addressing a crowd unless they were all wewaring Obamapride stickers.

 

Has anyone seen the 9mm with a 30 round mag.? Maybe hes talking about an MP40?

 

Didn't know illinoiscarry was a southern IL organization. Where do they get this crap?

[TyGuy]

Glock has 33 round mags that fit the 9mm Glocks (26, 19, 17). I wouldn't use it for CCW as printing would be a major issue.

[jobes]

and another

 

 

Concealed carry supporters see reason for optimism

MAGGIE BORMAN 2010-03-11 23:27:09 Illinois concealed carry advocates might have a chance of seeing legislation pass that would allow residents to carry hidden firearms.

 

Almost 8,000 people marched to the Capitol this week for Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day to show their support for such a measure, which has been brought up before by lawmakers only to usually die in committee.

 

Among those marching was 73-year-old Bob Klaus of Godfrey.

 

“I began hunting when I was 16 years old, got my first gun then,” Klaus said Thursday. “I still hunt. ...”

 

This marked the sixth year Klaus participated in the annual event. He said this year’s march was the largest lobbying event yet.

 

One of the speakers this year was 76-year-old Otis McDonald, a Chicagoan who has sued to overturn a city gun ban. The U.S. Supreme Court last week heard arguments on both sides of the ban.

 

McDonald lives in a high-crime neighborhood and said he fears for his life every night.

 

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's latest data, Illinois had 530 homicides in 2008, 510 of which happened in Chicago. More than 420 of those homicides were with handguns.

 

“I don't have any idea why some people say concealed carry would cause crime to go up,” Klaus said. “Right now it is the criminals that have the guns and they will always have the guns, it is just us law-abiding citizens that don't. And that has to change; the law-abiding citizens have the right to concealed carry to be able to protect themselves if necessary.”

 

Rep. Dan Beiser, D-Alton, has co-sponsored House Bill 462 and Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, has sponsored House Bill 245, both of which are concealed-carry bills.

 

The Illinois Sheriff's Association has passed a resolution supporting House Bill 245 (Family and Personal Protection Act) and this week, the House Agricultural Committee again approved House Bill 462.

 

Under both bills, concealed firearms would not be allowed inside bars, police stations, prisons, government offices, courthouses, airports, schools, riverboats, amusement parks, arenas, stadiums or churches.

 

However, the Beiser bill includes an amendment that might prove problematic for some businesses. It specifies that if a business keeps someone from carrying a gun in the establishment, the business owner would be liable for injuries in armed robberies to gun owners who are disarmed.

 

Detractors of such a permit say concealed carry would create a more dangerous environment and that there are conflicting studies about whether such a measure would do anything to cut crime.

 

Proponents of concealed carry in Illinois, the only state other than Wisconsin that doesn't allow some form of concealed carry, range from individuals to elected officials. The Greene County Board, for example, unanimously passed a resolution in August 2008 to place an advisory question on the ballot asking Greene County voters whether they wanted a concealed carry law enacted. Voters overwhelmingly voted yes.

[1957Human]

Thom Mannard, executive director of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, disagrees. "But when you bring (guns) out on the street that becomes the community's business. ... I got a brother-in-law in Elmhurst, it's not too dangerous in Elmhurst. If I went down his block, most people wouldn't feel too comfortable with me carrying a 9mm with a 30-round magazine."

 

Not so sure I'd feel comfortable with an idiot like Thom carrying a weapon. But beyond that, who is he to say how "most people" feel about anything? Thankfully, though, there is a mechanism for determining what the majority of people think. It's called an "election," and people like Thom and his fellow Democratic lemmings may soon witness the wrath of the voters come this fall.

 

Mannard disputes Dillard's claims that there is growing support for concealed carry and that such a law reduces crime. "It wasn't because of a groundswell of support in any of these states," Mannard said. "... Most of the people who get the permits are men who live in rural or suburban areas, it's not like they're major targets of crime."

 

Let me get this straight: men who live in suburbs and carry weapons are not targets of crime. So, logically, to avoid being a "major target of crime," shouldn't a woman who lives in a city carry a weapon too? Some reason you want women to remain defenseless, Thom?

"If they had the votes to pass the concealed carry bill last year, they would have called the bill in the House," Mannard said. "People in the suburbs know generally they're more than safe and don't see more guns, particularly guns on the street, (improving) the safety of our suburbs."

 

They didn't call the bill in the House because House Speaker Mike Madigan said he'll never allow a vote on concealed carry to reach the floor. And if people in the suburbs feel safe already and don't want to see more guns on their streets, why do they always want more cops on the streets?

[Lou]

"If they had the votes to pass the concealed carry bill last year, they would have called the bill in the House," Mannard said. "People in the suburbs know generally they're more than safe and don't see more guns, particularly guns on the street, (improving) the safety of our suburbs."

 

I wonder if this guy understands that we live in a mobile society and many suburbanites have to travel outside their hometown for work or pleasure?

 

 

Ops, sorry I was using common sense there.

[hotpig27]

jobes

 

I was really surprised that Maggie had such a good write up on this. The Alton Tele-lie has not always been gun friendly.

[Lou]

They only printed this on in the Online Letters To The Editor:

 

Trib Link

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

chicagotribune.com

Trib should cover pro-gun events, too

 

11:07 AM CST, March 12, 2010

 

I am writing to object to a lack of balance on the Tribune's part in the reporting of firearms issues. Whenever Mr. Daley, Father Pfleger or some other anti-gun person, or group holds a press conference or demonstration it gets covered in the Tribune. The same does not happen when a pro-gun event is held.

