Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Fear and loathing

Posted in:

Illinois

* I told you earlier today that some anti-gun protesters planned to picket Attorney General Lisa Madigan over her refusal so far to appeal the federal court decree on concealed carry to the US Supreme Court.

Madigan has pointed out before that it’s too late to get on the Supremes’ docket at the moment. But these folks (and Gov. Quinn) didn’t want to hear that.

* Turns out, just a dozen people showed up to the protest, and they paraded around the Thompson Center wearing signs that said “Lisa, Don’t Let Us Be Targets”…

The pro-gunners often describe a fevered dystopian future of blood-thirsty dictatorial tyrants to justify their personal arsenals. On the other side we have folks who actually fear that licensed, trained, concealed carry permit holders will be targeting them for, I suppose, murder.

Man, do I ever despise arguments based on ignorant fear. It’s a big reason why I have such a hard time talking to some hardcore pro-gunners on this site. I don’t oppose much of what they want to do, but too many of them are such wussy fraidycats that I can’t deal with ‘em.

I’ve been in two war zones (three if you count Albania’s civil war) and never once carried a gun. The only time anybody around me had a gun was when I embedded with a National Guard unit in Baghdad on night patrol. I just don’t get this crazy fear. And today’s anti-gunner protesters appear to be pretty much a carbon copy of their opponents.

* One of those dozen protesters had this to say…

David Borris, president of Chicago Area Peace Action said, “believe me, there’s going to be all the Dirty Harry wannabes that are gonna see that purse get snatched, and they’re going to want to drop to one knee, and start shooting.”

I hear this sort of thing a lot from anti-gun folks.

Discuss.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 2:10 pm

Comments

Anti-gun person here–you know, if that was happening in the 49 other states, the ones with conceal carry, then this guy would have an argument. But it’s not. I dislike the idea of someone around me carrying, but that doesn’t mean I should get what I want. I do not have logic on my side.

Comment by Chavez-respecting Obamist Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 2:16 pm
Going for another 100 post thread, Rich?

Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 2:18 pm
I’ve been to Texas several times and those people down there are serious about their guns. I never once felt afraid that somebody was going to blow my head off simply because they were allowed to carry a gun. However, I also don’t feel like I’m going to be accosted in public because I don’t have a gun. But then again I have reasoning skills.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 2:18 pm
–David Borris, president of Chicago Area Peace Action said, “believe me, there’s going to be all the Dirty Harry wannabes that are gonna see that purse get snatched, and they’re going to want to drop to one knee, and start shooting.”–

That’s nonsense, of course, the same as the extreme arguments on the other side.

But we live in a big, diverse state where a one-size-fits-all solution doesn’t work (that includes the current conceal-carry ban).

Home rule was instituted for a reason. Let it work.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 2:22 pm
Wordslinger,

As an exercise, let’s for a moment grant home rule. What are your feelings about someone driving through a home rule community on their way to Wisconsin who get pulled over for a traffic stop in said community. How would that be handled?

Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 2:27 pm
Dropping to one knee isn’t an option for me anymore. I need help getting up without spilling my beer or squeezing too hard and firing off a couple of rounds into my own car.

I like concealed carry but have no desire to lug a gun around. I did plenty of that in the Corps and just don’t feel the urge anymore. I think a tire tool from Sears will do just fine.

The fad will wear off soon enough after the initial rush to the emergency room for many keystone cop wannabes. Of course the good thing is the fact that Bob or Betty robber won’t know who is packing and who isn’t.

Worrying about who has a gun and who doesn’t is just foolish. Many likely already do carry.

Comment by Sunshine Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 2:28 pm
When they realized that only twelve had shown up, why did they bother?

They look even more ridiculous than the protest appeared it would look.

Do they really think this is helping any cause?

Comment by Skeeter Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 2:29 pm
all the anti mark kirk alumni got together and had a reunion!

one of the great mysteries to me over the last 25 years is why haven’t pro gun control groups had more success and been more organized in their national efforts. You look at how far gay marriage for example has come among other issues, and it’s just not made sense as to why these folks haven’t had more success during a period where democrats have had a great run in the white house and lately in the us senate.

