Wilmette repeals handgun ban

Wilmette village trustees voted Tuesday night to strike the village’s 1989 handgun ban from the books in the wake of last month’s U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn a Washington, D.C., ban.

Village officials suspended enforcement of the ordinance shortly after the June 26 ruling and said it would probably not withstand legal challenges based on the court’s reasoning in the ruling, which said outright gun bans are unconstitutional.

The proposed ordinance to repeal the local ban was passed unanimously late Tuesday night ...

Read the whole story @ Wilmette Life. 

Posted Wed Jul 23 08:30:16 CDT 2008

How a Young Lawyer Saved the Second Amendment

For decades the Second Amendment might as well have been called the Second-Class Amendment. The U.S. Supreme Court spent the late 20th century expansively interpreting the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Eighth amendments, not to mention unenumerated rights ranging from travel to sexual privacy. But not until last month did the court hold that the Second Amendment means what it says: that "the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."

What took so long? I put the question to Alan Gura, the 37-year-old wunderkind lawyer who represented the plaintiffs in District of Columbia v. Heller ...

Read the whole article @ The Wall Street Journal's Opinion Journal. 

Posted Sat Jul 19 13:50:35 CDT 2008

Washington DC:
The city government still doesn't get it.
Heller denied his gun registration on the first day of new registrations

Excerpt:
Dane von Breichenruchardt, a gun advocate and adviser to Heller, said further legal challenges are likely because city officials continue to insist on such stringent regulations.

"They think they're above the Supreme Court," he said, echoing other gun rights advocates.

Von Breichenruchardt, the president of the Bill of Rights Foundation, said that as long as the city continues to outlaw most semiautomatic firearms, Heller likely will be prohibited from registering his weapon of choice — a .45-caliber Colt pistol. Heller said he'd return Friday to register a different weapon ...

Read the whole story @ AP.google.com.

Posted Thu Jul 17 22:38:14 CDT 2008

Evanston Closed-Door Meeting:
Aldermen vote to "amend" gun ban

Evanston aldermen unanimously voted to amend the city's 27-year-old handgun ban last week at a special closed-door meeting in light of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down a similar ban in the District of Columbia.

The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, ruled that laws requiring handguns in homes to be disassembled and outfitted with trigger locks are incompatible with the gun rights accorded under the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment. On June 26th, the day after the ruling's release, the National Rifle Association sued numerous cities that ban the private possession of operative handguns, including Chicago, Morton Grove, Oak Park and Evanston. After weeks of consideration and consultation with the police, Evanston city council members authorized a resolution that would rewrite the ordinance to comply with the Supreme Court ruling ...

Read the whole story @ The Daily Northwestern.

Posted Thu Jul 17 22:33:31 CDT 2008

Anti-gunner disgusted by Chicago's gun ban via denial of registration

excerpt:
Each of the eight men appeared before a city hearing officer Tuesday to argue that the Chicago Police Department erred in rejecting their efforts to register -- or in many cases re-register -- their firearms.

I was in attendance mostly by accident, thinking I'd be seeing cases brought under the city's handgun ban ordinance. But my mistake turned into an eye-opening experience that I don't want to ignore just because it didn't fit my anti-gun politics.

You hear gun owners complain all the time about how our gun laws too often make criminals of otherwise law-abiding citizens, and this seemed a pretty good illustration of that ...

Read the whole story @ Chicago Sun-Times.

Posted Thu Jul 17 22:19:44 CDT 2008

Making friends, influencing people:
Blago says Daley needs ISP troopers and National Guard choppers to quell Chicago violence

Calling violence in Chicago "out of control," Gov. Blagojevich on Wednesday offered to lend state troopers and National Guard helicopters to the city to augment the Chicago Police.

The governor is considering forming an "elite tactical team" to help the Chicago Police fight gang problems ...

Read the whole story @ SunTimes.

Posted Thu Jul 17 13:41:42 CDT 2008

ISRA Photos: Second Amendment Freedom Rally

Mike Rowe selected his best shots from Friday's rally.

See all the photos @ ISRA Albums.

Posted Thu Jul 17 08:27:25 CDT 2008

NewsBusters:
Chicago Trib Ignores Pro-2nd Amendment Rally, Has Covered Similar Opposition Demos

Excerpt:
Focusing on the Tribune: Its editorial board last month advocated repealing the Second Amendment in the wake of the Supreme Court's Heller ruling, holding that the amendment confers an individual right. Perhaps not coincidentally, it has frequently covered anti-gun events with a similar number, or even fewer, participants, than were at Thursday's event ...

Read the whole story @ NewsBusters.org

Posted Tue Jul 15 07:32:44 CDT 2008

Videos from the Second Amendment Freedom Rally

Some of the attendees listed their videos in a quick website.

See all the videos @ WindyCityNetworks.

Posted Tue Jul 15 07:30:08 CDT 2008

Photo Albums from the Second Amendment Freedom Rally

Links to two photo albums from the rally:

Here's one on flickr from "bubbahana".

Here's another one on photobucket from a really outstanding ISRA member, Matt.

Thanks for being there, guys!

Posted Sun Jul 13 23:15:31 CDT 2008

Podcast of the Second Amendment Freedom Rally!

