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Today’s letter

Friday, Apr 19, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* State Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) is a gun control proponent and sponsored Wednesday’s restrictive concealed carry amendment that received just 31 votes. I was chatting with Cassidy yesterday because Capitol Fax was mentioned during debate Wednesday and we talked about the mail she’s been getting about the issue.

As you might imagine, some of them have been pretty darned harsh. I asked her to send me a sample. Here’s one. Click the pics for larger images…

So, the moron claims Adolph Hitler is a “mentor” of a Jewish state legislator. Idiot.

You pro-gun people need to get your compatriots in check. End of story.

       

79 Comments
  1. - Amalia - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 9:17 am:

    and while you’re at it, tell your friends in New Hampshire to dial it down too. if you have not already seen the news, there is a NH rep who talked about the self defense laws and referred to women not as women but as a female body part. what the heck?!?


  2. - wordslinger - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 9:28 am:

    The actual letter is milder than your usual ISRA missive.

    A couple of days ago Cassidy was described by ISRA as a “rabid gun grabber.” I don’t think she proposed that any guns be confiscated, nor was she foaming at the mouth.

    As opposed to some….


  3. - Slick Willy - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 9:28 am:

    Thanks for lumping me in with the idiots. I appreciate it.


  4. - Empty Chair - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 9:30 am:

    I’m not sure how I feel about publishing this guy’s name here. While in the US you have the right to be crazy and send (to a limited extent) crazy letters to your elected officials, there is some expectation of privacy. Anyone with access to a voter database (or in some instances the yellow pages) can lookup this guy’s address and information.


  5. - Charlatan Heston - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 9:33 am:

    Wow


  6. - Small Town Liberal - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 9:34 am:

    - there is some expectation of privacy -

    He chose to put his name on a ridiculous letter to a public official, there is no expectation of privacy.


  7. - Anon - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 9:35 am:

    I am sure there are equally crazy letters from the other side of this argument. Why not print one of those for balance as well? Interesting only the crazies from the one side are regularly derided here.


  8. - benji - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 9:38 am:

    He wrote to have her place her name “below your mentor’s name on the attached paperwork”. The only “name below” is his own, perhaps meaning that he himself is her mentor? ‘Adolph Hitler is a “mentor” of a Jewish state legislator’ seems like a stretch, unless his name was actually on the paperwork but not shown for some reason.


  9. - Small Town Liberal - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 9:38 am:

    - regularly derided here. -

    Another victim heard from. I thought you gun guys were supposed to be macho, tough dudes? You seem like a bunch of crybabies.


  10. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 9:38 am:

    “Always”. “Never”. “Must”. “Only”.

    Be they Republicans or Democrats, Conservatives or Moderates, Far Left, Far right, or even “extremeists”, we as a society can NOT let the “extremes” define the “mean” (i.e. Math) of Society.

    The moment anyone from an extreme goes to the “extreme” we all need to take pause. What is interesting is the individual pictured based rule on Fear, and the letter writer is also sending Fear. Not a good recipe for us as a Country.

    Rich, I feel it is important to show the extremeist, on either side, and when in the light of day, we all can judge what we are really talking about in the lens of the extreme… to find that Mean.


  11. - Anon - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 9:40 am:

    What “victim” or “gun guys” are you referring to?


  12. - Phenomynous - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 9:42 am:

    It’s unfair to equate this crap with all pro gun people. Legislators campaign for office knowing full well that they will have to deal with this kind of crap on a myriad of issues. Is the letter stupid and uncalled for? Yes. Is this guy my “compatriot”? Hardly.

    By the way, JPFO, who is selling the Hitler Targets, is an acronym for “Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership”.


  13. - reformer - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 9:43 am:

    Extremists aren’t necessarily equally distributed on the gun issue. Can anyone cite a gun control advocate anywhere who compared his opponents to Hitler?


  14. - Rich Miller - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 9:45 am:

    ===there is some expectation of privacy===

    If you send a ridiculous letter like this to a state legislator, there is no expectation of privacy.


  15. - Rich Miller - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 9:46 am:

    ===Why not print one of those for balance as well?===

    Well, if a legislator wants to send me one of those letters I’d be more than happy to run it. However, no such letters have been received, and, in fact, nobody has ever mentioned one, either.