 

There were recently three Town Hall meetings held with pro-gun agendas, in McHenry County, DuPage County and the south side of Chicago. Not a single sentence appeared in the tribune. Yesterday there was an estimated 7,000 gold shirted citizens in Springfield for IGOLD; the Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day. They marched almost a mile through downtown Springfield and crowded into the Capital Building to lobby their elected representatives. Even though the Tribune had reporters and photographers in Springfield for Mr. Quinn's budget address not one word of coverage made it into the Tribune.

 

Where is the balance?

 

-- Louis J. Berardi, Downers Grove, Ill.

 

Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune

[jobes]

Times are changing and people are beginning to wake from the slumber

 

jobes

 

I was really surprised that Maggie had such a good write up on this. The Alton Tele-lie has not always been gun friendly.

[erik316]

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's latest data, Illinois had 530 homicides in 2008, 510 of which happened in Chicago. More than 420 of those homicides were with handguns

 

 

Let me get this straight there where only 20 murders in the state of Illinois outside of Chicago in 2008. Five of those where in my town of Sterling and Rock Falls and one in Galesburg all by one person. So there where only 14 other murders in all of the rest of Illinois including Rockford Peoria, Moline, Springfield ect. Does not sound right to me.

[TyGuy]

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's latest data, Illinois had 530 homicides in 2008, 510 of which happened in Chicago. More than 420 of those homicides were with handguns

 

 

Let me get this straight there where only 20 murders in the state of Illinois outside of Chicago in 2008. Five of those where in my town of Sterling and Rock Falls and one in Galesburg all by one person. So there where only 14 other murders in all of the rest of Illinois including Rockford Peoria, Moline, Springfield ect. Does not sound right to me.

 

 

Yeah that didn't sound right to me either.

[BadWaterBill]

Ok the figures may be incorrect but look at what it proves. In Chicago only the chosen few can own a gun. So 400 plus people died last year. In the rest of the state people CAN own and do own all kinds of weapons. Even if you threw in all of the gang guns in Chicago for a total firearms count the vast number of guns are outside of the Kingdom of Daley. Where citizens have guns the murder rate is what 75-80% less. The big question should be WHY IS DALEY PROTECTING KILLERS?

 

I think we should have a LARGE banner next year with the names of all the people killed in Chicago in 2010.

 

MAYOR DALEY MOST OF THESE PEOPLE MIGHT BE ALIVE TODAY IF THEY COULD HAVE DEFENDED THEMSELVES.

 

I will carrt the left side of the banner who will carry the right side?

[Don Gwinn]

“It’s one thing for people to say they have a right to have a gun in their home, we don’t disagree with that,” Mannard said.

No, no, of course not, dear sir. I don't know how anyone could possibly have gotten that impression. Sadly, I think it may be too late for ICHV (or States United, or whatever you call yourselves this month) to file an amicus brief in support of the Mcdonald plaintiffs. A cash donation to the Second Amendment Foundation would probably not go amiss, though. As a supporter of the right to keep and bear arms, I'm sure you know words are never enough. Actions speak louder.

 

Mannard disputes Dillard’s claims that there is growing support for concealed carry and that such a law reduces crime. “It wasn’t because of a groundswell of support in any of these states,” Mannard said.

No . . . it was MAGIC!

 

IllinoisCarry, a southern Illinois-based offshoot of the Illinois State Rifle Association that since 2004 has advocated for statewide permission of concealed carry of firearms, hosted about 300 guests March 4 at the Diplomat West Banquet Halls.

You and I think of IllinoisCarry as a statewide group, but honestly, if you think of it as a group created by the Rowes, Blaster, etc. you can see how they think of it as "Southern Illinois-based." Besides, these people probably think Pontiac is in Southern Illinois.

 

There’s no proof that concealed carry has had a negative impact or positive impact on crime.”

What's that, Tom, that you just admitted for about the tenth time? RTC doesn't increase crime, you say? Oh, but it doesn't decrease it, either? OK. So you won't mention crime rates in an RTC debate ever again, and neither will we. From now on, no more utilitarian arguments about crime, just a straight-up debate over an enumerated civil right enshrined in the Constitution. You can argue that "bear" doesn't mean "carry" or that the right to keep and bear arms shall be infringed for some reason or other. We'll take the other side. But remember, your reason has to be something other than "it would increase crime."

Personally, I'm going to argue that a basic civil right enumerated in the Constitution that defines our way of government has to be protected by that government, and also that if both sides claim that it causes no harm, it really doesn't matter a whit whether it causes any benefit to society--it's win-win.

[Ol'Coach]

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's latest data, Illinois had 530 homicides in 2008, 510 of which happened in Chicago. More than 420 of those homicides were with handguns

 

 

Let me get this straight there where only 20 murders in the state of Illinois outside of Chicago in 2008. Five of those where in my town of Sterling and Rock Falls and one in Galesburg all by one person. So there where only 14 other murders in all of the rest of Illinois including Rockford Peoria, Moline, Springfield ect. Does not sound right to me.

 

 

Yeah that didn't sound right to me either.

 

From the IL Unified Crime Report:

Murder

State not incl Chicago PD...280

Chicago PD..................510

State Total.................790

(Cook County.................584)

 

Thats TOTAL murder, not just by firearms/handguns.

[zipmedic]

Speaker Madigan's admonition that he'll never allow a concealed carry vote to reach the floor illustrates the unethical use of government rules, IMO. Preventing a straight up-or-down vote on an item simply because you're fearful it'll pass amounts to nothing but obstructionism at best. The tide is turning against you, Mike. Best drop the arrogance before enough people wise up and vote you out of your precious office.