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Grotesque ISRA paranoia has not yet subsided

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* From an Illinois State Rifle Association press release…

URGENT ALERT - YOUR ACTION REQUIRED

ANTIGUNNERS TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETINGS ATTACKING CONCEALED CARRY

YOU MUST ATTEND TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT

Gun-grabbing State Representative Laura Fine will be holding a so-called “Public Meeting” on Wednesday, January 22, 2014 in Glenview, Illinois. Joining Fine in organizing the meeting is the extremely anti-gun Cook County State’s Attorneys Office along with the state’s most radical gun control organization, The Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence (ICHV).

Fine claims that this meeting is for the purpose of answering questions the public might have about concealed carry. In reality, the organizers plan to use the meeting to frighten the public and spread lies about the impact of concealed carry on public safety. Fine and the other organizers plan to use this meeting as a recruiting session for ICHV and as a platform to launch efforts to REPEAL CONCEALED CARRY during the 2014 legislative session coming up this spring.

DON’T BE FOOLED - Rep. Fine, the ICHV and the Cook County State’s Attorneys Office want to strip you of your right of self defense, and then come take your guns away.

ARE YOU GOING TO STAND BY AND LET THE GUN GRABBERS TAKE WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY YOURS?

Of course not. That is why you must stand up now and defend your rights! That is why we must flood Fine’s “Public Meeting” with solid supporters of the 2nd Amendment!

3 THINGS YOU MUST DO TO HELP PROTECT THE FUTURE OF CONCEALED CARRY AND PRESERVE ALL YOUR GUN RIGHTS

1. Attend Rep. Fine’s “Public Meeting” on concealed carry. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 22, 2014, 7:00 PM, Glenview Police Station, 2500 East Lake Street, Glenview. Please plan on being there at 6:15 to make sure that you get a seat. In the past, the gun grabbers have been known to close the doors early to stifle pro-gun voices. Be sure to wear NRA or IGold hats and t-shirts to the event. If you see the media there, approach them and tell them that you are a law-abiding firearm owner and that you strongly support concealed carry and the right to keep and bear arms. The gun controllers on the panel will surely attack the Second Amendment and your right to keep and bear arms. It is very important that you vigorously defend your rights and enthusiastically support your fellow gun owners when they speak out in defense of our Constitutional rights.

2. Pass this alert on to all your friends and family members…tell them to show up at the meeting as well.

3. Post this alert to any and all Internet bulletin boards or blogs to which you subscribe.

* Rep. Fine canceled the meeting…

“The meeting was a question-and-answer session, not a debate on the concealed carry bill,” said Fine, of Glenview.

“Elected officials around the state have been holding these meetings, more so for chambers of commerce because business people want to know how to abide by the law if someone walks into their place with a gun.”

Jim Patterson, Glenview village president, said he read the Illinois State Rifle Association’s posting.

“The wording is strong and by design wanting a conflict. The meeting’s intention was question and answer, not turning it into a debate and setting the stage for conflict,” Patterson said.

He also said the police community room’s capacity limit could be exceeded, and he asked Fine to reschedule the meeting.

Sheesh.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 12:22 pm

Comments

Seesh … part of the reason I do not belong to ISRA. While I understand their over the top approach is sometimes partially justified, they also need to know when to tone it down …

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 12:25 pm
Did Fine vote for or against the bill?

Don’t forget the anti-carry crowd isn’t shy about these tactics either.

Full disclosure, I’m a supporter and have submitted my CC app.

Comment by Allen Skillicorn Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 12:27 pm
I do find it interesting that if you get medical MJ there is a proposal you have to turn in your FOID….

Having worked security in college I would have to say the stoners were the folks I worried about the least.

Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 12:28 pm
Been an avid shooter for 50 years, and I have seen the leadership of both the NRA and the NSRA hi-jacked by screwballs years ago. These people who are motivated enough by theier paranoia to rise to the top in these organizations are the luney-tunes fringe of gun owners, and they hardly represent the general population of gun owners. Ignore them.

Comment by Skirmisher Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 12:28 pm
This type of rhetoric is the reason why I just can’t join the NRA or ISRA. I just don’t want to be complicit with this types of communications and tactics.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 12:30 pm
== REPEAL CONCEALED CARRY ====

given the legal decisions i think it is safe to say there is a betetr chance everyone in Illinois will win the powerball 3 times in a row then this occuring.