  16. - Rich Miller - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 9:49 am:

    ===It’s unfair to equate this crap with all pro gun people. ===

    I have deleted countless comments on this topic that were even worse than this letter. I have banned several people for life over this issue because of their disgustingly rabid comments about gun control proponents.

    It’s a real and very serious problem. Wake up and deal with it.


  17. - The Lowly LA - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 9:59 am:

    I understand your abhorrence about ridiculous claims and borderline hostile letters like this, Rich, but I think we both know that this is not the common viewpoint of the majority of gun rights proponents, nor can they keep in check every stupid, belligerent crackpot with a word processor.

    The geographic differences and rift in ideologies is understandable and legitimate on both sides; many Illinoisans honestly want to be able to better protect themselves and their families, while many others see all the gun violence in the state and across country and believe that more firearms are not the answer. I get it. But highlighting unrepresentative samples as representatives of a larger whole is, I believe, slightly disingenuous and ultimately counterproductive to the overlying debate.


  18. - Anyone Remember? - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 10:00 am:

    With the explicit disclaimer that this does NOT include CapitolFax commenters, the “mail” to Rep. Cassiday is all too typical of concealed carry advocates. No tolerance for any restrictions seems to be all to common.

    For example, the notion they can carry a weapon anywhere, including the presence of the President or Vice President, or the Olympics.
    http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101793


  19. - Phenomynous - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 10:02 am:

    Rich, you have every right to delete and ban people from your blog, and I think you do a great job. I recognize that there are extreme and crass people on this issue (along with many others) and that they need to be reprimanded in one war or another. But I don’t identify with this guy or people who act like that.

    If you want me to send the moderate letter I sent to my legislator asking them to support conceal and carry I will. Then maybe there will be some balance and people can see that there is a very large group of law abiding citizens that petition their representatives peacefully.


  20. - John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 10:02 am:

    >>>> Can anyone cite a gun control advocate anywhere who compared his opponents to Hitler?

    Bill Jenkins. He has it in his latest powerpoint presentation.


  21. - Rich Miller - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 10:10 am:

    ===but I think we both know that this is not the common viewpoint of the majority of gun rights proponents===

    It’s all too common. Wake the heck up.


  22. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 10:11 am:

    - Phenomynous -,

    I understand and sympathize with you. It is difficult to be part of something you believe in, and have zealots take your postition to an extreme, and be so radical and uncompromising, that the discussion itself on that issue is overshadowed. I understand.

    As you readily admit, Rich does a great job. However, when the discussion goes to HOW the extremist play their hand on an issue, as opposed to an adult debate on the issue, we all need to understand the backstory of what the Legislators are facing, and then try to bring the discussion BACK to the issue at hand. Doing anything less than that is disingenuous to the factors Legislators are facing, and disingenuous to the realities of where the discussion is on this issue.

    Fair?

    Again, thanks Rich for Posting this letter, and allowing diuscussion on how THIS debate on an issue is being overshadowed by any and all zealots. Thanks.


  23. - Amalia - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 10:18 am:

    oh, there’s a long list of people on both sides of the issue who should go away and find another issue to follow if we can expect anything good to happen. some of them have familiar names and are not part of the nameless on line rabble. Rich is correct, wake the heck up. all of you.


  24. - Leave a Light on George - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 10:20 am:

    =It’s all too common. Wake the heck up.=

    Any proof of that or just anecdotal evidence?


  25. - Rich Miller - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 10:22 am:

    ===Any proof of that or just anecdotal evidence? ===

    You must’ve missed all those ISRA action alerts.

    Also, you’re just gonna have to trust me about the comments I’ve deleted here and the folks I’ve banned.

    No other topic brings out the crazy like this one. Period. Deal with it.


  26. - Wumpus - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 10:26 am:

    Well, some people ar ejust kept in check by leaders better than others.


  27. - The Lowly LA - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 10:28 am:

    ===It’s all too common. Wake the heck up.===

    I respectfully disagree. I have yet to receive a similar letter or call from a constituent complaining about those “Hitler-loving liberals”.

    The rhetoric on this issue has been blown completely out of reality, admittedly with the gun rights proponents being the larger perpetrators. I, as many other commenters here today, would love nothing more than to see the debate steered away from the generalized, misguided and fallacy-ridden attacks altogether.

    But until that day comes, I would ask that the most extreme of the extreme be precluded from representing any whole.


