[kiriath_jearim]

“Earlier this week, a Winnebago County judge dismissed the charge in a ruling that gun advocates hailed as a victory for 2nd Amendment rights in Illinois. Advocates for gun control say the ruling spotlights the need for the legislature to close a legal loophole.

An activist for looser gun control in Illinois, Kranish interprets current state law to mean that he can carry his unloaded weapon in a holster as long as it’s completely covered. The law allows unloaded weapons to be transported in containers but doesn’t mention holsters.

Though there have been cases over the years where gun owners have been arrested for carrying unloaded weapons in fanny packs or other containers, people on both sides of gun control in Illinois say Kranish’s use of a recognizable holster — while walking through a mall — is sure to ignite a new round of debate.

“I don’t carry a gun as a statement,” said the computer technician during an interview in his parents’ basement, where he lives. “I carry a gun for protection. I think of a gun like a seat belt.”

Cherry Valley Police Chief Gary Maitland disagrees with the judge’s ruling.

“This is not the Old West,” he said. “I’m not advocating banning handguns. But I’m not aware of any police officer who would advocate more handguns on the street. When they start taking their weapons out of their home and walking around with them strapped to their hip, bad things can happen.”

Winnebago County Assistant State’s Atty. Erin Haefner said she plans to ask Judge Steven Vecchio to reconsider his ruling. But some say the legislature needs to re-examine the law.”

[Lurker]

But some say the legislature needs to re-examine the law.”

They already have. The SC of IL has already spoken as well. This judge had no choice but to dismiss the charges.

This very issue was dealt with in another case.

If the weapon is unloaded and completely enclosed then it's perfectly legal in IL to have a firearm on ones person.

I'll dig up the case later when I don't have a stupid firewall that thinks looking up gun cases on the internet is something that should be prohibited.

L

[no-to-illegals]

I prefer conceal carry, and understand this person’s desire for safety. Not many will approach someone carrying if the weapon is displayed. As long as the weapon is not loaded and remains holstered, I have trouble understanding officials not wishing more people to be seen as having a stake in any attack against fellow Americans, and prepared to defend themselves or their fellow citizens. Apparently Kranish had his own protection in mind. In this day and moment in history, I have no problem with Americans protecting themselves if the need arises. Sometimes law enforcement officers have an over jealous attitude, and sometimes an officer of the law is not available to protect, and defend. Again, as long as the weapon is holstered and not loaded, what harm is there in being prepared? Apparently, in the eyes of many, only the few have the right of self-protection. The judge was correct, but once again another case is in the courts, and in the courts, thing can be made better, remain the same, or made worse. The liberals will go bananas everytime if a person says enough is enough, as appears in this case. After the next election, if those desiring Americans' weapons come into greater power, yes American’s will be less safe. Conceal Carry, I prefer, but I also believe Americans have a God given right of self-protection, and protection of citizens not having giving thought to said protection. When guns are outlawed, only the criminals will have guns, is a statement of fact.

[calex59]

“This is not the Old West,” he said. “I’m not advocating banning handguns. But I’m not aware of any police officer who would advocate more handguns on the street. When they start taking their weapons out of their home and walking around with them strapped to their hip, bad things can happen.”

This guy is simply lying. I know several police officers who advocate more HONEST citizens be armed. It would make their job easier. Unfortunately all to many LEOs think they should have exclusive rights to being armed. Apparently some of them have never read the second amendment.

Bad things can happen? Worse things happen when free people are not armed and only criminals and government are armed.

[Nathan Zachary]

"When they start taking their weapons out of their home and walking around with them strapped to their hip, bad things can happen.”"

Who is he calling "they"? The sheeple? the dumb public? The criminal? The law abiding citizen? What makes him so "above everyone"?

Bad things won't happen if law abiding citizens carry around protection. Bad things might happen to criminals however, things that wouldn't happen to them if people depended on police protection.

[LaineyDee]

When they start taking their weapons out of their home and walking around with them strapped to their hip, bad things can happen.”

Only to a bad person......which is the point.

[beltfed308]

When they start taking their weapons out of their home and walking around with them strapped to their hip, bad things can happen.”,/i>

This guy sounds more like a warden than a public servant. How fitting.

[Cobra64]

But I’m not aware of any police officer who would advocate more handguns on the street. When they start taking their weapons out of their home and walking around with them strapped to their hip, bad things can happen.”

Ummmm....

"Strapped on their hip." a) The gun is not "on the street." Someone is legally carrying it.

b) Just because a weapon is not concealed does not mean it is any less "dangerous."

c) The cop seems to have an issue with the "old west."

d) How many muggings, rapes, assaults, etc. were there in the "old west" vs. today?

[night reader]

Cherry Valley disagrees with the judge’s ruling. “This is not the Old West,” he [Police Chief Gary Maitland] said. “I’m not advocating banning handguns. But I’m not aware of any police officer who would advocate more handguns on the street. When they start taking their weapons out of their home and walking around with them strapped to their hip, bad things can happen.

Yeah, like honest citizens being arrested by his goons for exercising their Second Amendment rights.!

[fella]

When they start taking their weapons out of their home and walking around with them strapped to their hip, bad things can happen.”

That's right. I mean LEO's might start being polite to the citizens that they claim to be the servants of. Hunh ........ public servants acting like servants instead plantation masters, nyaaaah ..... not in America.

[RJL]

Gun buff wins round; cop fears 'Old West'

Cherry Valley Police Chief Gary Maitland disagrees with the judge’s ruling. ...“This is not the Old West,”

The "Old West" the Police Chief sees on TV and is afraid of, was virtually nonexistent.

[Travis McGee]

“This is not the Old West,” he said. “I’m not advocating banning handguns. But I’m not aware of any police officer who would advocate more handguns on the street. When they start taking their weapons out of their home and walking around with them strapped to their hip, bad things can happen.”

Yep, leave it to the ultra pros on the force. Otherwise, "bad things can happen."

[epow]

When they start taking their weapons out of their home and walking around with them strapped to their hip, bad things can happen.”

Yeah, bad things like being arrested by over-zealous, Gestapo-like, jackbooted thugs for exercising a constitutional right to keep and BEAR arms.

The D.C. head goose-steppers have decided to appeal the recent district court ruling which invalidated the most outrageous sections of the unconstitutional D.C gun law, a law which in effect banned all handguns and didn't allow an operational firearm anyherei n the city (including pivate homes) unless it's carried by an on duty D.C. LEO. Maybe, just maybe, the SCOTUS will grant certiorari to the appeal and then once and for all affirm the rights guaranteed to all Americans by the very wise men who wrote and ratified the 2nd Amendment.

Whichever way the court goes on interpreting the 2nd Amendment, and it is entirely possible that Kennedy will join the liberal Justices in this case and the 4 originalists will not prevail, at least we will have a clear-cut base line to work from in our efforts to overturn such outrageous gun laws as the D.C.'s and Chicago's.

[Centurion2000]

“This is not the Old West,” he said. “I’m not advocating banning handguns. But I’m not aware of any police officer who would advocate more handguns on the street. When they start taking their weapons out of their home and walking around with them strapped to their hip, bad things can happen.”

Yep ... really terrible things have happened in the 35+ states that have Shall-Issue CCW and Alaska and Vermont with no regulations.

What a statist bastard.