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Thousands of gun owners descend on Statehouse

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* Today’s Illinois Gun Owners Lobbying Day (IGOLD) was pretty darned impressive looking…

[Thanks to BlueRoomStream for the video.]

* From the SJ-R…

A wave of yellow is poised to wash over the Capitol this afternoon during the Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day.

“It’s a gathering of gun owners in the state of Illinois to speak to their legislators one on one about the Second Amendment rights,” Illinois State Rifle Association president Donald Moran said.

“We’ll flood the Capitol, and everyone will be wearing yellow shirts and yellow caps, so they’ll know who we are.”

Between 8,000 and 10,000 gun owners from across the state were expected to show up at the Prairie Capital Convention Center to march on the Statehouse, Moran said.

Discuss.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 3:56 pm

Comments

A great crowd of folks that are working to keep the Second amendment strong!!

Comment by nieva Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:01 pm
Yes, and I believe it will grow even stronger the more power and control the government has over the people.

Comment by Ain't No Justice Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:09 pm
“Guns Save Lives”

Yeah, tell that to the parent of the kid killed in a driveby shooting.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:12 pm
“Yeah, tell that to the parent of the kid killed in a driveby shooting.”

Yeah, I’m sure the drive-by shooter had a FOID card, and legally purchased his gun.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:15 pm
I’m sorry. Didn’t the Chicago Police officers who got killed have guns? Guns don’t save lives, they take lives.

Comment by Seriously??? Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:15 pm
Stopped by the convention center a couple of years ago during this event to visit a friend who’s very involved. They can turn out a crowd, I’ll give them that.

Comment by Way Way Down Here Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:16 pm
==Yeah, I’m sure the drive-by shooter had a FOID card, and legally purchased his gun.==

And as long as these FOID card holders and the NRA work to block legislation making it harder to obtain illegal and assault type weapons, the more innocent victims of gun violence will lose their lives.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:23 pm
I hope they don’t make a mess, otherwise the tea partiers will be all over them for the taxpayer funded cleanup. Oh wait…

Comment by Small Town Liberal Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:27 pm
Equally as impressive was the dozens of people who wandered around the stratton and complained to secretaries that they couldn’t talk to their legislators…DURING SESSION. Can someone please give these folks some basic guidance.

Comment by L.S. Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:28 pm
Hmmmm.

Wife and I have FOIDs; have some guns; don’t come into my house, not invited, while I’m sleeping, cause bad things will happen; hopefully to the intruders.

During elections, I’ve seen LOTS of comments by some VOTERS and wonder why, WHY do these folks get to vote. Some VERY bizarre comments. Some folks are strainer heads.

So we get concealed carry. Now, I’m wondering about judgment: every time I go into the mall; every time I go into the big box home improvements stores; even every time I go into the grocery stores.

Exactly WHAT psychological backgrounds will be done for concealed carry folks, beyond the ability to point and hit a target? So, maybe _I_ need to conceal carry, just to protect myself? Will my liability insurance cover me if something goes wrong? If I miss & ricochet goes astray? More questions that I would like answers to: soon.

Just askin’. Let me know.

And, yeah, people save lives; I actually don’t believe that guns do by themselves.

Comment by sal-says Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:30 pm
How many of them do you suppose were packing?

Comment by Quinn T. Sential Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:32 pm
Wensicia, Until you have a clue as to what you’re talking about, I’d keep quiet. Your ignorance of the whole issue is typical Liberal.

Comment by Razer Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:34 pm
What’s the issue? Conceal and carry? How about like Hawaii’s?

I don’t have a problem with hunters or people having guns in their homes.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:34 pm
@ QTS

Very, very, very few. As in…none. These are LEGAL gun owners. You know, the responsible ones. That follow the law, and don’t break the law.

Unlike the criminals, who in Illinois regardless of the law manage to ‘pack heat’, shoot people with out caring about who exactly they are shooting, or otherwise cause trouble.

Comment by How Ironic Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:36 pm
Wensecia,

I’ve had a young son accidentally killed with a gun. While it’s something you never really get over, I still support the 2nd amendment, am a NRA member, and the Mrs. and I both have FOID cards. If you haven’t walked in my shoes, I politely suggest you cut the snark

Comment by Retired Non-Union Guy Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:37 pm
===couldn’t talk to their legislators…DURING SESSION===

Should’ve sent a card in like the lobsters do.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:43 pm
@RNUG

Sorry, the loss of a few of my former students to gang violence doesn’t endear me to the pro-gun stance. Snark has nothing to do with this!