Provided courtesy of the Militant Marksman blog.
The man who runs this site is an ISRA member and was one of the speakers at the rally.
You can listen to the podcast at the blog site.

If you have trouble using the web player, you can download the podcast. (92MB mp3)
Thanks Sean!

Posted Sun Jul 13 23:04:01 CDT 2008

Blog coverage of the rally

The Thompson Center in Chicago was the home for a pro-gun rally on July 11th. Hundreds of people turned out to hear speakers who promoted concealed carry laws for Chicagoans, Illinoisans, and citizens of other locals. The landmark 5-4 Heller ruling by The Supreme Court – re-affirming an individual’s right to own and operate guns – sparked the rally.

The rally had a number of speakers who delivered persuasive arguments for gun rights ...

Read the whole story @ Liberator.net.

Posted Sun Jul 13 23:21:53 CDT 2008

Small Talk Special from Don Bekeleski:
A Great Downtown Rally

After attending the rally in the loop Friday all I can say is “GREAT JOB!”
I give credit to ABC TV for covering it on their news program and I thank them. Some other stations of course did not want to show Americans speaking up for their rights. I also want to thank Mark Jacklin, who brought the signs for us.

The complimentary bottles of water provided was a very nice gesture on the part of the ISRA and IllinoisCarry.com. It’s a shame that the news media is not fair or impartial. This event of Americans celebrating a Constitutional right should have had coverage by all the stations. If it was the gun control group you could bet there would be total and prolonged coverage.

I want to thank everyone that showed up. They will not suppress us, because we are getting bigger and stronger. Victory is on our side and every gun owner has to vote for people that will stand up for the 2nd Amendment in the coming elections. You know who those candidates aren and if you don’t check the ISRA-PVF and NRA-PVF websites. Don’t vote against the 2nd Amendment— VOTE CAREFULLY!!!

Posted Sun Jul 13 12:13:46 CDT 2008

ABC7: Rally for gun rights in the Loop

Proponents of gun rights gathered in the Loop Friday to push legislation legalizing concealed weapons in Illinois. Among the speakers at the rally was a Texas state representative whose parents were among 23 people gunned down at Luby's cafeteria in 1991 ...

Read the whole story, watch the video @ abc7chicago.com

Posted Fri Jul 11 17:47:26 CDT 2008

ACLU: We misread US v Miller, and we're sticking by our incorrect interpretation of the 2nd Amendment.

Excerpt:
The ACLU interprets the Second Amendment as a collective right. Therefore, we disagree with the Supreme Court’s decision in D.C. v. Heller. While the decision is a significant and historic reinterpretation of the right to keep and bear arms ...

Read the blog entry & the comments @ ACLU.

Posted Wed Jul 9 20:17:15 CDT 2008

Second Amendment Freedom Rally... in Chicago?
In Chicago!

Save the date: Friday, July 11!

Get all the details at ChicagoRally.isra.org

Posted Tue Jun 24 21:10:47 CDT 2008

City Olympic bid marred by shootings?
Gang presence on the rise at Taste of Chicago

Before Thursday night's dazzling fireworks display downtown, Chicago's Olympic committee aired a promotional video urging Chicagoans to support the city's Olympic bid.

Hours later, three people were shot, one fatally, as hundreds of thousands of people streamed out of Grant Park after the fireworks and the Taste of Chicago.

This is the third time in the last four years that gun violence has erupted at or near the Taste ...

Read the whole story @ the Sun Times.

Posted Sun Jul 6 09:13:27 CDT 2008

Winning Tickets in the ISRA Open House Raffle

The winning ticket number for the M1A Loaded Model Rifle was 1594.

The winning ticket number for the 80mm Spotting Scope was 0307. ...

Posted Wed Jul 2 15:29:05 CDT 2008

Support The ISRA Hard Dogs Junior Highpower Team!

The drawing for the ISRA Junior Hard Dogs raffle is less than a month away. Get your tickets now - there are FOUR winners of FOUR grand prize AR-15's! Contact the ISRA Office at (815) 635-3198 by July 21 for tickets. Drawing will be August 1, 2008 at the National Championships at Camp Perry, OH.

More details on the ISRA Juniors website.

You can purchase tickets on-line at the ISRA Store.

Posted Wed Jul 2 15:04:37 CDT 2008

National Public Radio:
Morton Grove cries "Uncle",
Oak Park village manager calls 2A supporters "gangbangers"

excerpt:
Village Manager Joe Wade says Morton Grove isn't going to wait for a court battle. It's going to act.

"The village of Morton Grove has every intention to comply with [the Supreme Court ruling]," Wade says. "We're going to propose an ordinance that would eliminate the possession-of-handgun ban within the village."

The attitude is different in Oak Park, a suburb on Chicago's West Side that has become another target of NRA lawyers.

"It's just completely befuddling that our Supreme Court would be in alliance with the gangbangers," says Tom Barwin, the village manager in Oak Park ...

Read the whole story @ NPR.

Posted Tue Jul 1 13:03:22 CDT 2008

CCRKBA:
Oak Park Official Should Apologize for 'Gangbanger' Slur

BELLEVUE, Wash., July 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The village manager in Oak Park, IL should immediately apologize for a slur leveled at gun rights activists and organizations, likening them to criminals in the wake of last week's Supreme Court ruling that affirmed the individual citizen's right to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment.

