Daley's Gun Ordinance - commentary

The comment by "John Lovaas" (whoever he is) prompted me to begin reading Daley's new gun ordinance. (It's ordinance, John; not “statute”).

Daley wants guns registered, so that first-responders will know if there is a gun in the house. First-responders do not have to worry about entering homes of law-abiding citizens. Does Daley think that criminals will suddenly step right up and register their guns?

Daley wants the ATF to notify Chicago if a Chicago resident buys a gun - anywhere!

If a Chicago cop wants to buy a gun, he must buy it from FFL dealer at a police facility! Would out back behind the police garage count? I recall buying a handgun in Colorado while I was sitting in a Chevy van outside a bank!

It is illegal for a person in business in Chicago to sell, give away or transfer any firearm on a selected list. Same with armor-piercing or .50 cal. ammo. (The ordinance started out including .45, .380, .38, .357, .22, and 9mm ammo.)

A “home” does not include an attached garage or any space outside the dwelling unit, including stairs, porches, back, side or front-yard space, or common areas. If you are packing and take your trash to the can in your garage, you have just violated the law, even if your garage door is down!

“Lawful Transportation” is going to snag a lot of otherwise law-abiding citizens. If you are going to the range, you must
1. have a FOID card, Chicago Firearm Permit and (Chicago) firearm registration permit, if applicable;
2. The firearm must be broken down in a non-functioning state; not immediately accessible; and unloaded and in a firearm case.

The state law says “in a container” (and then does not define “container”). Just what is a “firearm case”. Locked, hard-sided case with the word “Firearm” on it? There is too much wiggle room for a cop or judge here.

The definition of “unsafe handgun” includes size, ability to be concealed, detectability, weight, caliber… among other things. So I guess Supt. Jody Weiss wouldn’t like my Kel-Tec .380, which is light and will fit right in my pocket. How am I going to get to Indiana, where I can legally carry concealed, without going through Chicago? I’ll have to check my Tollway map and be sure all of the roadways are outside the City of Chicago.

Hizzoner says, “It is unlawful for any person to carry or possess a handgun, except when in the person’s home.”

Mr. Lovaas has apparently not read the ordinance. If a Chicago gun owner is not in direct possession of his gun, he’d better have it locked up if he believes any minor “is likely to gain access to it.” Whatever that means… The owner has to be holding it or have it “physically secured on his body”. Now that leaves a lot to the imagination, doesn’t it?

Why would Daley throw laser sights into the mix?

Next, look at the revenue grab by Daley. I mean, I know Chicago is hard-up, but Daley will grab your vehicle for a weapons violation, and you’ll pay $1,000 in administrative court, plus towing and storage fees. This brings to mind Mike Royko’s old columns about the robber towing companies in Chicago. Go for their votes, Hizzoner.

Ahh, finally. Help is there? “It shall not be a violation of this chapter if a person transporting a firearm or ammunition while engaged in interstate travel is in compliance with 18 U.S.C.A. Section 926A (whatever that is). That section may read that you have to be southbound on the Dan Ryan in the northbound lane between 2-3AM on the fifth Monday of a month.

Daley copped out on the $100 three-year registration fee and provided an exemption from the fee for a retired “department” police officer. I’d say that means only Chicago Police Department, which ought to thrill any police officer from anywhere else who chose to move to Chicago. (Why would anyone do that?)

I got a severe headache at this point and was only on Page 14 of the new 29-page ordinance!