  28. - Leave a Light on George - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 10:29 am:

    Don’t recall any drawings of Hitler in any ISRA alerts but may have missed it.

    Guess all you Elvis impersonators better get a handle on your kind. This is way too common. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sns-rt-usa-securitycurtisl2n0d51s0-20130418,0,487445.story


  29. - champaign - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 10:30 am:

    There are people out there like that - Reminds me of the Decatur Donut ‘militia’ that showed up to the hearing during veto session.

    As a former ISRA member, their press releases sound similar to the language used here. They need a PR consultant - Cassidy would likely be a ‘no’ vote on the issue anyway regardless of compromises, but she definitely is now. This won’t intimidate her - she will keep her seat going forward too - they can’t unelect her.

    If ISRA hopes to sway reps like Cassidy, they need real voters in her district, gay groups like the pink pistols, and others to contact her. Not people showing up in their gold hats and shirts to town halls and sending mailers about ‘their’ constitution.

    I’d love to see the mail that Drury is getting. Nonsense!


  30. - champaign - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 10:32 am:

    Forgot to mention the flyers with the picture of the mentally ill man who shot Rep. Giffords in Tucson being passed out before the vote on HB 148. ICHV keeps it classy sometimes too.


  31. - Rich Miller - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 10:34 am:

    ===Don’t recall any drawings of Hitler in any ISRA alerts===

    I don’t either, but there’s been plenty of absolutely insane stuff like this from ISRA…

    ===The only way for us to preserve at least some remnants of the nation we came to love is to ensure that the nation’s patriots come out to vote. At the same time, we will be forced to rely on the hallmark laziness of the left – and hope Obama’s socialist constituency chooses the easy chair over the voting booth on November 6th.

    Barack Obama and his cabinet are a pack of very dangerous animals and, no matter what the outcome is November 6th, you can rest assured that Obama and his pals will attempt to exact swift and severe retaliation against those who have opposed them. Of course, gun owners are at the top of the list of people that Obama hates most. ===

    Paranoid delusional much?

    You guys gotta start dealing with this crud. Now.


  32. - Aldyth - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 10:38 am:

    These kinds of letters just reinforce every stereotype anyone has about 2nd amendment proponents. It does not help their cause.


  33. - soccermom - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 10:43 am:

    Not to get all technical, but letters to elected officials are subject to FOIA. You have no expectation of privacy.


  34. - dupage dan - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 10:45 am:

    Just how do you expect “pro-gun people” to get anybody “in check”? I am at a loss to understand just how that would work. Stunned.


  35. - Wensicia - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 10:46 am:

    People on the right may want to downplay their crazy side, but the fact is lawmakers here and in Washington are responding to and perhaps intimidated by this stuff, no matter the paranoid lies pushed by these statements.


  36. - wordslinger - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 10:47 am:

    –Just how do you expect “pro-gun people” to get anybody “in check”?–

    Perhaps thoughtful ISRA members might suggest a new p.r. writer if they think the rhetoric is out of line.


  37. - Rich Miller - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 10:52 am:

    ===Forgot to mention the flyers with the picture of the mentally ill man who shot Rep. Giffords in Tucson being passed out before the vote on HB 148.===

    He got his gun legally and he carried legally.


  38. - David W Lawson - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 10:53 am:

    Due to my leadership in the RTC movement in IL and my participation in the McDonald suit and other lawsuits against Chicago I’ve met many of those leading the pro-gun-rights charge in IL and this guy’s name doesn’t ring a bell. We can’t stop the crazies any more than any other organization can, especially given the grass-roots nature of it.

    As for the alleged paranoia of the ISRA prior to Nov. 6th, I think the rabid attempts by the anti-gunners to ban the most popular rifle in America as well as the standard capacity magazines that come with many of the most popular defensive pistols bears out the concern.


  39. - David W Lawson - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 10:56 am:

    Gifford’s shooter was only “legal” because his mother’s position in the County prevented the Sheriff from acting on several prior incidents that might have led to him being considered prohibited.

    Also, he did not carry legally because he was carrying with criminal intent.


  40. - CircularFiringSquad - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 10:58 am:

    BTW has anyone asked the NRA lobbyist/blowhard why he went to LRB on Thursday to change the Phelps bill w/o Phelps o.k.?
    Yet another reason to be nervous about teh 2A Whack Jobs who populate this issue


  41. - Small Town Liberal - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 11:00 am:

    - bears out the concern. -

    You’re seriously justifying referring to the president and his cabinet as a pack of very dangerous animals? Pathetic.