Comment by shore Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 2:33 pm
The anti-gun people feel much safer with ONLY Chicago police officers owning guns. After all, that’s such an amazing thing to believe given the empirical evidence!
http://www.suntimes.com/news/otherviews/17612783-452/police-corruption-cant-be-ignored.html

Comment by Steve Bartin Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 2:35 pm
However lame the picture looks, the story is leading local news and is making Lisa look bad. Glad to see Quinn is not just laying down to die on news Lisa will likely run. He will need to ramp up these kinds of stories. He will no doubt have his campaign pick through all her court filings and point out alll the conroversial legal positions she has taken that don’t line up with her rhetoric.

Comment by Fair Share Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 2:37 pm
Concealed carry reduces crime.
http://www.abc15.com//dpp/news/national/florida-firearm-violence-hits-record-low-concealed-gun-permits-up

Comment by Mark Chauss Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 2:38 pm
Bartin,

If you think you need a gun because POs are corrupt, you are as crazy as those people demonstrating today.

Seriously though, where did all the calm and rational people go?

People, 1) Nobody wants to completely disarm the people; 2) Conceal carry will not lead to daily shoot out.

Calm down, people.

Comment by Skeeter Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 2:41 pm
to bad it was tweleve that showed ! if only ten had shown I could have made a 10x comment

Comment by railrat Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 2:41 pm
==When they realized that only twelve had shown up, why did they bother?==

They already had the signs made. It would be a shame not to wear them.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 2:47 pm
If the Republicans were really smart about this, they would have had 2 people walking around the protest with signs saying “Lisa, Do What Gov. Quinn Wants”.

“Do they really think this is helping any cause?”

Unintentional entertainment, perhaps?

Comment by Judgment Day Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 2:49 pm
“Do they really think this is helping any cause?”

Filler for the bearded one’s blog on a slow news day?

Comment by Judgment Day Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 2:54 pm
RM, I don’t think I follow your comparison. One side has people who think the Government (yes, some capital G big brother) is going to knock on their door, take EVERY one of their guns and then use their own arsenals against them. On the other side is a group of people who are worried about being hit by a stray bullet, should a less-than-well-trained individual with a CC permit try to take matters into his own hands.

Those are equivalent crazies?

Comment by Empty Chair Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 2:58 pm
===is a group of people who are worried about being hit by a stray bullet===

Their signs say they’re worried about being made a target.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:01 pm
==David Borris, president of Chicago Area Peace Action said, “believe me, there’s going to be all the Dirty Harry wannabes that are gonna see that purse get snatched, and they’re going to want to drop to one knee, and start shooting.”==

David Borris is the same guy that led the charge against the VFW donating a decommissioned howitzer as part of a war memorial in front of the Northbrook Village Hall - http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-01-26/news/0701260244_1_howitzer-american-legion-veterans-day

Comment by so... Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:06 pm
Cincy, I’d imagine it would have to be locked up and out of reach, just like you transport in Illinois now.

–Concealed carry reduces crime.–

Mark, half the state of Florida goes to bed after “Wheel of Fortune.”

Poverty seems to have the strongest connection to violent crime. New Orleans and Detroit have, by far, the highest homicide rates in the country.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_cities_by_crime_rate

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:06 pm
That’s ridiculous.
Real men go to Rollover Prone for vigilante Justice.

Also, real men capitalize Justice. And Rollover Prone.

Their arguments are unpersuasive, which is why so few people can be persuaded to show up to be counted. The anti-gun activists like to accuse “The Gun Lobby” of having all the money and clout, but that money and that clout both come from the number of people willing to donate and show up. If you add this protest to the earlier one, which was a little larger, I could have sent all the attendees from IGOLD home and outnumbered them with just the volunteer hosts/parade marshals (and I took a real hit on volunteers this year when the Chicago snowstorm kept many of them from showing up.)

Comment by Don Gwinn Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:07 pm
==Their signs say they’re worried about being made a target.==

I think the Dirty Harry comment suggests they’re worried about being accidental targets. Just because you strike the Clint Eastwood pose, doesn’t mean you’ll have Dirty Harry’s aim. Trust me, I’m the Empty Chair he talked to at the RNC. I know the guy pretty well.

