SmershAgent Posted March 2, 2005 at 07:45 PM Posted March 2, 2005 at 07:45 PM In addition to SB1500, we now have SB 2101 sponsored by Gary Forby. Update: Both Senate CCW bills have been assigned to the judiciary committee, which breaks down thusly: Green = 10-12 pro gun votes, Yellow = 7-9 Pro-gun votes, Orange = 4-6 pro gun votes, Red = 0-3 pro gun votes. Cullerton (Co-chairman) Dillard (Co-Chairman) Harmon (Vice Chairman) Clayborne Haine Raoul Silverstein Petka Roskam Winkel Senator Cullerton, despite being orange, is completely hostile to gun owners. Dillard, despite being green, is the epitome of the collar county Republican legislator. He supports some gun control but has also voiced his support for CCW. Once a hearing date is set, we need to bombard all of these Senators, especially Dillard, with calls and letters. Haine, Petka, Roskam, and Winkel should all solidly be on our side.Cullerton, Harmon, Raoul, Clayborne and Silverstein are going to be against. Assuming we can persuade Sen. Dillard, it will be locked at 5-5, which I don't think is enough. Clayborne is the best-rated of the antis here, but he's a straight Chicago Democrat who is supports other anti-gun bills, and I'd frankly be suprised if he broke ranks. Nonetheless, he may be the weak link to focus on. This will be a much tougher fight than the friendly A&G committee in the House, but I still say we give it 100%. Anyone have any ideas?
SmershAgent Posted March 2, 2005 at 09:28 PM Author Posted March 2, 2005 at 09:28 PM Here's the contact information for everyone on the Senate judiciary committee. John Cullerton statesencullerton@msn.com111 Capitol Building Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-7260 Kirk Dillard senator@kdillard.com119D Capitol Building Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-8148 Don Harmon 605 Capitol Building Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-8176 James Clayborne clayborne@senatedem.state.il.us629 Capitol Building Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-5399 William Haine senhaine@cbnstl.comM113 Capitol Building Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-5247 Kwame Raoul M121 Capitol Bldg. Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-5338 Ira Silverstein silverstein@senatedem.state.il.us121B Capitol Building Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-5500 Ed Petka 309D Capitol Building Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-0422 Peter Roskam peter@peterroskam.com309H Capitol Building Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-8022 Richard Winkel Jr. rickwinkel@rickwinkel.comM103A Capitol Building Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-2507
45superman Posted March 2, 2005 at 10:34 PM Posted March 2, 2005 at 10:34 PM Thanks, Smersh. I'll get to work on a snail mail letter to everyone on the committee right away.
gunnmen01 Posted March 2, 2005 at 10:43 PM Posted March 2, 2005 at 10:43 PM hey, post of copy of how your going to word your snail mail so i have some idea of how to be friendly to people (lol)... but seriously ill send a few letters myself and i have friends who will do the same when i offer to buy the stamps..... gunnmen01
45superman Posted March 2, 2005 at 11:03 PM Posted March 2, 2005 at 11:03 PM Will do--probably tonight or tomorrow.
SmershAgent Posted March 3, 2005 at 12:29 AM Author Posted March 3, 2005 at 12:29 AM This is what I'm sending out. I'd encourage everyone to send a letter or email to each member of the Senate Judiciary committee as soon as possible, and then follow up with a call right before the committee hearing (when we find out the date for it). Senator _________: I am writing to request your support for an issue that is very important to me. Two pieces of legislation, SB 1500 and SB 2101, have been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. These bills would recognize the right of law-abiding citizens to carry a firearm for personal protection after completion of a training course. I would appreciate your vote in support of both bills. As you may be aware, thirty-seven states already have “shall-issue” concealed carry legislation. Nine others have discretionary systems. Illinois is one of only four states to completely deny this right to its citizens. Violent criminals are less likely to prey on victims who might be armed. The benefit to public safety that concealed carry laws offer has been widely demonstrated all across the country. Again, I ask that you vote in favor of SB 1500 and SB 2101. Sincerely, *Gun Owner*
45superman Posted March 3, 2005 at 01:07 AM Posted March 3, 2005 at 01:07 AM Good letter. I've been working on mine, and now that I've seen yours, might have to start over. I think my first attempt is too long winded--on second thought, limiting it to a couple of paragraphs, like yours, probably makes more sense. Thanks for posting it.