National Public Radio quoted Oak Park Village Manager Tom Barwin, an ex-police officer, observing, "It's just completely befuddling that our Supreme Court would be in alliance with the gangbangers."

Alan Gottlieb, chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, found Barwin's remarks insulting to millions of law-abiding gun owners, and organizations that represent them.

"Clearly," Gottlieb stated, "this 'us-against-them' mentality is inappropriate and misplaced, and we would hope that it does not reflect the positions of Oak Park residents or their elected village leaders. The Supreme Court is not in alliance with anyone, but the learned majority certainly has issued a ruling that squares with the history of the Second Amendment, and the intent of its authors.

"Comparing us or our good friends and colleagues at the National Rifle Association, the Illinois State Rifle Association, or any of this nation's millions of law-abiding gun owners to drive-by assassins is despicable," he observed. "Such a remark shows that some public officials either cannot, or prefer not to differentiate between honest citizens and thugs." ...

Read the whole press release @ PRnewswire.

Posted Tue Jul 1 13:34:21 CDT 2008

Chicago Public Radio:
Mayor Daley Considering Changes to City's Gun Laws

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley says he’ll rework but not scrap the city’s handgun ban in response to a recent US Supreme Court ruling.

DALEY: You have to delve into it. You have to read it and then find out how you can adapt the changes that we’re looking at locally in regards to this issue, in regards to guns in America. Local mayors have to deal with it, not the federal government.

Mayor Daley says that among other things, he wants firearms registration to stay a part of the city’s gun policy to protect police and emergency first responders. ...

Read the whole story and the comments @ Chicago Public Radio.

Posted Tue Jul 1 12:59:19 CDT 2008

Another Chicago Plaintiff on ABC 7 local news

Plus interviews with pros and antis. This video was released last week. ...

Watch the vid @ ABC7Chicago

Posted Tue Jul 1 07:51:51 CDT 2008

Wilmette suspends handgun ban

Excerpt:
"The Law Department and the Police Department have suspended enforcement of the ordinance pending further review by the Village Board," Wilmette village attorney Tim Frenzer said. "Based on the decision today, at a minimum it calls into serious question the continued viability of the ordinance."

Frenzer said questions remain about how directly the court's decision will impact local gun laws in Wilmette and other parts of the country ...

Read the whole story @ Wilmette Life.

Posted Sun Jun 29 09:04:53 CDT 2008

Chicago Plaintiff on ABC News

"I need a handgun in my home," said Chicago resident Colleen Lawson. "It comes down to an issue of life or death."

In fact, Lawson and her husband do own a handgun. But because of Chicago's ban on handguns, it's illegal to keep it in their home. The weapon was locked up outside the city when three men recently broke into their house ...

Read the story, watch the video @ ABC News.

Posted Sun Jun 29 07:57:40 CDT 2008

The Rev. Jesse Jackson refuses to see that it's a civil right

Jackson called the Supreme Court's ruling of the District of Columbia's handgun ban as unconstitutional a "reckless interpretation of the Second Amendment" -- and one that Chicago doesn't have to accept.

"We must fight for the legal restrictions on where these gun shops can be," Jackson said. "We will fight the easy access to guns and gun flow. We can picket and boycott stores that can endanger us."

He was joined by some of Chicago's most prominent religious leaders, including St. Sabina's Rev. Michael Pfleger, who had a fiery message for the Supreme Court ...

Read the whole story in the Sun Times.

Posted Sat Jun 28 10:32:39 CDT 2008

NRA files suit against Chicago
...and 3 suburbs, too!

One day after the Supreme Court voided the District of Columbia's handgun ban, the National Rifle Association on Friday filed suit in Chicago seeking the repeal of similar prohibitions in Chicago, Evanston, Morton Grove and Oak Park.

The NRA and Dr. Kathryn Tyler, Anthony Burton, Van F. Welton and Brett Benson of Chicago filed suit against the city and Mayor Daley, demanding the city's handgun ban be ruled null and void ...

Read the whole story in the Sun Times.

Posted Sat Jun 28 10:29:10 CDT 2008

Tribune:
"Repeal the 2nd Amendment"

Excerpt:
Some view this court decision as an affirmation of individual rights. But the damage in this ruling is that it takes a significant public policy issue out of the hands of citizens. The people of Washington no longer have the authority to decide that, as a matter of public safety, they will prohibit handgun possession within their borders ...

Read the whole editorial at the Chicago Tribune.

Posted Fri Jun 27 09:39:30 CDT 2008

SAF Press Release:
SAF Files Lawsuit Challenging Chicago's Handgun Ban

BELLEVUE, WA – Following Thursday’s 5-4 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of District of Columbia v. Heller that the Second Amendment protects an individual civil right to keep and bear arms, and that a municipal gun ban violates that right, the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) filed a federal lawsuit challenging the City of Chicago’s long-standing handgun ban. The case is McDonald v. City of Chicago.

“Chicago’s handgun ban has failed to stop violent crime,” SAF founder Alan Gottlieb stated. “It’s time to give the Constitution a chance.”