Comment by Empty Chair Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:09 pm
Word,

You probably have guessed I’m a big home rule kinda guy… Shoulda added as a condition that CCW was passed in the state with local control exemption. It would seem if CCW was not handled a state-wide, some otherwise law abiding citizen could be caught for having a gun on his hip when he stopped for gas in Chicago.

Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:12 pm
Cincinnatus and Word,

Would either of you comment on how home rule would work when a CCW permit holder drives through a town or specific county? If they ban CCW what happens to the schmuck who drives through? or stops for gas?

I like pushing things down to the local level also, but gun offenses when no other laws are broken?

Comment by Really? Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:17 pm
Anyone can dramatize one side of the argument while downplaying the other, EmptyChair…watch:

One side has people who take exception to the government advocating for an infringement of their 2nd Amendment rights. On the other side is a group of people who believe that merely touching a firearm turns one into an irrational, blood lust filled monster, simply itching for a chance to fire a chunk of lead at anything which blows in the breeze the wrong way.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:17 pm
I think we should start a new slogan. “No Gun. No fear.” For me that means I have no guns and I also live without fear up here in rough and tumble Chicago. Others may have different interpretations.

BTW, Skeeter is dead right about this. I don’t want to see this happen, but I’m not worried that we’re going to have shootouts on Michigan Avenue.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:18 pm
Ok Anon 317, that was just stupid.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:18 pm
Homerule make work for speed zones or zoning, but I drive constantly north, south, east and west, in this state. I could pass through dozens of towns and a few counties a day.

What happens when I get pulled over in Oak Brook and yesterday they passed a law, now CCW in your car. But I have a duty to inform the officer (by state law) I am carrying. Now I have a gun crime on my record.

Home rule for this is almost impossible. Which means the two sides (Chicago and close burbs) and the rest of the state will probably not get together on this.

Comment by RonOglesby Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:21 pm
Yes it was, Cynic, just as what Empty Chair initially wrote was stupid.

Not everyone who is pro CCW thinks the big bad gub’ment is out to take their guns and MURDER THEM with them. A sum total of zero CCW proponents I know think that way. He/she overplays a stereotypical viewpoint he/she holds against one side of the argument while downplaying the fact that some those on his/her side of the equation can be accused of holding ridiculous extremist views on the subject.

Which was sort of the point of Rich’s article really, wasn’t it?

Thanks for getting the point.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:25 pm
==Their signs say they’re worried about being made a target.==

Well, if they’re worried they’ll be targeted, is appearing before cameras a good idea? You just know the Dirty Harry wannabes are downloading their pictures this very minute…

Only a dozen showed up? Sheesh.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:25 pm
Are the Chicago and national media hiding all the stories about these “Dirty Harry” (who was a police officer, albeit fictional, by the way - Paul Kersey would be the better character for the drama queens to cite) happening in the other 49 states?

It seems to me, from my visits to high gun ownership places, that the idea that anyone *could* be armed (or the belief that almost everyone actually is) seems to lead to a heightened level of common courtesy and no extra violence.

Comment by titan Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:26 pm
@Anon - I don’t disagree that it’s easy to frame things in extremes. I just think one group is doing it quite regularly (see: the ISRA survey RM quoted in this post) while the other group has toned down their rhetoric for the most part.

Comment by Empty Chair Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:28 pm
In my view, the comment from David Borris is exceedingly provincial. Has Mr. Borris not traveled in the US outside of Chicago or Illinois? There are 49 states with provisions for carrying arms in public. I’ve lived in 10 different states during the past 20 years, including Illinois. We just don’t observe his envisioned “Dirty Harry wannabes” causing problems in other states. Why in the world does he view Illinois as so exceptional? His comment is indicative of an extremely naive view of our nation and its people.

Comment by Carl from Chicago Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:29 pm
And regarding the 12 people wearing targets and stating “don’t let us be targets” … I find it unremarkable that in a city of 2.7 million people, 12 irrational individuals might gather together at the same time on the same day.

Comment by Carl from Chicago Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:34 pm
- I could pass through dozens of towns and a few counties a day. -

C’mon, how many communities outside Chicago do you think would ban carry? A couple suburbs maybe? I don’t think this would be much of a problem.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:34 pm
Small Town,

Not a problem for you, a problem for the woman driving through the town or stopping for gas that gets criminal record on her way from home to Wisconsin.