45superman Posted March 3, 2005 at 01:44 AM Posted March 3, 2005 at 01:44 AM Here's mine--still not as good as Smersh's, but I couldn't very well copy his, since we're sending them to the same folks.March 2, 2005Dear Senator, Although I do not live in your district, I consider it both my right and my responsibility to inform you of my strong views about some important pending legislation. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, you are in a position to have a major impact on this legislation. I refer to SB 1500 and SB 2101, both of which are titled the Family and Personal Protection Act, and both of which have been assigned to your committee. These bills would afford law abiding Illinois residents the ability to defend themselves from criminals, by allowing them to carry concealed firearms. Implementing this type of legislation would bring Illinois into step with the vast majority of the rest of the nation, where three quarters of the states now recognize this fundamental right. I, in fact, am permitted to carry a firearm in many states, but my own state apparently does not trust me so far. How, I ask, can my own state deny my right to an effective means of self-defense, when others willingly grant it? In the states that have come to recognize the right of law-abiding citizens to carry firearms, the dire predictions of ensuing mayhem have proven groundless. At the same time, the benefits of reduced crime, stemming from the criminals’ knowledge that they can no longer count on their intended victims being helpless, have become readily apparent. To deny Illinois residents this measure of safety would be grossly irresponsible, and a boon for criminals. Please support these bills, and help make Illinois safer. Thank you for your time,The version to Sen. Haine will be slightly different, since I am in his district.
junglebob Posted March 3, 2005 at 01:58 PM Posted March 3, 2005 at 01:58 PM Those 2 letters look good. I think I will make mention of Mark Wilson the CCW holder in Tyler Texas who is credited with saving the life of David Arroyo Jr. and possibly others by police. There is an excellent article about him on the fox news site. www.foxnews.com click on Good Samaritan Gun Use in the Only on Fox section. Let's remind them of this armed good samaritan, something that couldn't easily happen in Chicago.
45superman Posted March 3, 2005 at 02:58 PM Posted March 3, 2005 at 02:58 PM Thanks JungleBob, and good idea, to mention Mr. Wilson's courageous stand.
Lou Posted March 3, 2005 at 03:35 PM Posted March 3, 2005 at 03:35 PM I've already sent my letter to Kirk Dillard. In general, he's been pro-gun in the past but I haven't heard from him on this issue. I tend to keep my e-mails short and use the title of the e-mail to get my point across right off the bat. This time I also included a US map showing state CCW status and just how far outside of the mainstream Illinois is. One picture worth 1000 words etc. Feel free to use this one:
cobcob Posted March 3, 2005 at 05:17 PM Posted March 3, 2005 at 05:17 PM I just emailed the members of the comittee... Here's the list of email addresses I used, it took me a little while to find them all so I thought I'd post them for ya'll senator@kdillard.com; harmon@senatedem.state.il.us; john@senatorcullerton.com; clayborne@senatedem.state.il.us; raoul@senatedem.state.il.us; senatorraoul@sbcglobal.net; silverstein@senatedem.state.il.us; rickwinkel@rickwinkel.com; dawn@peterroskam.com
gunnmen01 Posted March 7, 2005 at 03:06 AM Posted March 7, 2005 at 03:06 AM I just sent a bunch of emails to the senators as well... hopefully all we do will help the votes on tuesday.... gunnmen01
junglebob Posted March 7, 2005 at 05:04 AM Posted March 7, 2005 at 05:04 AM Something I came across which I thought might be useful, the Civilian gun self defense blog. If you put that under an alta vista search it comes up first. Its a list of stories of civilian self defense gun use. There are a number on there today dated 3/5. Maybe one or two names included each time we write would be useful. Mark Wilsons ( of Tyler Texas ) story of self sacrifice is there. The whole URL is claytoncramer.com/gundefenseblog/blogger.html -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered as the palladium of the liberties of a republic. - U.S. Supreme Court Justic Joseph Story,Writing for the court 1833 "Downstater by the Grace of God" - Downstater
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