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:43 pm
How Ironic and Retired Non Union guy, VERY well said.

Comment by Razer Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:44 pm
Wensicia - Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:23 pm:

==Yeah, I’m sure the drive-by shooter had a FOID card, and legally purchased his gun.==

“And as long as these FOID card holders and the NRA work to block legislation making it harder to obtain illegal and assault type weapons, the more innocent victims of gun violence will lose their lives. ”

Gee, have you ever been out of state ? Did anyone, in the other 48 states where it’s legal, worry you ?
The doomsday scenario has not taken place in any of the other 48 states.

Comment by shermans ghost Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:48 pm
- These are LEGAL gun owners. You know, the responsible ones. That follow the law, and don’t break the law. -

Not to pick nits, but my sister’s father-in-law is a former state police officer, former county sheriff, very active NRA member. He carries in Illinois about 99% of the time. I’m not necessarily opposed to concealed carry, but it’s not as though it doesn’t already go on by otherwise law abiding citizens.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:48 pm
This guns stuff gets complicated. Years ago when I lived in Indiana, I was in a supermarket on a Sunday night, when a man wearing a loaded six gun on his hip (cowboy style) passed me pushing a cart. In the subsequent conversation with the store manager and a policeman, it was determined he owned the weapon legally, it was not concealed, and under Indiana laws at the time was properly cased. He was “legal”, but was it appropriate for the time and place?

Comment by Way Way Down Here Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:49 pm
–Did anyone, in the other 48 states where it’s legal, worry you ?–

When you say that, which states do you mean? Because “conceal and carry” in the other 48 states cover a very wide spectrum.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:50 pm
FOID cards have nothing to do with the 2nd amendment. To all those who get confused on the issue, please consider yourself enlightened and do not keep making that same mistake. Just because you have the right to bear arms, does not mean you have the right to do it all the time in all circumstances.

Comment by Ahoy Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:53 pm
- wordslinger - Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:50 pm:

–Did anyone, in the other 48 states where it’s legal, worry you ?–

You betcha.

Comment by sal-says Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:59 pm
Retired Non-Union Guy: I am so very sorry for your loss.

Comment by amalia Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 5:13 pm
It would appear that most of the pro gun support on this site is still in Springfield!

Comment by nieva Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 5:15 pm
Seriously??? - Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 4:15 pm:

I’m sorry. Didn’t the Chicago Police officers who got killed have guns? Guns don’t save lives, they take lives.

This is an asinine statement what does a Chicago police officer carrying a gun legally as part of his job who is the victim of a crime have to do with legal gun ownership. If the policeman was unarmed the crime wouldn’t of occurred? I think its pretty well established criminals will have guns the rights of a person to protect themselves and their families should be protected. Chicago has the strictest gun control laws in the country yet has a higher gun crime rate than most cities. That being said I don’t see the need for assault rifles and I am all for closing the Gun show loophole for background checks.

Comment by fed up Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 5:24 pm
“We’ll flood the Capitol, and everyone will be wearing yellow shirts and yellow caps, so they’ll know who we are.”

Of all the colors they could choose to show!

Comment by Anne O'Namus Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 5:34 pm
And people wonder why I don’t post more gun threads.

lol

Please, try to take a deep, cleansing, calming breath before you post. Thanks.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 5:35 pm
fed up, one more comment like the one I just deleted by you and you’re banned for life. Tone it down or leave.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 5:54 pm
I remain confused about conceal and carry. I don’t think the statistics support either side of the argument. I do not find life in areas where it is legal to be strange, not as many signs on places saying don’t bring the guns in as the weepers on the issue have warned. conceal carry did nothing to help in the Rep. Giffords situation. but I do think the recent Supreme Court decision might mean that this is option is a right.

what I do think is that despite some reports that the bill is not moving, that it is the perfect time for the bill to move. Conservatives are in the mood for a win for their side. That was a very impressive show today in SF. And if the bill moved, Quinn might just think that he needs a conservative measure to balance the liberal action he took yesterday. conceal carry is legal just about everywhere. it’s not the reason people are dying in the streets of Illinois. It might mean there would be more accidents at homes, or suicides, but that’s on the user in their home. Killing on the streets? again, probably neutral. why not regulate the heck out of guns in other ways but not in this way?

Comment by amalia Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 6:04 pm
“Why not regulate the heck out of guns in other ways but not in this way?”