Reverse it, think of a few towns or one county banning something else legal throughout the state… Drinking. none. Any drink at all and you get a criminal record. Or each town gets to set its own DUI level. .02 in oak park, .04 in oak brook. .03 in Crystal lake, everywhere else is .08… whats the big deal? I mean that glass of wine with dinner? now you have a nice DUI.

Comment by Really? Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:40 pm
=== Nobody wants to completely disarm the people ===

@Skeeter — Not true… SOME, not all, want to completely disarm the people.

Comment by Just Observing Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:45 pm
I want statewide preemption. BUT….

I actually think there is room for Sheriff based may issue IF you can carry anywhere in the state… Chicago and cook county or these towns that dont approve carry permits would have upset populations that other legal carriers from outside their town can carry but they cant. I actually believe this would push some of the voters more to push their politicians to right to carry.

Comment by RonOglesby Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:46 pm
=== C’mon, how many communities outside Chicago do you think would ban carry? A couple suburbs maybe? I don’t think this would be much of a problem. ===

Probably quite a bit. We have already seen communities like Chicago, Morton Grove, and Oak Park completely ban handguns in people’s homes. You don’t think those communities and many more would attempt to ban concealed carry?

Comment by Just Observing Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:47 pm
No JO, they don’t.

Some want to get rid of high capacity mags.

Others want to get rid of assault weapons.

Nobody wants to disarm everybody.

That’s as paranoid as the people protesting today.

Comment by Skeeter Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:47 pm
- Chicago, Morton Grove, and Oak Park -

So put your gun in a case when you’re passing through Cook County.

Look, I don’t care about concealed carry either way, but I don’t think allowing locals to decide the issue is going to lead to a patchwork of different laws to navigate. I’m pretty sure it would basically be 101 counties you can carry in, 1 that you can’t.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:56 pm
I would love to take all of your guns away. However, my feelings on the subject are just that–my feelings. Rationally, I know that’s wrong and I would argue against a total ban.

Comment by Chavez-respecting Obamist Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:58 pm
because the single mom with the restraining order that happens to live in Cook county should have her fate decided by Rahm and Dart. Where if she moves across the street she’s in Will county and may be fine.

Silly.

Comment by Really? Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:59 pm
Small town,

And how am I supposed to do that? pull over somewhere? side of the street? pull out my weapon, unload it, put it in a case, make unaccesable? Have you read the laws for brandishing? do you know that the act of doing that is illegal?

Comment by RonOglesby Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 4:00 pm
- Really? - Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 3:17 pm:

I baffled about it too, but I thought that Word would be able to provide the most cogent answer to your (and my) question. This is a very real problem, even worse that I posited, as expanded by RonOglesby. In a different thread a while ago on Anita Alvarez’s decision, supported by Lisa Madigan about not enforcing the gay marriage ban in state law (without taking any side on the gay marriage issue at all), I made the same point about patchwork enforcement and its (unintended?) consequence.

Some things are certainly in the realm of local control, and some aren’t. I think that any rule that makes someone a criminal, just by passing through a community, should be subject to intense scrutiny.

Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 4:03 pm
Ron, you’re right, I’m sure it would be impossible. Maybe someday, once we clear up the origin of the universe and invent time travel, someone can tackle the really hard problem of how someone could drive through Cook County without carrying their gun.

Perhaps someone from one of the 49 states that allow carry could explain what they do when crossing Illinois…

Comment by Small Town Liberal Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 4:13 pm
I also don’t see how this should be based on home rule.

Things that are as serious as rules on possessing a gun need to be clear.

A person should be able to drive around Illinois knowing the rules.

Comment by Skeeter Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 4:15 pm
SmallTown

Nice strawman that mean nothing. YOU were the one that said, just put it in a case. Like so many that nothing about the topic but have an opinion I point out that its illegal to do what you mention and you lash out with time travel garbage…

Wonder why gun guys get upset? because we point out a problem with what you propose and instead of proposing a solution to the problem the YOU INVENTED you lash out with that.

Thar be the problem matey!

You are fine with simple answers but its not simple. You are also fine with your little simple answers turning people into criminals for doing nothing but driving through a town or county. Sorry I am not fine with that.

