* The governor was asked this morning on WJPF: “Aren’t you a member of the NRA?” His response…
I am. I am. I have been for many years.
I have been looking around Google for a while now and I don’t think he’s ever admitted to that before. Not saying he hasn’t said it. I just don’t remember it and can’t find it.
* Anyway, after he vetoed the gun dealer licensing bill, he talked to reporters…
Addressing reporters at a campaign stop in Naperville, the governor insisted his decision had nothing to do with trying to shore up conservative support a week before the primary.
“Not at all,” Rauner said. “What we are focused on is winning in November against Pritzker and Madigan and our message is a unifying message. It’s the right policy that everybody wants.”
“It just took time to study it to determine the right answer was to veto that one.”
“The right thing is to do a package, and I’m still going to push a package. I’m tired of waiting. The General Assembly still hasn’t passed what I think is really going to make sense. That was the only bill that got to my desk. It really wasn’t going to improve anything. It was just going to create a bureaucracy that would be harmful.” […]
“Our team has been working feverishly, studying, talking, doing our due diligence on what other states have done, what’s the law here, and what it would do to our small shop owners,” the governor said after meeting with voters at Hugo’s Frog Bar in Naperville. “And we just decided it was going to create a big layer of burden and bureaucracy, and really not keep our communities safer. And so we decided let’s go ahead and veto the bill.”
* Background from the Tribune…
Opponents had characterized the regulations as a government overreach, saying sellers are already licensed by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which requires background checks.
They noted that the state agency that would have to oversee licensing opposed it. Officials have raised concerns about the cost of launching the new rules, saying it would require more staff. They also noted that the agency has limited experience in administering and enforcing this type of program, as it typically oversees barbers, dentists, nurses and other professions.
Supporters contend federal regulators are stretched too thin to regulate all the shops operating in Illinois, and cited data that showed a large percentage of weapons found at crime scenes come from a handful of sellers.
- Moe Berg - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 2:57 pm:
Perhaps a reporter could ask NRA member Bruce Rauner why he’s part of an organization that has Dana Loesch as its spokesperson?
“Many in legacy media love mass shootings. You guys love it,” Loesch said. “Now, I’m not saying that you love the tragedy. But I am saying that you love the ratings. Crying white mothers are ratings gold to you.”
You’re going to win the primary, Bruce, and get, to use your terminology, “blown up” in the general.
- Rutro - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 2:59 pm:
I don’t believe him.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 3:00 pm:
Rauner, the NRA member and signer of HB40, “sanctuary state” legislation…
Who are these Rauner voters… and who is the Rauner constituency?
- 360 Degree Turnaround - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 3:01 pm:
Has anyone looked on his cycle vest? I bet that is where his membership pin is.
- Annonin' - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 3:01 pm:
That GovJunk is a hoot. he waits 3+ weeks to say he wants to work on a “package” with the legislature. Many wonderin’ where he was? Hugo’s Frog Bar seems like the perfect place for him to talk safe neighborhoods & schools
- Leigh John-Ella - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 3:02 pm:
I’ve never before seen gun supporters so quick to support federal ATF regulations.
- huh - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 3:06 pm:
I’m guessing the Dems now wish they had put more wedge issues on his desk before the primary.
Maybe next Wednesday he’ll be for this same bill.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 3:09 pm:
== I’ve never before seen gun supporters so quick to support federal ATF regulations. ==
Maybe because the State has a track record of messing things up more than the Feds do?
- Alex Ander - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 3:11 pm:
Been a member for many years? Many years as in since the year he decided to run? The word “many” is all about perspective. Five or six years is many to some. He’s not fooling me
- Alex Ander - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 3:13 pm:
Oh, and I’m sure he had the biker jacket and Carhart jacket “many” years too. I mean, ya gotta be ready to campaign downstate. LOL
- TominChicago - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 3:15 pm:
Come October, Bruce will claim that they were talking about the National Restaurant Association.
- Real - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 3:22 pm:
He is probably lying about being an NRA member to pander to republicans.
- JackD - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 3:27 pm:
What would the state agency do that the feds don’t do already?
- Jocko - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 3:50 pm:
Did anyone ask to see his FOID card? I bet he left it in his other carhartt
- hisgirlfriday - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 3:57 pm:
Came across an article that said Rauner wouldn’t even fill out an NRA questionaire in 2014.
https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/511356022-for-illinois-gun-owners-rauner-s-silence-on-gun-control-confiscation-bills-is-deafening
was he a member then?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 3:58 pm:
hisgirlfriday posting a Proft story about Rauner.
lol
- Mike Cirrincione - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 4:48 pm:
So he’s a member of the gun sales club.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 4:57 pm:
Rainer a member of the MRS? Why not? I sure he can come up with $35.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 4:57 pm:
NRA
- McLincoln - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 6:56 pm:
Sombody needs to tackle him before he runs into the wrong endzone.
- South of Sherman - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 8:21 pm:
Listen to the WJPF audio, and listen to him laugh when he’s asked the question. Isn’t that the big Bruce Rauner “tell” that what comes next is going to be something short of the truth?
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Mar 13, 18 @ 8:51 pm:
I agree with Oswego Willy on this one.
Politically, it is getting harder and harder to see what Bruce Rauner’s base is.
Plus, Pritzker has the cash to hire about 500 high school kids to knock on doors every weekend this summer in the suburbs and thr collar counties.
After the GOP is forced to vote on the veto override.