In addition to SAF and ISRA, plaintiffs include Chicago residents Otis McDonald, a retiree who has been working with police to rid his neighborhood of drug dealers, and who wants to have a handgun at his home; Adam Orlov, a former Evanston police officer; software engineer David Lawson and his wife, Colleen, a hypnotherapist, whose home has been targeted by burglars. Attorney Alan Gura, who argued the District of Columbia challenge before the high court, and Chicago area attorney David G. Sigale, represent the plaintiffs ...

Read the whole press release at Second Amendment Foundation.

Posted Fri Jun 27 07:54:49 CDT 2008

Second Amendment Freedom Rally... in Chicago?
In Chicago!

Save the date: Friday, July 11!

Get all the details at ChicagoRally.isra.org

Posted Tue Jun 24 21:10:47 CDT 2008

Follow the Chicago 2nd Amendment Suit

Learn more and follow along at ChicagoGunCase.com.

Posted Fri Jun 27 00:27:31 CDT 2008

Katie Couric frets over the ruling

CBS News video on YouTube ...

Watch the vid at YouTube.

Posted Fri Jun 27 00:22:07 CDT 2008

Gun Lobby Quickly Sues To Overturn Chicago Ban

Excerpt:
Pearson predicted that the fight that began with the filing of a lawsuit against Mayor Daley and the city at 9:15 a.m. Thursday would take between 18 months and two years to resolve. He said that if the Illinois State Rifle Association loses its lawsuit, it would appeal all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

But Chicago's Corporation Counsel Mara Georges said the city shouldn't have to defend its gun law, because the Supreme Court's ruling doesn't apply here.

"Our ordinance continues to be valid law. The Supreme Court did not say that the Second Amendment right to bear arms extends to state and local governments and in fact, there's Supreme Court precedent that it does not." ...

Read the whole story, watch the video, at CBS2Chicago.

Posted Fri Jun 27 00:14:30 CDT 2008

Chicago doesn't get it, yet.

Excerpt:
Even before the suit was filed challenging the Chicago Weapons Ordinance, city officials said they believed the Chicago law did not fall under the Supreme Court ruling.

"We are confident that this does not invalidate Chicago's ordinance at this point," said Jennifer Hoyle, spokeswoman for the city Law Department.

Benna Solomon, deputy corporation counsel for the city, asserted that the Supreme Court decision applies only to the federal government. Washington D.C., she said, is part of the federal government, but Chicago is an independent home-rule unit of Illinois.

Read the whole story and watch Daley in the videos at the Chicago Tribune.

Posted Thu Jun 26 23:58:10 CDT 2008

Daley vows to defend Chicago gun law

An "outraged" Mayor Daley this morning denounced a U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Washington D.C.'s handgun ban as a "frightening decision" and a "return to the days of the Wild West."

Daley predicted that Chicago's 1982 handgun freeze would be next in the crosshairs of the powerful gun lobby and that gun violence will surge if they'e successful.

The mayor said he would vigorously defend Chicago's ordinance, in spite of what he called the dangerous precedent set by the nation's highest court.

"This is a very frightening decision for America. …Does this lead to everyone having a gun in our society? If they think that's the answer, then they're greatly mistaken. Then, why don't we do away with the court system and go back to the Old West? You have a gun and I have a gun and we'll settle in the streets," Daley told reporters at Navy Pier ...

Read the whole story in the Sun Times.

Posted Thu Jun 26 14:21:12 CDT 2008

Before the ink was dry on the Heller Ruling...
ISRA files suit against Chicago in Federal Court

The Illinois State Rifle Association, together with Second Amendment Foundation and several individual plaintiffs, filed suit against the City of Chicago in federal court this morning at 9:15 CDT. More information will be made available in a statement from the attorneys tomorrow.

Posted Thu Jun 26 13:30:45 CDT 2008

SCOTUS 5-4 Decision:
The Second Amendment Protects an Individual Right.
The DC Gun Ban violates that right, is ruled unconstitutional.

There will be an amazing amount of commentary shortly, in all the media. The ISRA has a copy of the opinion available.

Download the opinion, right here at ISRA. (PDF, 938KB)

Posted Thu Jun 26 09:51:32 CDT 2008

Mark Kirk and his opponent try to out anti-gun each other

Citing concern about an increase in gun violence nationwide, U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk has introduced legislation to restore the federal assault weapons ban that expired in 2004.

Kirk, R-10th, of Highland Park, held a press conference Monday in Chicago about the new gun control legislation. He was joined by supporters of the assault weapons ban, including Palatine Mayor Rita Mullins, Waukegan Police Chief Bill Biang, and Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence Executive Director Thom Mannard. ...

Read the whole story at Illinois GOP.

Posted Fri Jun 20 07:53:51 CDT 2008

John Kass on who can and who can't

That Washington, D.C., gun ban that the Supreme Court should toss out any day now because it is unconstitutional is often compared to the handgun ban in Chicago.

But what's not often reported by the decidedly pro-gun-control media is that since Chicago's anti-handgun law went into effect in 1982, only two classes of people have had ready access to firearms:

The criminals. And the politicians.

Cynics who scoff at everything decent suggest these are one and the same, but taxpayers know the difference...

Read John's latest column in the Chicago Tribune.

Posted Thu Jun 19 19:14:06 CDT 2008

Mark Kirk, R-10th, wants to ban your semi-auto firearms

The 1994 Assault Weapons Ban expired four years ago, but North Shore Republican Congressman Mark Kirk would like to see it reinstated.