@amelia

This is just the point I was trying to make. I’m not against rights for law-abiding citizens, I just wish the pro-gun lobby would agree to make things tougher for the criminal element when it comes to easy access of weapons.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 6:12 pm
Why not increase Unlawful Use of a Weapon By a Felon to a Class-X? Minimum sentence of 10 years for first offense, to be served consecutive to any other sentence. Many many convicted felons return to serve 2 years for being caught with a gun. If you want to be serious about not passing a Concealed carry law because of being afraid of giving more criminals guns, crack down on the criminals who are carrying guns. Allow Law-abiding Citizens the right to protect themselves and family, and actually punish Felons with guns.

Comment by SO IL M Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 6:28 pm
The criminals are ALREADY carrying guns concealed. Please give law abiding citizens to do the same.

Wordslinger is right, the laws vary wildly from State to State, but I have not seen any evidence from anywhere that concealed carry laws have increased gun crimes or brought on “the wild west” as opponents seem to fear and trumpet the loudest.

Comment by Birdseed Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 6:33 pm
I thought they didn’t want to be identified. What if burglars follow them home and know which houses to hit?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 6:33 pm
@ Wensicia

How would you “make things tougher for the criminal element when it comes to easy access of weapons”? They are not buying them legally. They are stealing them, or buying stolen weapons.

Comment by Birdseed Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 6:36 pm
==They are not buying them legally. They are stealing them, or buying stolen weapons.==

You’re kidding, right? Do you really believe the vast amount of weapons the criminal element has in their possession came about through gun theft?
What did they do, raid every military base in the country?

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 6:48 pm
Small Town, your in-law as a retired law enforcement officer is entitled to carry a gun under federal law.

Comment by Leave a light on George Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 6:48 pm
“This is just the point I was trying to make. I’m not against rights for law-abiding citizens, I just wish the pro-gun lobby would agree to make things tougher for the criminal element when it comes to easy access of weapons.”

I’ve actually been on the judicial side of illegal gun purchases made across state lines - I’m talking federal in this case.

The penalties are plenty tough already - it’s not that more laws are needed - it’s all about enforcement.

When you see bangers going out of state, recruiting citizens (ave. $75 to $125 payout per gun) to buy the guns as fronts for the street gangs, well, these folks had clean records. All the background checks and waiting periods in the world would have been useless.

And we’re talking well over 1,000 weapons over an 18 month period. And it took the feds and the CPD over 4 years after the first arrest to bring the case to a grand jury.

Ridiculous. It’s not about needing more laws, it’s about ENFORCING the ones we have on the books. And most of the people buying the guns (the “cut outs” in the process) were first time offenders, and got virtually nothing.

Comment by Judgment Day Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 6:50 pm
Every time this issue comes up there’s always someone who posts about a whacked NRA member, CCW permit holder who’s inevitably going to flip his lid and mow down thousands with his full auto assault weapon. Forty-eight other states have some form of CCW and the 49th has open carry. Wouldn’t you think, by now, after all these years the media would have found thousands of CCW permit holders who have murdered millions more? Nope. I’ve yet to see them find one. It hasn’t happened. The bad guys will always find a way to get a gun, and they will do so illegally. Then, when they’re carrying, they’ll be doing that illegally, as well. I don’t know what the NRA, or the GA can do to make what they’re doing any more illegal than what it already is.

I find it ironic that the same group of individuals who just eliminated the death penalty would continue to tell law-abiding citizens to take a hike when it comes to CCW.

Comment by howie Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 6:52 pm
==Ridiculous. It’s not about needing more laws, it’s about ENFORCING the ones we have on the books.==

I agree, but it’s also about allowing the legal sale of certain kinds of weapons. Nobody can justify the need to be able to buy assault weapons, aka street sweepers, in my opinion.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 7:22 pm
–Every time this issue comes up there’s always someone who posts about a whacked NRA member, CCW permit holder who’s inevitably going to flip his lid and mow down thousands with his full auto assault weapon–

I don’t see anything resembling that posted here today.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 7:24 pm
–I find it ironic that the same group of individuals who just eliminated the death penalty would continue to tell law-abiding citizens to take a hike when it comes to CCW.–

In fact, I don’t think I see any comments on here that are adamantly against conceal carry. Amalia has some questions, but believe you me, she’s no fan of the death penalty ban.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 7:30 pm
Wordslinger…..not here, but you know it’s out there.

Comment by howie Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 8:02 pm
Very impressive.

I would only snarkingly add that they should have worn masks because the bad guys might watch this video and figure out who is likely to have guns to steal. Marching in a pro-gun march likely higher probability of gun ownership than just having a FOIA card. Just sayin’.

