Posted on 02/23/2013 11:39:03 AM PST by John Semmens
The Chicago Transit Authority rejected the National Rifle Association's stance in support of allowing those with concealed carry permits to board buses and trains with their weapons. “We think it would be disastrous to allow passengers to carry concealed weapons on our trains and buses,” said CTA President Forrest Claypool.
“On balance, it would be better for passengers to simply allow themselves to be robbed or even shot than to engage in gun battles with assailants on board our vehicles,” Claypool reasoned. “Fewer people will be hurt if the criminals are unopposed than if victims attempt to resist.”
Claypool discounted research showing that looser restrictions on the law-abiding owners of weapons seems to lead to fewer crimes, including shootings, saying he was “uncomfortable with how crime is defined by these right-wing screeds. Who's to say that the existing distribution of property is equitable? Is the use of deadly force to oppose a free lance redistribution really justifiable? It is our position that the confined spaces of buses and trains are not an appropriate venue for deciding such complex issues.”
Robert Kelly, who represents Transit Workers Union Local 308, concurred with Claypool's view. “Drivers are instructed not to resist when confronted by an armed assailant,” Kelly pointed out. “If this is the proper response for the most important person on the vehicle why shouldn't the same rule apply to the other occupants?”
if you missed any of this week's other semi-news/semi-satire posts you can find them at...
http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/Opinion/129193-2013-02-23-semi-news-a-satire-of-recent-news-february-24-2013.htm
I know that is satire, but it’s uncomfortably close to truth.
I’m pretty sure our transit system here in Seattle is a “gun free zone”. I used to see signs at the train station mentioning that weapons were not allowed, although I haven’t seen them lately. Maybe they quietly repealed that, but I doubt it.
Someday I’d love to do a count of how many people, regardless of the rules, are carrying on the trains and buses around here. I’ll bet we’re a well-armed bunch.
Chicago Transit Keeps Status Quo - Only Criminals Allowed Guns on Public Transit
LOL! Good stuff. Besides! Shooting at someone trying to rob, rape or kill you on their public transportation would be a waste of expensive and hard to find ammunition.
The tip-off that this was intentional satire is that there is any legal concealed-carry for ANYBODY in Chica-go.
Now there is a whole lot of ILLEGAL concealed-carry of sidearms in the local transportation network there, on the subways, the El, and the city buses, as well as many of the common carriers like taxis, by the passengers.
But illegal and the Windy City have been long-time domestic partners, and the arrangement is pretty much accepted by all parties involved. Those who don’t like the state of affairs in that town either have to accept the risk, or avoid the city altogether.
For fourteen years I went into that urban center every day, and by all odds, the situation has gotten much worse since.
The whole city has become something similar to a Third-World slum. Not nearly as badly deteriorated as Detroit, but clearly on the same path.
Gun-Free Zone Fail!
A couple of thoughts, as a past CTA employee....
1.) I was an office rat, not a union man, but I was all over the CTA system in my time. You’d be amazed how many pro-gun/pro-hunting people there are below management level...I certainly was!
2.) Many bus drivers packed iron in the past (especially the ones driving out of South Side garages) and I don’t doubt some do today. Better 12 than 6, as they say.
3.) Forrest Claypool is a tool of the Chicago machine, who was handed the CTA chairmanship when he was denied a shot at the mayor’s office. The first thing he did in office was lay off 200 nonunion workers for the sake of a press release...I knew a few of them, and none of the ones I knew were stereotypical lazy government workers. At best, they had the ill fortune to be at the bottom end of the totem pole of seniority in their departments. May Claypool burn in hell for the harm he inflicted on those poor people.
Smile, wait for the flash!
Regards,
GtG
Another line drive to deep right Wrigley Field...
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