  42. - Colossus - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 11:01 am:

    Ask anyone who reads the mail coming in to elected officials, and they’ll tell you the same thing: The pro-gun communications are nearly uniformly lacking in critical understanding of the issue at hand. I have read thousands of these emails/letters/etc. and it takes a huge toll on the reader to see page after page after page after page of things like this.

    It takes a toll on your soul to read this every day.


  43. - John Rundown - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 11:03 am:

    This is unfair Rich, and I think you are normally very fair in your coverage here.

    Lumping all guns rights supporters with this nutcase (and telling us to get him “under control”) is the same as when right-wing nuts tell the entire African -American community to get all the black gang bangers from the South Side “under control” because they’re “your people.” Gun rights supporters in IL are not some monolithic group, and the same goes for every other large group in Illinois.


  44. - David W Lawson - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 11:04 am:

    I was referring to the part about retaliation. The ‘dangerous animals’ portion is not a concern but an observation. Personally, I don’t consider animals to be anywhere near as dangerous as politicians.


  45. - Anonymous - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 11:05 am:

    Save your postage stamps. Sending constituent mail to State Representative Kelly Cassidy seems to be a waste of time if you oppose her positions. She can be a proponent of whatever she wants because she was elected to a “safe” Democratic majority district. After her initial primary win was secured, her seat as an incumbent was practically cemented into place.

    It is highly unlikely that she will face a difficult challenge unless the district is remapped or if she runs afoul of Speaker Madigan.
    As long as she is respectful and follows the party line, she is a lifer. If she upsets the leaders, she could be dismissed. Ask former Representatives Ellis Levin or Lee Preston about being pushed out of office by your own party leaders (Preston landed a judgeship as a consolation prize). I am not so sure that either rep defected from the party line too often. I think that the leaders simply got tired of listening to them.


  46. - Ken_in_Aurora - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 11:08 am:

    ===- Small Town Liberal - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 9:38 am: ===

    And this characterization helps the discussion how? Stay classy, STL.

    ***

    Letters like the one received by Rep. Cassidy are totally unacceptable, and anyone who stoops to these lows should be shunned by the mainstream shooting community. I have zero tolerance for stuff like this, it does much more to hurt the cause than help.

    That said, these people are individuals, not automations. How do you propose we stop them?


  47. - Ken_in_Aurora - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 11:09 am:

    Feh. That should be “automatons.”


  48. - Small Town Liberal - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 11:12 am:

    Ken - When people whine, it should be pointed out. As to stopping crazies, you certainly can’t stop them all. But when an organization like the ISRA refers to the president as a dangerous animal, and his constituents as socialists, they’re not exactly making an effort to tone down this nonsense.


  49. - Ken_in_Aurora - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 11:15 am:

    And that’s one of the reasons I haven’t been an ISRA member for decades. Many, many shooters I talk to feel the same way - that ISRA is run by the wrong people.


  50. - wordslinger - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 11:15 am:

    – At the same time, we will be forced to rely on the hallmark laziness of the left – and hope Obama’s socialist constituency chooses the easy chair over the voting booth on November 6th. –

    How’d that strategy work out?

    The ISRA is great at sending out frenzied letters, but what have they ever accomplished? Illinois has some of the strictest gun laws in the state.

    Never mistake activity for accomplishment.


  51. - Leave a Light on George - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 11:23 am:

    =The ISRA is great at sending out frenzied letters, but what have they ever accomplished? Illinois has some of the strictest gun laws in the state.

    Never mistake activity for accomplishment.=

    Agree 100% which is why it is so disappointing when a thoughtful compromise like Phelps’ bill is voted down.


  52. - Esquire - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 11:31 am:

    “The ISRA is great at sending out frenzied letters, but what have they ever accomplished?”

    The ISRA played a role in the litigation that resulted in the series of legal decisions that changed the course of Second Amendment jurisprudence in recent years. A number of the litigants in recent gun cases were from Illinois.


  53. - Plutocrat03 - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 11:32 am:

    “Illinois has some of the strictest gun laws”

    And how’s that working out for us? Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

    Amazing.


  54. - Amalia - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 11:33 am:

    speaking of a need to bring down the rhetoric, a couple of hours ago on Fox News, Chris Wallace said that his show on Sunday will discuss the need for guns to cope with a situation like the remaining Boston bomber coming into a home in Watertown.

