But what's going on here is a bunch of people (and I use that term very loosely) are trying to strip a bunch of motivated people of their dignity, and then rub their noses in it. That's always a bad idea.
Think about all of those duck and goose hunting clubs downstate. Think about all of those trap and clay ranges midstate. Most of the folks who are members of, or patronize those places are decent, hardworking, well to do people. Now think about the county sheriffs in those mid and downstate counties. Do you really think they are going to send their deputies out to arrest these people, especially if they realize that their own lives might just possibly be at risk if they did so?
Throw in a further thought... Do you think these sheriffs will spend a whole lot of hours investigating the untimely demise of Chicago politicians who happen to meet their maker under 'suspicious' circumstances?
I'm chuckling at the thought of the Chicago PD trying to round up every hogleg under the counter of 2/3rds of the convenience stores on the north and west sides of the city.
If they try to institute general confiscation in the suburbs, well Illinois Undertakers will be working 3 shifts.
The only thing that worries me is that our fine state has registered every single gun owner via the FOID system. It won't take them long to cross reference that database and then send the Illinois Troopers and the fine folks at the BATF(E) out to cross reference 4473s to the local phone book.
When that happens, the excrement will strike the rotating oscillator and noone will be safe. Not gunowners, not cops, and for damn sure not any State Legislator who was stupid or evil enough to vote this monstrosity into Law. I sure has hell wouldn't bet a plugged nickel on Rod B reaching his next birthday, that's for sure.
Whatever happens, I'm not leaving until I decide to. I'm not going to be run out of the State where I grew up, where I raised my family, where I own my home and my business, simply because I own a shotgun some idiot decided was to big a round.
These people don't know who they are f****** with, and God help the poor bastard who knocks on my door asking me to 'turn in' my property. He may have mercy on him or her, but I sure as hell won't. Anyone who comes to my home demanding that I turn over my firearms has pretty much made a life decision as far as I am concerned.
I've contacted my 'representatives' and have made my feelings known in no uncertain terms. I will not be made a criminal over this. I inherited my grandfathers shotguns when he died 30 years ago. I still have them. I will not surrender them for any reason, to any one, nor will I surrender any other firearm I own. Not now, not ever.
You can cut and run if you want to. That's up to you. But remember this, if they can do it to you here, they can do it to you anywhere. Wherever you go, there you are.
I'm not going to spend what's left of my life running from these people, nor am I going to teach my family that running or hiding from monstrous wrong is the proper thing to do. That's been tried, and the streets of history are littered with the rotting corpses of those who have tried it.
I'm hoping against hope that our fellow Illinois gun owners will rise up en masse against this thing and kill it before it's born. If they don't, well then the chips are just going to have to fall where they may.
But as for me and mine, we aren't going to run. We may hide, but sure as there is a God in heaven we will make the bastards who do this to us pay for every single yard.
Regards,
L