The caption under a photo on the front page of today's Northwest Herald reads, in part, "Democratics made huge gains in the Statehouse, obtaining a veto-proof majority in both houses."
Does this spell doom for concealed carry in Illinois?
What will it mean for the crime rate and the murder rate in Chicago and Cook County?
Concealed carry should not be a partisan issue. Every State Representative should be concerned about the safety and health, not only of his own constituents, but of the safety and health of all citizens and residents in the State of Illinois. While he (or she) is elected by District, the responsibility is for the whole State.
We're sheltered out here in McHenry County. Murders, shootings and assaults in Chicago don't cover the front page of the Northwest Herald or The Woodstock Independent. But the count is certainly important and publicized in Chicago.
Concealed carry almost passed in Illinois in May 2011. HB 0148 was brought for a vote, because the many sponsors must have thought it had a good chance of passing with the 71 votes needed to make it bullet-proof when it hit the Governor's desk.
But some arms must have gotten twisted at the last minute by the Governor and the Mayor of Chicago, and some Cook County Democrats reneged on their promises to vote Yes. The sponsors pulled the bill to avoid recording a losing vote. The Bill has languished in committee since then.
The NRA and the ISRA are failing law-abiding citizens by not doing what is necessary to secure enough votes to pass this bill. Advertising and direct campaigns aimed at constituents in certain Cook County districts are necessary to educate the public, which will then influence their legislators.
We, out here in the boonies in McHenry County, will never persuade a State Rep in Chicago's war zone to change his vote. But his residents, who must already be fed up with the killings and other shootings near their homes, can be educated.
Prof. John Lott, formerly connected with the University of Chicago, wrote More Guns, Less Crime. It's not your easiest-to-read book, but the 243 pages plus extensive footnotes fully support the title. When we law-abiding citizens have and carry concealed weapons, the crime rate will go down.
It makes sense. When the bad guy doesn't know if his potential victim or a bystander is armed, he just may not commit a crime. That's all it takes.
You never know who is interested…
3 months ago
10 comments:
A reader in Maryland sent this link to a Baltimore story: http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2012/11/06/witness-to-brutal-attack-speaks-with-wjz/
A man witnessed a senseless assault on a public street early last Friday afternoon.
What if a passerby or two (or even the witness) had been armed? With maybe 10-15 rounds in his Glock or Smith & Wesson or whatever other quality handgun?
He could have dispersed them or possibly even captured some of them.
I still think that you should test your "understanding" of the law in Illinois. Preferrably with a lunch bag (because it would be funnier in the NWH, and you know you going to jail would be in the paper, they totally wouldn't miss that arrest).
As a note to readers: Gus believes the law allows you to carry a weapon in a container, like a lunch bag for example.
I can read, Ray. The law says "... and other container...", without defining it.
You won't be offended if I select another lawyer to defend me, will you?
Every time I read an article on here, I am relieved at the idea that Gus only got 5% of the vote when he ran for sheriff. You are completely out of touch with reality. Please enjoy the next four years
Come on, Max. Use a few more words. Just what part of reality am I out of touch with?
Obviously it isn't working. If restricting where you could carry a gun were good policy then how come Illinois isn't the safest place in the country? It's the only place without concealed carry. What are we keeping the ban around for if there are states WITHOUT a ban safer than us?
That's pretty simple logic but I think the gun control crowd needs to answer that very simple question.
Most of it.
I see where some county's want to have their own CCW. It would be a very cumbersome law. Carry in one county but not the next.Check you guns at the countyline. My brother lives in a CCW state and he said that they have never had a person with CCW use the weapon illegally that he has ever read about.
I didn't look up where the ten counties are; mostly southern Illinois, I'd guess. Illinois residents want concealed carry; EXCEPT Cook and some collar counties.
Cook County Democratic legislators can be persuaded, but it will have to be by their own constituents.
This is where proponents' efforts are failing. We must get into those districts and use some ACORN tactics.
What does that mean ACORN tactics?
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