Comment by RonOglesby Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 4:17 pm
I agreed with Illinois Peace Action about the US invasion of Iraq ten years ago, and given how it all turned out with no WMDs, billions spent, and about 3,500 service men and women killed in combat their opposition was justified. But their position on the issue of the appeal to the Supreme Court is stupid even from the perspective of gun control advocate, one which I am not. As was pointed out the likely result of the appeal would be to wipe out local laws on concealed carry in other states.

At any rate the various machinations of this discussion has exhausted me. Let’s just pass a bill which I assume will be as restrictive as possible and see if it passes court review. As I have said before even though I am a gun owner and an ISRA member from Chicago I do not intend to get a concealed carry permit so the stakes are low for me.

Comment by Rod Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 4:17 pm
Small Town, crossing a state line involves HUNDREDS of miles generally. They stop and case their weapon. Cook county when you look in the burbs is not a state, as much as they wish they were or think they are.

Snarky comments aside I wish you had better answers, you seem to be part of the problem.

Comment by Really? Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 4:19 pm
Ron

You may have a very workable solution. If the May-issue part is more like Louisiana, and apealable if denied then that could be the solution. The County Sheriff after all being politically elected could be removed if he or she decided to issue no permits or for that matter hand them out like candy on Halloween. That probably should have been proposed a few years ago before the 7th’s decision. The problem for those who are against Shall issue is the tide is flowing the wrong way now for that kind of compromise. Blame it on either side.

Empty chair

if the Pro-gun control side is limiting it’s rhetoric what do you call the cover of the New York Daily News? -http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/hr.asp?fpVname=NY_DN&ref_pge=lst- If that is toned down i’d hate to see the regular.

Comment by Mason born Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 4:19 pm
STL@4:13 even those 49 states have laws and demand responsiblities of the gun owner when “visiting” their states, just like the DNR laws its YOUR charge to know OUR law!! good point for discussion !

Comment by railrat Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 4:24 pm
Ron - I’m a gunowner. I’ve traveled with guns. I do not care one bit whether you carry a weapon.

If you’re telling me there is no legal way to remove a gun from your body and put it in a secure place before entering a non-carry county, I think you’re not very bright.

If that hurts your feelings, I truly am sorry.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 4:24 pm
–As I have said before even though I am a gun owner and an ISRA member from Chicago I do not intend to get a concealed carry permit so the stakes are low for me.–

I imagine it’s hard to get a golf foursome together of the like-minded, lol.

Mason, it’s kind of silly to expect “toned-down” headlines from New York or London tabloids. That’s not what they do.

My all-time favorite from the New York Post: “Headless Body in Topless Bar”

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 4:26 pm
STL

I do travel to and from MO. Usually i stop make the weapon Useless in order to comply with IL law by stopping in the parking lot of the last Gas Station in MO. The problem as Ron was trying to say is that technically if a LE sees you you have brandished your weapon. I do it in MO because usually the MO LE are understanding of this. However it is still illegal and unless you are going to rewrite the law as to what is considered brandishing it becomes a bit difficult to do what you suggest.

Comment by Mason born Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 4:26 pm
STL

It is not that it is hard to do it is that it is Illegal. the other option is to carry the case into a restroom on private or state property and do it in an enclosed space. But again if your caught you are brandishing. In the end you either violate the law by carrying in Cook or violate it by clearing it in public.

word

I have no arguement as to the insanity out of New York but Empty Chair seems to have everyone who thinks like me confused with the Alex Jones bunch.

Comment by Mason born Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 4:31 pm
=== No JO, they don’t. Some want to get rid of high capacity mags. Others want to get rid of assault weapons. Nobody wants to disarm everybody. That’s as paranoid as the people protesting today. ===

It’s not paranoid pointing out the obvious that SOME people want to disarm the population. I’m not saying it’s an active proposal; I’m not saying its likely; I’m saying SOME people support that effort. I would guess at least 25 percent of the population would support such an effort.

Comment by Just Observing Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 4:41 pm
STL

So you tell me what the LEGAL way to
a. Remove a firearm from a concealed holster.
b. Clear that firearm.
c. Place it into a case.
d. Place that case out of reach of the driver. (i know DNR doesn’t say out of reach it says not immediately accesible but do you really think Cook won’t want it int he trunk.)

