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Pike man aims to pass weapons carry initiative(IL)
myjournalcourier.com ^ | 19 August, 2011 | GREG OLSON

Posted on 08/20/2011 7:54:55 AM PDT by marktwain

Journal-Courier

If a Pittsfield chiropractor gets his way, his neighbors will be allowed to be armed in public.

Dan Mefford is spearheading a petition drive to have an initiative addressing the weapons issue placed on the March primary ballot.

“The initiative essentially bypasses the Chicago Machine that is currently ruling Illinois,” Mefford said. “I recommend that each county in Illinois get on board and pass the same gutsy version for the constitutional carry of arms.”

An initiative is a process that enables a specified number of voters by petition to propose a law and submit it to voters in a general election.

Still, there are hurdles to clear before carrying weapons in Pike County is legal.

If the initiative makes the ballot and passes, Mefford said the courts will decide if it is constitutional.

“The time has come to stand up and be counted instead of imploring and begging and pleading with our Chicago Machine rulers to pass a concealed carry law full of unconstitutional garbage just to get a toe in the door so we can carry a weapon for defense of ourselves, our families, our friends and property,” Mefford said.

He does not believe such things as Firearm Owner’s Identification Cards are needed to exercise the right to keep and bear arms.

“The Second Amendment states ‘shall not be infringed.’ How hard is that to comprehend? The Second Amendment does not say shall not be infringed very much,” Mefford said.

While there is no federal law specifically addressing the issuance of concealed-carry permits, 49 states have passed laws allowing citizens to carry certain concealed firearms in public, either without a permit or after obtaining a permit from state or local law enforcement. Illinois will be the only state without such a provision, once Wisconsin's new shall-issue law takes effect this fall.

“Our goal is to see that our constitutional rights are observed,” Mefford said. “People have rallied around this issue and are pitching in to get signatures for the petition.”

The petition, which requires 530 signatures before it can be placed on the ballot, will be submitted to the Pike County clerk late this year but is not guaranteed to be on the ballot.

“As long as there are no errors in the petitioning process, it should go on the ballot,” Mefford said. “We think it will be scrutinized by legal authorities within the state.”

The Illinois House on May 5 narrowly voted down a measure that would allow people to carry concealed weapons in public places. The vote was 65-52-1, but failed because it needed a supermajority to pass. Supermajorities are necessary for measures that would limit the regulatory powers of municipalities.

If approved, the plan would have allowed people to carry a gun after passing a background check and completing eight hours of training. Licensed gun holders would be prohibited from taking guns to certain public places, such as government buildings, airports and schools.

Critics of the concealed-carry plan often cite fears of increased violence and added stress to an already overloaded FOID card system. Illinois State Police estimates about 325,000 more people would sign up for concealed carry permits if the law were changed.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: banglist; constitution; il; initiative
Perhaps some Illinois freeper can illuminate the details of such county initiatives. It sounds promising.
1 posted on 08/20/2011 7:54:57 AM PDT by marktwain
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To: marktwain

I wish this initiative proposal all the best of luck. We up in Wisconsin finally broke though all the log jams a Democrat governor and legislature threw at us and now will have concealed carry beginning 11/1/2011.


2 posted on 08/20/2011 12:05:49 PM PDT by RicocheT (Eat the rich only if you're certain it's your last meal)
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To: marktwain

We theoretically have the power of initiative in this State but I’ve never heard of it being used in this way. I’ll see what I can sig up.


3 posted on 08/20/2011 12:08:35 PM PDT by Lurker (The avalanche has begun. The pebbles no longer have a vote.)
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To: marktwain
>Journal-Courier If a Pittsfield chiropractor gets his way, his neighbors will be allowed to be armed in public.<

There it is again -- "...will be ALLOWED..."

Nothing p!sses me off more than reading about how government is going to ALLOW me to carry my firearm....

4 posted on 08/21/2011 6:51:11 AM PDT by Jerrybob
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