He wants the sale, possesion, or transfer of semi-automatic, high capacity firearms to be illegal.

Kirk said the old assault weapons ban worked ...

Read the whole story at WGN Radio.

Posted Wed Jun 18 20:19:29 CDT 2008

Winnebago County:
Citizens deliver positive CCW message to the County Board

ROCKFORD —

Winnebago County Sheriff Dick Meyers lent his considerable support to the county’s concealed carry debate.

Meyers was the last of 30 speakers to take the podium, and he received a standing ovation for his efforts.

“Let me get it out of the way,” he told the crowd. “I do not have a problem with concealed carry.”

He said that “20 years ago, I would have told you different,” but “we’re at a point where we don’t have a choice.”

The County Board is drafting a resolution that will authorize the sheriff to issue gun permits to qualified citizens. Although the resolution is still in draft form, at least 13 of the 28 board members have already signed on ...

Read the whole story in the Rockford Register Star.

Posted Wed Jun 11 07:22:40 CDT 2008

About that FOID Renewal Form...
New law goes into effect June 1: $10 fee for 10 year FOID

New FOIDs and renewals after June 1 are to be $10 for 10 years, as per Senate Bill 1094, now Public Act 95-058.

The Illinois State Police Website does not yet list the new application form as available for download.

Posted Thu May 29 07:58:05 CDT 2008

County Resolutions on the Move:
McLean County passes modified resolution

BLOOMINGTON -- The McLean County Board approved a resolution Tuesday opposing legislation that “unreasonably” infringes on the rights of people to bear arms, but the vote wasn’t unanimous or without controversy.

Seven members voted against the motion, but several of them said it wasn’t because they don’t support the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Member George Gordon previously made an unsuccessful motion to postpone the issue until the U.S. Supreme Court rules in a District of Columbia gun case. He said he needed that information before voting on the county level ...

Read the whole story and the comments in the Pantagraph.

Posted Thu May 22 07:56:26 CDT 2008

Walter Williams:
America needs to control criminals, not guns

Every time there’s a highly publicized shooting, out go the cries for stricter gun control laws, and it was no different with the recent murder of Philadelphia Police Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski. Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, in a letter to the state congressional delegation demanding reenactment of the federal assault weapon ban, said, “Passing this legislation will go a long way to protecting those who put their lives on the line every day for us. ... There is no excuse to do otherwise.”

Gun control laws will not protect us from murderers. We need protection from the criminal justice system politicians have created. Let’s look at it ...

Read the whole piece in the State Journal-Register.

Posted Thu May 22 07:48:09 CDT 2008

Springfield Report - May 20, 2008
Plus Downloadable ISRA Position Paper on HB5191

The House has adjourned for the day with no action on SB-1007. Our long-time opponent Rep. Osterman has been out with the birth of a new child.

HB5191 is up for a hearing in Senate Judiciary Criminal Law tomorrow at 10:00. This bill would give the ISP the power to revoke the FOID of parents whose minor child gains access, by any means, to firearms or ammunition ...

Read the rest of this report and download the position paper right here at ISRA.

Posted Tue May 20 18:46:40 CDT 2008

McLean County Board Meeting to vote on 2nd Amendment Resolution

Attention McLean County residents the McLean County Board will have a full board vote on the resolution Tuesday May 20th at 9am in Room 400 of the Government Center, 115 East Washington Street, Bloomington, Illinois. All residents are encouraged to attend this meeting and show your support for the resolution.

Posted Tue May 20 07:32:16 CDT 2008

Jesse Jackson opposes plan to arm CPD with M4 carbines

CHICAGO - Renewing a call to ban assault weapons nationwide, the Rev. Jesse Jackson objected Saturday to the Chicago Police Department's plan to arm officers with combat rifles.

"These weapons, they're only used to kill people," Jackson said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Jackson, a longtime advocate for gun control, said giving officers M4 carbines will "intensify violence" and create more tension between citizens and law enforcement officers ...

Read the whole story in the Chicago Tribune.

Posted Mon May 19 06:33:03 CDT 2008

Springfield Report May 15

The Illinois House again closed out the day with no gun bills called. We had been expecting some movement on this week, we will remain vigilant next week.

Posted Fri May 16 07:26:50 CDT 2008

ISRA Range News

Regarding the ISRA Range at Bonfield:
Starting May 15, 2008, the Pistol Range is closed during weekdays for maintenance. This is expected to last about two weeks. Pistol shooting is being accommodated at the 100 meter range during this interval. The Pistol Range is open on the weekends during this interval.

Learn about the ISRA Range right here.

Posted Thu May 15 07:15:07 CDT 2008

Two More ISRA Position Papers on SB1007

Here are additional position papers for SB1007, the magazine and gun ban currently in the Illinois House...

Read and download the position papers right here at ISRA.

Posted Wed May 14 14:33:49 CDT 2008

Springfield Report - 05/14

The Illinois House is now out for the day with no gun bills called, it's all safe for the moment on that front. We have been anticipating some movement this week, so updates will be posted and email alerts sent as needed.