    Really? cause no one is talking about taking away the right to have a gun, just regulations surrounding it. and then the rhetoric will have to step up from the other side, what is the weapon that was used to shoot the MIT police officer? what about the ABC news report that the bomber on the loose has a rifle?

    I need a beer, or another “Oswego Willie” photo or another photo of Miller Pup cause all of this is getting out of control.


  55. - wordslinger - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 11:39 am:

    –And how’s that working out for us? Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.–

    Are looser guns laws deterrent to crime? Like in New Orleans, Memphis, Little Rock, Detroit, etc?

    It’s a much more complicated issue.


  56. - Small Town Liberal - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 11:41 am:

    - Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. -

    You mean like when the ISRA sends out frenzied letters, and then they don’t get what they want? Over and over?

    You’re right, it is amazing.


  57. - John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 11:41 am:

    >>>>>> If ISRA hopes to sway reps like Cassidy, they need real voters in her district, gay groups like the pink pistols, and others to contact her.

    I know real gay people in her district that went to see her in their yellow shirts on Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day and got dismissed out of hand.


  58. - Boone's is Back - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 12:04 pm:

    Somehow Hitler is the “Kevin Bacon six degrees of separation” of every right wing political argument.I think that horse must be tired by now.


  59. - Ken_in_Aurora - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 12:06 pm:

    I may not agree with Cassidy’s position on this issue, but she is entitled to her opinion - at it very well may reflect the majority of her constituents.


  60. - 47th Ward - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 12:57 pm:

    And ISRA is wondering why their roll call is losing votes. Keep up the crazy rhetoric guys. It’s great for fundraising from the gullible, not so good for persuading lawmakers.


  61. - reformer - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 1:09 pm:

    If the gun control people really are just as rabid, then surely Rep. Phelps should have a hefty collection of nasty letters comparable to the one Rich posted from the gun rights guy. So far, nada.

    == stupid, belligerent crackpots ==

    Not exactly the poster boys for concealed carry.


  62. - wordslinger - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 1:20 pm:

    For the rest of the day, if you can get away with it, have a drink every time someone writes the word “rabid” on this issue.


  63. - countyline - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 1:37 pm:

    Really Reformer ? I find it impossible to believe that Phelps hasn’t received any hate mail about CCW, he just has enough class not to throw a constituent under the bus like Cassidy did.


  64. - Anonymous - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 1:45 pm:

    If you want to get an idea how crazy right wing rhetoric has gotten out of control, go read about Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber, and his views on guns and government, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_McVeigh . Fifteen years ago, he was considered part of the lunatic fringe. Now, you could print most of what he said and attribute it to the NRA or a Republican legislator and no one would be surprised.


  65. - reformer - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 1:51 pm:

    countyline

    With all respect, do you have any actual evidence, as opposed to your belief? Is Rich not telling the truth about his consistent experience about which side of the debate is more belligerent?


  66. - Rich Miller - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 1:52 pm:

    countyline, I talk with Brandon almost every day they’re in session. He’s never mentioned anything of that nature.


  67. - Can't Stand a Hypocrite - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 1:57 pm:

    Rich, Nice job of selective journalism! Do you remember this quote from an article in the Des Moines Register from an anti-gunner “If some people refused to give up their guns,that “prying the guns from their cold, dead hands” thing works for me.” This is the article. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20121230/OPINION01/312300033/Kaul-Nation-needs-new-agenda-guns?nclick_check=1 That sounds like an incitement to violence to me. I have never heard any pro-gun advocate say anything like that, but I guess that is okay from the anti-gun side of the arguement. Are you going to get your compatriots in check?


  68. - Rich Miller - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 2:05 pm:

    ===Are you going to get your compatriots in check?===

    They ain’t mine. I plan to apply for a cc permit if it’s legalized.


  69. - Rich Miller - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 2:07 pm:

    Also, you picked an example from Iowa. This is Illinois. This blog is about Illinois. That letter I posted above was written to an IL state legislator.

    No dice, dude.


  70. - Colossus - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 2:17 pm:

    @Can’t Stand

    If you haven’t heard incitement to violence from pro gunners, then you haven’t been listening or you’re being willfully dishonest.

