positive response regarding pending bad bills

[vstar]

My e-mail to Rep. Schmitz and his supportive response.. (he will get my vote)

 

Dear Representative Schmitz,

I am writing you to encourage your no vote on the below bills that would negatively effect individual rights to own firearms. These bills, if became law would only hinder law abiding citizens to buy, own and transport firearms. As you know, the city of Chicago has many laws that that restrict and prohibit gun ownership but there is still a great problem there. I'm hopeful that I can count on your no vote on the below bills that would do nothing to deter criminals from committing crimes.

Thank you,

 

 

(this was taken from the NRA website posted yesterday saying that these bills would likely be voted on next week)

House Bill 180, introduced by State Representative Deborah Graham (D-78), would establish a state-based licensing scheme for Federal Firearms License (FFL) holders that sell handguns.

 

 

 

House Bill 5480, introduced by State Representative Harry Osterman (D-14), would outlaw most private transfers of handguns and require the transfers to be processed through an FFL.

 

 

 

House Bill 5495, introduced by State Representative William Burns (D-26), would prohibit law-abiding citizens from purchasing more than one handgun in a 30-day period.

 

 

 

House Bill 5751, introduced by State Representative Edward Acevedo (D-2), was voted out of the House Executive Committee this week, and is now on the floor. This bill if passed would ban countless semi-automatic handguns, rifles, and shotguns, many parts for the same, as well as .50 cal. rifles and ammunition.

 

 

 

House Bill 5849, introduced by State Representative Harry Osterman (D-14), would overturn last year's Illinois Supreme Court ruling that held the storage boxes built into vehicles qualified for storing unloaded firearms for lawful transportation under Illinois law. This bill would change the law to make it more difficult to lawfully transport unloaded firearms.

 

 

 

House Bill 6123, introduced by State Representative Osterman (D-14), would create a confusing new felony offense for "knowingly" supplying a "street gang member" with a firearm. A "street gang member" is defined in the Illinois Streetgang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act. This legislation is undoubtedly intended to capitalize on the fears the general public has for words like "street gang" and "terrorism."

 

 

 

 

JI posted his e-mail but then noticed that his e-mail provides a confidentiality notice and it doesn't seem right to post here. But he responded in a positive way to our cause.

[Drylok]

At this moment the one I'm still concerned about is HB 5172 (Center Console Bill) or the other bills similar

http://ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=5172&GAID=10&GA=96&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=50114&SessionID=76

 

I see 5172 has been refered to comittee. Is this a dead issue or do we still need to keep an eye on it? I don't think the others have a prayer, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't drop our gaurd.

[Tvandermyde]

don't worry about 5172. HB5849 by osterman is the one to keep your eye on.

[Drylok]

don't worry about 5172. HB5849 by osterman is the one to keep your eye on.

Got ya, they make so many different bills for the same thing, it's hard to keep track of them all. Think we can keep it beat'n back?

Someone commented today that they should pass this law because if you have your firearm in your console and you get pulled over, when you open the console to get your insurance and registration card the "container is no longer enclosed, thus illegal". My solution that is don't transport your firearm in the same container as your insurance and registration.

[sleepercaprice1]

This is the email I sent to my rep. on 2/24/10. I'm sorry to report that no response has been received.

 

Dear Representative Durkin,

 

 

 

I’d like to take this opportunity to comment on pending legislation.

 

 

 

I urge you to vote against the following:

 

 

 

HB 180: This appears to be a licensing and registration bill that would only affect law abiding business and gun owners. Firearm sales are one of if not the most tightly regulated businesses in existence. Gun dealers go through an extensive federal licensing procedure and are subject to frequent inspection by agents of the BATFE. What gain will there be by involving the Illinois State Police in this procedure? The criminals who should be targeted will be the least likely people to comply with this bill.

 

 

 

HB 5734 & SB 1848: Similar to HB 180, they will do little to no good in reducing crime.

 

 

 

HB 5480: This bill would outlaw the sale of firearms between law abiding gun owners. To outlaw the sale of privately owned guns between properly licensed gun owners, while doing nothing to prevent criminal sales is just an onerous burden that once again, will not reduce crime.

 

 

 

HB 5495: This bill is the same old one gun per month bill that has been repeatedly defeated. Again, what will this bill do to reduce criminal activity?

 

 

 

HB 5751: This bill would ban numerous semiautomatic firearms based primarily on appearance. Semiautomatic firearms have been in common use for over 100 years and have not proven to be particularly dangerous or more likely to be used in criminal activity.

 

 

 

HB 5849: This bill would seek to overturn the Illinois Supreme court’s finding that the console or glove box of a vehicle is defined as a “case”. This bill would make it more difficult for lawful gun owners to transport unloaded firearms while again, not affecting criminals.

 

 

 

HB 6123: This bill seeks to create a felony charge for “knowingly” supplying a street gang member with a firearm. On the face, this appears to be a good piece of legislation. Nobody wants to see gang bangers own guns, but how is one to know who is a gang member and who isn’t? I’m sure that there are many gang members who have FOID cards in compliance with state law. The burden of identifying gang members and preventing them from legally purchasing firearms belongs with the Illinois State Police, who issue the FOID.

 

 

 

SB 3425: This would mandate that all semiautomatic firearms sold in Illinois would include microstamping technology. This unproven technology will not improve law enforcements ability to solve crimes. In other states that have attempted this legislation, shell casings from gun ranges have been scattered at crime scenes to deliberately confuse investigators. In addition, microstamping is relatively easy to remove from a firearm. I find it interesting that firearms issued to law enforcement agencies are exempt from this bill.

 

 

 

Now, on to the bills that I urge you to support:

 

 

 

HB 4835: This bill would eliminate the waiting period for firearms transfers if the transfer involves trading one operable firearm for another. This only makes sense. Why should a so called “cooling off” period apply if the gun owner already has a functional firearm and is just exchanging it for another?

 

 

 

HB 5221 & HB 6249: These bills, introduced by Brandon Phelps and John Bradley, respectfully, would provide provisions for the carrying of firearms by law abiding gun owners for self protection. Illinois is one of only 2 states that have no provision for self defensive firearm possession. We also have one of the highest crime rates. Obviously our current laws are not working. People deserve the protection a lawfully carried firearm would provide. Many people who work in or travel through dangerous neighborhoods are victimized due to their inability to effectively protect themselves.

 

 

 

Thank you for your time. I hope that you will take my opinions into consideration when voting in this and future legislative sessions.