Posted Wed May 14 14:06:43 CDT 2008

ISRA Position Papers Available for Download
Important Information on Pending Legislation

With the threat of anti-gunners trying to move a ban on magazines, we are sending you links to the talking points and positional papers we are using at the capitol to help keep you informed about the bill and to help you when you talk to legislators.

Take time to download them and read them over. Feel free to copy them and hand them out to your friends to keep them up to speed on what is going on ...

Read more and download the position papers right here at ISRA.

Posted Wed May 14 07:12:30 CDT 2008

Special Offer
Answers to FAQ’s About ISRA / Front Sight Course, Gun and Gear Offer

What kind of Springfield Armory XD Pistol is given away in this offer? A Standard Model 4" Barrel XD in your choice of 9mm, .40SW, or .45 ACP. The perfect balance for good gunhandling, power, speed and concealability ...

Get all the answers to your questions on this special offer right here.

Posted Wed May 14 07:09:00 CDT 2008

2nd Amendment Resolution:
Sangamon County Board says "No Thanks"

Unlike 86 other counties in Illinois, the Sangamon County Board has decided not to weigh in on gun control. >Ryan McCrady, Sangamon County Board administrator, says the board is taking no action on a proposed resolution that asks the governor and the state legislature not to add any further gun laws to the books in Illinois.

“We don’t want to turn the Sangamon County Board into the Sangamon County debating society,” McCrady said.

About a month ago, Matthew Roberts of Springfield asked the board to consider “Resolution Pro2A” (referring to the Second Amendment to the Constitution), as he and others in his group have done with all other county boards in the state ...

Read the whole story and the comments in the State Journal-Register (external link)

Posted Sun May 11 20:07:51 CDT 2008

LaSalle County in Support of the 2nd Amendment
Most of the County Board voted for the resolution

excerpt:
Bill Johnson, D-Peru, who along with Bob Greenwalt, D-Sandwich, abstained on the vote, said the Second Amendment of the Constitution cited in the resolution as the source of gun ownership authority was meant to apply to militias.

Johnson said when combined with laws in Illinois and court decisions, the issue of gun ownership becomes "a legal quagmire."

Johnson favors the County Board waiting until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on a gun rights case it has already heard ...

Read the whole story and the comments in The Times.

Posted Sun May 11 20:14:46 CDT 2008

Illinois House votes to let campus cops carry guns

In an attempt to boost campus safety, the Illinois House voted Wednesday to let all university police officers carry guns while on duty.

Though state Rep. Linda Chapa-LaVia's plan was filed last fall, she said the topic gained new attention after the Northern Illinois University shootings in February. ...

Read the whole story in the Daily Herald.

Posted Thu May 8 06:43:52 CDT 2008

Winnebago County considers their own CCW (!)

Illinois and Wisconsin are the only two states in the country that do not allow citizens to carry concealed firearms.

At least two Winnebago County Board members would like to see that changed in Illinois, starting in Winnebago County.

Randy Olson, R-1, and Doug Aurand, D-3, plan to present a resolution to the County Board this month authorizing concealed carry within the boundaries of the county.

“I put it together a couple years ago,” Olson said of the resolution. “I had a few members ask me if I would revive it, and I just tweaked it.” ...

Read the whole story in the Rockford Register Star.

Posted Wed May 7 21:50:54 CDT 2008

Daley urges that his ineffective, unconstitutional handgun ban become more futile.

Mayor Richard Daley announced Wednesday he would introduce an ordinance to guarantee jail time for anyone convicted of carrying an unregistered weapon within 1,000 feet of a school, park, courthouse or public housing development.

Under the proposal, anyone convicted would face between 90 days and six months in jail and a fine between $1,000 and $1,500.

"This ordinance is one more tool," Daley said. "I believe it sends a very strong message that we will not tolerate guns in all of our communities." ...

Read the whole story and the comments at the Tribune's Blogs.

Posted Thu Apr 17 22:50:10 CDT 2008

Daley gun bill defeated in House

SPRINGFIELD—Despite a series of shooting deaths of Chicago public school students, a key piece of Mayor Richard Daley’s gun package failed Wednesday in a House largely influenced by pro-gun lawmakers.

The high-profile proposal, aimed at closing what Daley sees as a loophole on private handgun sales, fell only two votes short. The measure would have required people who sell guns privately to first get background checks of potential buyers through licensed dealers ...

Read the whole story and the comments at the Tribune's Blogs.

Posted Thu Apr 17 22:47:16 CDT 2008

Fear and loathing in Naperville

Organizers of a Naperville gun control rally were treated to a healthy dose of unintended consequences Monday night when firearm owners packed the rally by a better than ten to one ratio. Billed by organizers as an “educational forum,” the rally was actually nothing more than an airing of well-worn lies and dubious public opinion polls aimed at supporting gun control legislation now pending in the state capitol. During a Q&A session, attendees soundly rebuked the organizers for their divisive perpetuation of half-truths about the role of firearms in the hands of law abiding citizens.

Held at the Naperville campus of Northern Illinois University, the gun control rally was sponsored by the Illinois chapter of California-based gun control group, Legal Community Against Violence (LCAV). Moderating the forum was gun control movement veteran Steve Young. Young is the former Illinois chapter organizer of the now-defunct Bell Campaign. Young also served as the Illinois chapter head of the now-defunct Million Mom March. Of the approximately 175 attendees, all but a handful were gun rights supporters.