    Rich - have you been in touch with STIC about whether they’ve had an increase in “threatening” emails to elected officials that get forwarded to their office?


  71. - Boat captain - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 2:22 pm:

    Rich-has any of the legislators from the Chicago area who support CCW mentioned anything about negative comments from their constituents? It seems that they would be the most likely to have negative comments if they were for CCW. What was sent to Rep Cassidy was totally out of line.


  72. - Chevy owner/Ford County - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 2:42 pm:

    You know what is pathetic is that those of us who want concealed carry BUT recognize the appropriateness of reasonable gun laws (universal background checks, magazine limits) end up looking like fools because of these idiots. At this point the reasonable middle is no longer represented. The NRA, which used to represent us, has abdicated the role it used to have out of fear of losing members to the complete nutjobs of the ISRA and other such groups….


  73. - downstate commissioner - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 2:54 pm:

    Most interesting comment on this issue on this forum for the past several weeks: Rich @ 2:05 “They ain’t mine. I plan to apply for a cc permit if it’s legalized.”
    Wondered where you stood, now we know. Respect the way that you have handled this issue, and, for the most part, blog neutrality.


  74. - Chicago Cynic - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 3:04 pm:

    So let me get this straight countyline. Kelly Cassidy was out of line for sharing a public letter from a constituent comparing her to Hitler and inherently threatening her with violence (unless you have a different read on the last line, “how many Illinois armed Illinois State troopers do you have with you?”), but the constituent is just okey dokey in your book? Umm yeah, ok.


  75. - dupage dan - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 4:02 pm:

    === - wordslinger - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 10:47 am:

    –Just how do you expect “pro-gun people” to get anybody “in check”?–

    Perhaps thoughtful ISRA members might suggest a new p.r. writer if they think the rhetoric is out of line ===

    I’m not talking about the ISRA, I’m talking about individuals. Cause that’s the letter that was posted by Rich - a letter from a private individual. I can’t control what another schmuck does, can I? I certainly can’t control what the ISRA does or says, I am not even a member. I am responsible for what I say - and what I believe. To say that I should rein someone in regarding their rhetoric seems to imply that I am aligned with them, somehow or that I am in contact with that person. Since I do NOT agree with Mr DeFranza’s tactics or how he presents his views and certainly don’t even know him, how am I to rein him in, exactly? To even suggest such a thing is beyond ludicrous. Call me out on my crap, don’t call me out on someone else.


  76. - benji - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 4:22 pm:

    =Guess all you Elvis impersonators better get a handle on your kind. This is way too common.=

    Exactly. Thanks to Blago, should we assume all politicians are rabid gun grabbers? Added “rabid” to satisfy wordslinger’s dipsomania.


  77. - benji - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 4:36 pm:

    =I plan to apply for a cc permit if it’s legalized.=

    Welcome to the “dark side”, Rich. LOL.


  78. - Just The Way It Is One - Friday, Apr 19, 13 @ 4:48 pm:

    Whoa–to call THAT piece of “pro-issue” material harsh is putting it WAY too mildly. Open objective is to be intimidating. Offensive. At the very least, with the picture, insulting. And some would say outrageous and extreme…just a few extra descriptions to follow up on the original Post’s reference to the fellow (or anyone else) issuing such garbage being an “Idiot.”

    If your position on gun rights–or ANY issue happens to differ–sure, take a stand, be direct about your views, but for God’s sake, show some fundamental RESPECT and COURTESY to an Elected State Representative, if you can’t POSsibly show some class or a sense of decorum!!!


  79. - Sandy - Monday, Apr 22, 13 @ 10:41 am:

    As a proud FOID card carrier/gun owner I am for gun control and anyone who refers to those of us who support gun control as “Hitler” is disgusting. I can’t think of a nastier comment to make.

    Kelly Cassidy has children and in her opinion, her constituents want this. There is absolutely nothing wrong with doing what your constituents ask for, period.

    With that said, not all gun owners agree with that letter. I know I don’t. And if the law says I have to be trained, then I will do it. It’s not the end of the world or my rights, nor is it a bad thing. No bill will ever satisfy everyone. No one is taking guns away, just making it safe for you to CC.


Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.


* Isabel’s afternoon roundup
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* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today's edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
* Selected press releases (Live updates)
* Pritzker, Durbin, Duckworth so far keeping powder dry on endorsing VP Harris (Updated x7)
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* Yesterday's stories

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