Comment by just sayin' Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 8:16 pm
Illinois needed some protest like our fellow Midwest states. Ironically, this protest has probably been more peaceful

Comment by Freight Train Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 8:21 pm
Wensicia,

I’m in favor of concealed carry - for me and my wife. I don’t want her to be out shopping and have a criminal corral her and the other shoppers into a back room to be murdered. Remember Lane Bryant in Tinley Park? I would just like us to have the option as law-abiding citizens to defend ourselves. I don’t want to shoot anyone… ever. - nor would I want to be a hero in a shootout situation like Tuscon.

I haven’t heard anyone use the term ’street sweeper’ outside of a video game for years. A ’street sweeper’ is a 1980’s era pump shotgun with a big magazine, that was outlawed by the ATF years ago.

‘Assault Weapons’ are really just semi-automatic (one round fired each time you pull the trigger) sporting rifles and have been around for many, many years. The term ‘Assault Weapons’ when written into laws to ban these items usually focuses on visual features like ‘barrel shroud’ and ‘pistol grip’ and not the actual capabilities of the guns themselves. Frankly, the AR-15 platform is believed to be the fastest selling hunting rifle in production right now.

If you could give us some statistics on the use of ‘assault weapons’ on the streets of Chicago, I’d listen. Until then, I think I’ll keep mine for taking care of varmints at the farm.

Comment by Champaign Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 8:26 pm
Why is this so hard to understand. 92 counties have expressed their support for concealed carry in Illinois. Pass the measure everywhere, but opt out Cook and St. Clair Counties. Problem solved.

Comment by John A Logan Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 8:36 pm
Wensicia,

Not sure what you mean by “Street sweepers”. Fully automatic weapons for private citizens have been illegal under federal law for many, many years … without googling it for the exact date, it was the early 1930’s (prohibition era). Sawed off shotguns are also illegal. Everything else, you have to pull the trigger each time for each shot …

As several people have pointed out, there are already an exhortation amount of gun regulation laws on the books; they problem is enforcement of existing laws.

I hate to use the cliche but it makes the point succinctly: “When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns”

Comment by Retired Non-Union Guy Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 8:39 pm
oops … meant to type exorbitant (automatic spell checker got me)

Comment by Retired Non-Union Guy Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 8:42 pm
==I hate to use the cliche but it makes the point succinctly: “When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns” ==

When was the last time there was a mass shooting in England? What are their gun crime rates?

More guns will not end gun crime and neither will more people carrying guns.

Comment by late to the party Thursday, Mar 10, 11 @ 9:13 pm
Blame the NRA for getting Gun-Owners all up in arms as a means to boost gun sales. They spin these slingers into believing the 2nd Amendment is being challenged. Who is threatening the 2nd Amendment? Can anyone answer that one?

Comment by DMAC57 Friday, Mar 11, 11 @ 7:12 am
late to the party,

Help us out here, please. Let’s discuss the geographical reality of England for a moment. You could compare it to another ISLAND nation, such as Japan, which also has restrictive gun ownership laws. And that is the key, sir. ISLAND nations find it easier (not perfect, of course) to control the importation of guns than other nations.

In addition, please understand that this nation is simply different than the England. I don’t believe that England has enshrined, in whatever passes for a constitution over there, the same kind of right to keep and bear arms as we have in this country. That is an immutable fact, recently clarified by the SCOTUS. Remember that little thing that happened last year? Well, that has put to rest the idea that only a militia has the right to keep and bear arms. That decision is now the law of the land. I think you had better resign yourself to that fact since it is just that, fact. Of course, moving to England could be an option as well, I suppose.

Comment by dupage dan Friday, Mar 11, 11 @ 10:26 am
DMAC57,

I didn’t hear about anyone threatening the 2nd amendment. The gun lobby won big last year, remember? Right now, the issue is that the “gun lobby” is now seeking to have the various laws across this great nation that restrict gun rights (no CCW in Illinois, for example) modified or repealed outright. That is what is currently going on. A brief read of the articles could be in order.

Comment by dupage dan Friday, Mar 11, 11 @ 10:29 am
DD, I’m not following you on island nations being able to control importation of illegal guns as it relates to the United States.

Except for a very small amount, all the guns in the United States, possessed legally or illegally, are manufactured here.

There’s a big market for illegal export of arms from the United States to Mexico, however.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 11, 11 @ 10:37 am

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