“It was gratifying to see such a large turnout by law-abiding gun owners,” said ISRA Executive Director, Richard Pearson. “It was probably the first time that many of them have come face to face with the people who want to take their guns away. This was an opportunity for them to hear first hand the deception and outright lies that are the underpinnings of the gun control movement. For nearly an hour, gun owners in the audience sat through presentations that assailed their sensibilities. When it came time for attendees to speak out, gun owners made it clear that they were not buying the gun control song and dance. I actually think the event organizers thought they’d win some converts last night. I’m sure they’re sorely disappointed this morning.”

“The LCAV claims to have not only broad, but active support for their gun control policies,” continued Pearson. “Yet, despite plenty of publicity, they were not able to generate much in the way of support for last night’s forum. Everywhere I looked, I saw IGOLD hats and NRA hats and ISRA sweatshirts. Our people packed the forum just like our people are lighting up the general assembly’s phone lines to express opposition to gun control bills now under consideration.”

“Probably the biggest blow to the LCAV’s credibility came when Young rolled out polling data that supposedly shows that better than 80% of Illinois gun owners support LCAV gun control policies,” said Pearson. “After the snickers died down, I asked gun-owning members of the audience who support LCAV gun control policy to please stand. Not a single person stood.”

“If the state’s gun owners support gun control as strongly as claimed by the LCAV, then why aren’t gun owners marching on Springfield to demand passage of gun control laws?” asked Pearson. “If 75-plus percent of gun owners want so-called ‘assault weapons’ banned, then why are they buying them up like hotcakes? If Illinois gun owners are as ‘anti-gun’ as the LCAV polling data suggests, then why do they even own guns in the first place? It just doesn’t make sense. But, then again, the ‘facts’ presented by the gun control movement rarely make much sense.”

Thanks to all of you who came out to protect freedom in Naperville on Monday night!

Remember, gun control is a disease – YOU are the cure.

Posted Tue Apr 15 22:41:07 CDT 2008

One gun a month fails in Illinois House

SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois House shot down an attempt to limit handgun purchases Wednesday.

The measure, designed to address gun violence in Chicago, fell seven votes short of the 60 votes needed for passage after opponents argued that handgun ownership already is banned in Illinois’ largest city.

The proposal, which was supported by Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, would limit handgun sales and purchases to one person per month. It is aimed at preventing traffickers from buying guns in bulk to resell to criminals. ...

Read the whole story in the Bloomington Pantagraph.

Posted Thu Apr 10 07:15:39 CDT 2008

Obama Misfires On Concealed Carry

Gun Control: Barack Obama says he won't take folks' guns away as long as they're hunters. But when the hunted are his constituents, well, that's different: He opposes concealed carry and the right to self-defense.

There's something about an election that brings out the sportsman in a Democratic presidential candidate. Recall John Kerry's sudden fondness for hunting four years ago.

And speaking in Idaho earlier this year, Barack Obama told the crowd, "We got a lot of hunters in the state of Illinois, and I have no intention of taking away folks' guns."

Except he does...

Read the whole piece at Investor's Business Daily.

Posted Mon Apr 7 07:54:22 CDT 2008

Daley gives warning if 2nd Amendment Rights are upheld

—Michael Martinez
March 19, 2008
LOS ANGELES — If the Supreme Court strikes down the ability of municipalities like the District of Columbia to regulate guns, Chicago and other cities with handgun bans would see a return of gun stores and an upswing in crime, Mayor Richard Daley said Tuesday.

"That would open a Pandora's box," he said following a news conference with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to promote federal legislation requiring microstamped identifiers on cartridges fired from semiautomatic handguns.

We found this very short article in the Chicago Tribune.

Posted Wed Mar 19 06:48:46 CST 2008

Justices agree on right to own guns

Americans have a right to own guns, Supreme Court justices declared Tuesday in a historic and lively debate that could lead to the most significant interpretation of the Second Amendment since its ratification two centuries ago.

Governments have a right to regulate those firearms, a majority of justices seemed to agree. But there was less apparent agreement on the case they were arguing: whether Washington's ban on handguns goes too far.

The justices dug deeply into arguments on one of the Constitution's most hotly debated provisions as demonstrators shouted slogans outside. Guns are an American right, argued one side. "Guns kill," responded the other. ...

Read the whole story in the Bloomington Pantagraph.

Posted Wed Mar 19 06:45:29 CST 2008

US Vs Heller:
Transcript of Oral Arguments Now Available for Download.

Read the oral arguments from this most important case to come before the Supreme Court in decades.

Download it from the Supreme Court of the United States website, (PDF, 400 KB)

Posted Tue Mar 18 13:08:24 CST 2008

IGOLD Photo Albums @ ISRA!

We've got two albums put together for your viewing pleasure:

Photos from several participants

A large number of photos from Mike Rowe

Posted Tue Mar 18 07:19:10 CST 2008

IGOLD on YouTube!

Here's two videos made by ISRA members who were volunteers at IGOLD!

