Posted on 07/18/2006 9:46:39 AM PDT by kiriath_jearim
CHICAGO, July 17 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following was released today by the ISRA Political Victory Fund (ISRA-PVF):
The ISRA-PVF is asking Governor Blagojevich to explain why one of his political allies is calling for house-to-house searches to locate and confiscate legally-owned firearms.
Earlier this month, Cook County Board member Joseph Moreno stood before the county board and called for "...house to house searches to pull every gun out of Cook County." Moreno's statement comes within days of Blagojevich claiming that anyone in Chicago who owns a gun is a "gang banger" and is "...up to no good."
"I think the timing of the Blagojevich and Moreno remarks is more than just coincidence," commented ISRA-PVF spokesman, Richard Pearson. "During the July 6th dedication of the Sparta shooting complex, Blagojevich didn't mince any words when he essentially declared that any gun-owner north of I-80 is a criminal. Then, days later, a powerful member of the Cook County Board calls for police sweeps against the homes of lawful gun owners. These statements didn't happen by accident -- the intent is clear."
"Normally, the Blagojevich and Moreno statements would be laughable," continued Pearson. "However, Blagojevich has the potential means for authorizing police raids on gun-owning homes. House Bill 2414 remains alive in a House committee awaiting a call for a vote. If passed into law, HB2414 would result in the banning and forced confiscation of millions of lawfully-acquired firearms from law-abiding Illinois citizens. The raids would be aided by a database of firearm owners being maintained illegally by the Illinois State Police."
"Blagojevich is fond of saying that gun owners have nothing to fear from him," said Pearson. "If vilification of gun owners and wild-eyed calls for house to house gun searches aren't reasons to fear this administration, then I don't know what are. It's time for the governor to address the gun owners of this state and tell us why we should trust him."
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The ISRA-PVF is a political action committee affiliated with the Illinois State Rifle Association. A copy of its report is available for a fee from the Illinois state board of elections.
The gestapo is alive and well and operating in Chicago.
Very few registered them. Most didn't have the time and some were out of town. Also, those who didn't have one, couldn't register anything, even though they might want one in the future.
The 2nd Amendment and the essence of Freedom says this scheme is wickedly bogus.
"Long guns are NOT illegal in Chicago."
Big deal and it depends on which ones. Try letting the neighbors see you with a gun case anywhere in the Chicago Metro area. The clowns will either break in and steal it, or call 1-800-GUN-NUTS and they'll be raided. How far over 100 miles does one have to drive to shoot a rifle? How far does one have to go to buy ammo?
Try protecting yourself against thugs and you'll be the bad guy charged and buried in lawyer bills for doing so.
It's still ridiculously unconstitutional.
From your non-answer to my question it appears as if those who registered the handguns were allowed to keep them which was my belief.
While I am no supporter of this ordinance and don't see how the City has the authority to pass it, your ending statements are false. There are gunshops and ranges within easy driving distance from the City so lay off the exaggerated rhetoric. It does not help your case.
And there have been numerous cases where "illegal" handguns are used for self protection with no prosecution following (other than taking the gun.)
The answer is implied and obvious in what I said.
"your ending statements are false."
Nah.
"There are ...ranges within easy driving distance from the City so lay off the exaggerated rhetoric.
Name them and include a rough number for distance. Make sure you include those that are open to non club members, since the size of the waiting lists are huge, if it's an affordable membership.
"There are gunshops and ranges within easy driving distance from the City so lay off the exaggerated rhetoric."
No gunshop will sell a handgun to someone with a Chicago @. No gunshop will sell handgun ammo to someone with a Chicago @ on a FOID.
"And there have been numerous cases where "illegal" handguns are used for self protection with no prosecution following (other than taking the gun.)"
Old ladies generally get this sort of treatment. Others pay an arm and a leg for attys. Regardless, those folks that live there, have been effecitvely denied their right to an effective self defense. This particularly effective self defense is also a crime to mount.
I was not asking for a coy response but a direct answer to the question of grandfathering. My belief was that this was the case and your response did not change that belief.
Yah.
No I won't name them. They are there and can be found by anyone interested in them and there are some within five miles of my home on the NW side.
I did not mention any ability to buy guns or ammo and that was not an issue I responded to either.
There have been no media examples of people being prosecuted in Chicago for defending themselves that I have seen. Probably because they realize that a grand jury will not indict.
People have been deprived of the right to use a HANDGUN in self-defense but have plenty of other firearms which are allowed. Once again exaggeration and distortion do not help the Pro-Second amendment case.
The closest rifle range is in WI and I don't think there are any memberships open.
"There have been no media examples of people being prosecuted in Chicago for defending themselves that I have seen. Probably because they realize that a grand jury will not indict.
Your conclusion doesn't follow. The reason self defense cases don't end up in the media is, becasue they're bad publicity for the grabbers.
"Once again exaggeration and distortion do not help the Pro-Second amendment case."
Yeah, whatever. All the real shooters have been forced to leave for the reasons I've given. They're intimidated by the police and grabber activists in the neighborhoods, the politicians and so are the stores. They even left the suburbs. A simple NRA sticker in the window got me a felony stop and search in the NW suburbs, 'cause some grabber wackjob reported me as having a gun. No gun! That stop was followed by a year of harrassment at the job site. I've seen several gun shops closed down, because of the harassment. It's hellhole. Do you live in one of the places that require you explain why you want to own even a long gun to the local police chief?
Too bad they didn't lose their lives instead. LOL The anti gun nuts really want to control us don't they?
Exactly! I will NOT live in any state that won't allow me the RIGHT to defend myself.
I have shot at pistol ranges on North avenue and in Oak Lawn and there is at least one on Irving Park in some suburb though I have never used it.
Nor do I believe the papers would not report a prosecution of one who defended themselves since they do when it involves Oak Park for example.
I had an NRA sticker on my car until I traded it in two years ago and NEVER had the police stop me or harass me. I see stickers fairly regularly.
There is no need to explain to anyone of a need/wish/hope for a long gun at least in Chicago. My neighborhood is filled with cops and firemen and one of the former lives next door. No one harasses gun owners there. Sorry to hear of your difficulties.
The Gunslinger in Oak Lawn was shut down by a deceitful chicago LEO sting. The Chicago Ridge shop and range was shut down recently. Don't know why, but it was subject to severe harrassment also. I forgot the name of the one on Irving Park, extreme prices and cash only. He was harrassed also. I used to shoot at Bell's, roughly N Ave on LaGrange rd. I had to sign in and out on a log sheet, because previously the cops surveilled the place and arrested target shooters who left and drove away for unlawful use of a weapon. They didn't care that the gun was unloaded and cased, only that you had one and they knew it. The sign in sheet was intended as evidence, should any of the law abiding patrons be subjected again to the official harrassment. The lawyer's fees those guys had to pay were substantial and it wasn't just a few that were arrested.
Oh, I said rifle range. Rifles are allowed in Chicago right? ... They shut down the range in Carpentersville awhile ago and the shotgun range in Northbrook. They tried to even shut down clay shooting in the State Parks and did at the Chicago park district site on L. Michigan. So much for the little guy's rights. "I had an NRA sticker on my car until I traded it in two years ago and NEVER had the police stop me or harass me. "
Wonderful. That means they must love the NRA and Freedom down there.
"My neighborhood is filled with cops and firemen and one of the former lives next door. No one harasses gun owners there.(NW Chicago)
Wonderful. I'll bet they support and are life members of the NRA. They probably showed up at a few gun rights rallys and I missed them.
Healthy People 2010 Covers Firearms:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1563271/posts?page=108#108
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