While not violating this
(a) A person commits the offense of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon when he or she knowingly:…
…(2) Carries or possesses on or about his or her

person, upon any public street, alley, or other public lands within the corporate limits of a city, village or incorporated town, except when an invitee thereon or therein, for the purpose of the display of such weapon or the lawful commerce in weapons, or except when on his or her own land or in his or her own abode, legal dwelling, or fixed place of business, or on the land or in the legal dwelling of another person as an invitee with that person’s permission, any pistol, revolver, stun gun or taser or other firearm; and

Comment by Mason born Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 4:47 pm
Mason - Please point me to some examples of where this has happened in our border states, or outside of NYC, or anywhere else that has concealed carry prohibited in certain locations.

If you can show me that this has been a significant problem elsewhere, I’ll stop teasing.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 4:56 pm
A dozen (12)travel across town to protest concealed carry. Ten Thousand (10,000) travel several hours from across the state to support concealed carry in Springfield . I think, that is 0.0012% of the people don’t want concealed carry. If this is any indication, concealed carry is supported by 99.9988% of the people. Oh I forgot to include Quinn, both Madigan’s and Rahm. So it looks like we have 16 people at least against concealed carry

Comment by Bob Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 8:45 pm
An excellent look at the gun issue this evening on NPR. http://www.npr.org/2013/03/21/173815829/on-gun-ownership-and-policy-a-country-of-chasms

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 10:27 pm
“I would guess at least 25 percent of the population would support such an effort.” Just Observing

Really dude? You really think 25% of the American Populace supports disarming everyone in America? I gotta tell you, you are simply proving the point of those of us that suggest your side has a very, very misguided view of reality. I guarantee that you are off by probably a factor of ten.

I am pro gun control, I favor an assault weapons ban, limits on magazine size, expanded background checks and never in my wildest imagination would I suggest a constitutional amendment that would allow the government to take away everyone’s guns. There are 300,000,000 guns in America today - you really think someone would think confiscation would be a good policy?

Dude, NOBODY IS COMING AFTER YOUR GUNS. The NRA is promoting that narrative because they are a trade association designed to expand gun sales. It’s a sales-promoting fantasy that has worked brilliantly.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, Mar 21, 13 @ 10:51 pm
People wonder why the gun control groups never muster much support.

I have often wondered what they do when they get together?

Talk about the gun they didnt buy, the gun show they didnt go to the hunting tripmthey didnt take or match theymdidnt shoot?

We gunnies have something in common, and if your a 3 gun shooter or trap,guy, we can find something to talk about or joke about.

The otherside doesnt have anything like that.

Comment by Todd Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 7:54 am
Todd, the people I know who are active in anti-gun causes usually talk about the time they were shot. Sometimes they compare scars or sometimes they talk about loved ones lost to gun violence.

But sure, there is less to joke about on that side.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 8:26 am
Actually Todd, we talk about the Bears. And our kids. And we complain about our jobs. We have real lives.

Comment by Skeeter Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 8:39 am
I left out golf. Many of us tell long stories about golf.

Comment by Skeeter Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 8:41 am
Skeeter,

ahh yes, because anyone that is pro 2A obviously does not have a “real” life.

Comment by Really? Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 8:48 am
Skeeter, I would expect yu also do a bit of complaining about the nra.

Part of our lives revolves, pun intended, around the shootingsports or hunting lots of stories about hunting trips.

As for golf, every golf bag should have room for a 12 gauage. I’ll go down 75 yards from the tee, if you can get your ball past me, you playnthe hole, if not, boggie, next hole

Comment by Todd Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:19 am
No Todd, I really don’t.

Unless somebody brings it up, I never give you all much thought at all. Most of your friends sort of remind me of a scene from Casablanca:

Ugarte: You despise me, don’t you?

Rick: If I gave you any thought I probably would.

By the way, I would have thought that most of you people would spend most of your time discussing when the jack booted thugs are going to crash through the door. Must make for a lot of sleepless nights. Which may be why so many of you seem so cranky.

Comment by Skeeter Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 10:26 am
I sleep very well at night and the only boots i think about are my cowboy boots when i kick th off

Comment by Todd Friday, Mar 22, 13 @ 11:16 am