The Women of IGOLD 2008

IGOLD 2008

Posted Mon Mar 17 20:43:08 CST 2008

Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day in the News
Media links for you

Thousands of gun rights activists march on state hill
- Bloomington Pantagraph

Gun Rights activists descend on state Capitol
- Kankakee Daily Journal

Gun-rights advocates lobby for concealed-carry bill
- State Journal Register

Firearm owners rally against new gun law legislation
- Kankakee Daily Journal

Thousands march for gun rights in Springfield
- WAND TV

Central Illinois Proud
- Fox 43

Teeny-Tiny acknowledgement by the Trib - using AP feed

2000 marchers mentioned in one breath in Tribune story on gun control

The Southern Illinoisan

WSIL-TV - with video

Daily Herald

Fox News - Across America

WEEK - Gun Owners Rally Against Weapon Legislation (with video)

Posted Thu Mar 13 07:38:22 CST 2008

ISRA Press Release on IGOLD 2008:
Massive Gun Rights Rally Sends Clear Message to Illinois General Assembly

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., March 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA):

The Illinois Capitol was awash in a sea of gold hats and t-shirts Tuesday as thousands of law-abiding firearm owners rallied to express opposition to a gun control package sponsored by Chicago area legislators.

Declaring that "enough is enough," participants in the 2008 edition of Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day (IGOLD) spent the better part of Tuesday afternoon lobbying legislators to vote against measures that would ban popular sporting firearms; impose costly new regulations on ammunition manufacturers; ration firearm purchases; and impose unattainable training requirements for persons wishing to own firearms.

The day's events began with an information and education session in the Grand Ballroom of the Springfield Hilton followed by an enthusiastic march down Capitol Drive which ended with a rally on the Capitol's Lincoln Steps. From there, participants fanned out to begin their individual lobbying efforts. Organizers place Tuesday's attendance figures at over 2,500 -- better than double the 2007 numbers.

"What we saw Tuesday was a giant push back," commented ISRA Executive Director, Richard Pearson. "The thousands who attended IGOLD represent millions of Illinoisans who are fed up with the gun control bloc's capricious efforts to destroy the shooting sports and deny the law-abiding citizen's right to self defense."

"The gun control movement has sought to divide our country -- a tactic that is not working to their advantage," continued Pearson. "I'm seeing a growing level of political sophistication in our supporters. They're taking a more holistic view of the legislative process. As we progress, our people will begin linking gun control to other issues facing the General Assembly. Thus, it shouldn't be surprising to find gun owners mounting organized efforts to defeat pet projects of Chicago area legislators. Daley and his friends are trying to destroy our most deeply honored traditions, so it's more than reasonable for us to strike back."

"It would be wise for legislators to do the math," concluded Pearson. "Recent national poll results show that better than 75% of Americans believe that gun ownership is an individual right. On Tuesday, we put 2,500 people at the front door to the Capitol calling for change. I've never seen the gun control movement accomplish anything near that."

The ISRA is the state's leading advocate of safe, lawful and responsible firearms ownership. For more than a century, the ISRA has represented the interests of over 1.5 million law-abiding firearm owners.

This press release is posted at PRnewswire.

Posted Thu Mar 13 07:06:39 CST 2008

ISRA Press Release:
ILLINOIS STATE POLICE OVERSTEPPING AUTHORITY BY REFUSING TO ISSUE FOID CARDS TO YOUTHFUL APPLICANTS

SPRINGFIELD, IL - - The following was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA):

Controversy has been raging for several weeks over a proposal promulgated by the Illinois State Police that would set the minimum age of issuance for Illinois Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) cards at 10 years of age.

Outdoor sporting organizations, including the ISRA, oppose the adoption of the provision as it would have an adverse impact on gun safety training and youth shooting programs. On the other hand, gun control groups support the new restriction and see it as yet another means of discouraging participation in the shooting sports.

Approval or denial of the proposed regulation is the responsibility of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR). As of the issuance of this press release, only a few days remain in the period during which the public may submit comments to JCAR regarding the proposal. Once the comment period expires, JCAR will consider all comments and will issue a ruling on the proposed age limit some time in the next several months.

Although adoption of such regulations is strictly within the purview of JCAR, an investigation conducted by the ISRA has revealed that Illinois State Police Director Larry Trent unilaterally established a minimum age for FOID applicants and began denying FOID cards to citizens less than 10 years of age as early as May 2007.

“Director Trent has taken it upon himself to nullify the authority of JCAR,” commented ISRA Executive Director, Richard Pearson. “Last May, he issued a declaration to the FOID division staff that directed the denial of FOID cards to applicants less than 10 years of age. Since that time, the State Police have used this bogus age limit as justification to deny over 200 applications. Of course, Trent’s edict has not stopped the State Police from cashing application fee checks.”

“The ISRA is presently consulting with its legal advisors to identify a means of relief from Trent’s illegal actions,” continued Pearson. “Without a foundation in law, Trent’s age restriction places the State Police in violation of Section 5 of the FOID act which requires that FOID cards be issued within 30 days.”

- - -

The ISRA is the state’s leading advocate of safe, lawful and responsible firearm ownership. For more than a century, the ISRA has represented the interests of over 1.5 million law-abiding Illinois firearm owners.

Please post this information to any and all Internet bulletin boards or blogs to which you belong.

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Webmaster's note: You can review our earlier alert (10/03/2007), where we provided details on sending in your comments, in a printer-friendly version, right here.

Posted Wed Oct 24 15:27:17 CDT 2007