But its nice to see we are not using fear mongering anymore.

Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 12:35 pm
Who has extreme view on handguns the ISRA or the current leader of the Cook County States Attorney’s Office?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEyzWI9oLck

Comment by Steve Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 12:38 pm
“interesting that if you get medical MJ there is a proposal you have to turn in your FOID”

Federally, If you are the unlawful user of a controlled substance you are prohibited from owning a firearm.

Technically, even Medical Marijuana is illegal at the federal level. That is most likely where the logic is coming from.

Comment by Kevin Highland Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 12:45 pm
If you read this message backwards it says the sky is falling, and paul is dead.

Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 12:47 pm
==Who has extreme view on handguns the ISRA or the current leader of the Cook County States Attorney’s Office?==

One view doesn’t excuse the other. Any sane and reasonable person can see that the ISRA “action alert” is the work of lunatics.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 12:54 pm
I disagree with the shrill approach ISRA took here (and I am not an ISRA member because of their stunts), but if you think Rep. Fine and ICHV wasn’t going to advocate attendees posting their businesses as gun free zones you’re dreaming.

A more effective approach for ISRA would have been for a dozen or so well spoken members to attend to raise points and alternate viewpoints as needed without disrupting the meeting. Packing the function with glowering members is counterproductive as are email blasts like this one. It makes them look like part of the tin foil hat brigade, even when the core issue they raise is totally valid.

Comment by Ken_in_Aurora Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 12:55 pm
The I.S.R.A. has been suspect for a long time. They took in more cash when Illinois was the last state without concealed carry, because there was a fight to be had. Now that the issue is soon to be settled they have to put out these over the top press releases to fire up the membership and justify their existence.

Comment by John A Logan Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 1:05 pm
The fight is still there, bills have been introduced to peel back sections of CCW. I just debate whether ISRA’s approach is effective.

Comment by Ken_in_Aurora Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 1:13 pm
I think John Logan has it right. The ISRA lost their cash cow when conceal-carry passed.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 1:15 pm
Hamster on a wheel. what a shame and a waste of dollars raised that could go to some other good.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 1:16 pm
==efforts to REPEAL CONCEALED CARRY==

I seem to recall the courts had something to say on this…what was it?

The only thing repealing the concealed carry bill would do is remove the permitting process and allow almost everyone to carry. I would think the ISRA would approve of that.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 1:20 pm
One view doesn’t excuse the other. Any sane and reasonable person can see that the ISRA “action alert” is the work of lunatics.

So if you disagree you are insane and unreasonable?
I don’t agree with how the ISRA give it’s message but look at who is sponsoring this meeting. Rep. Fine is listed as a member of the Stop Concealed Carry Coalition on its website. http://www.stopconcealedcarry.org/about.php
She voted to uphold Quinn’s veto of the passed bill. The Cook County Anita is against gun ownership in general. Now that its is law can they give an unbiased interpretation of it to the public? Can’t excuse the ISRA’s tactics but there may be a little fire in this smoke in this one.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 1:22 pm
Not very original are they? This is almost word for word the ‘press release’ they used on Deb Conroy’s town hall last summer. Didn’t ISRA get taken to task on that one?

Comment by Ggal Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 1:24 pm
==So if you disagree you are insane and unreasonable?==

No. Where exactly did I say that? What I said is that this “action alert” was insane. I think that should be fairly obvious.

==I don’t agree with how the ISRA give it’s message but look at who is sponsoring this meeting.==

As our mother’s told us, two wrongs don’t make a right. I don’t care if this is the ISRA or an anti-concealed carry group. I would call out the other group just as fast as I am the ISRA.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 1:25 pm
I never saw Larry Fine with a gun. Now, Shemp Howard was a gun grabber.

Comment by Upon Further Review Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 1:47 pm
Demoralized:
No. Where exactly did I say that? What I said is that this “action alert” was insane. I think that should be fairly obvious.

I agree that the action alert is over the top if that’s what you mean as insane. But is the whole subject matter of the alert insane and that there is no biased agenda on the part of the meeting sponsors?

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 1:51 pm
I am an ISRA member and I don’t have any problems with supporters of the current Concealed Carry law attending a public meeting that is supposedly a Q@A on the law being called by an opponent of that law. But I do not think showing up with NRA hats, etc. is appropriate.

I have said this before, seeing many supporters of the 2nd amendment in business attire at meetings like State Representative Laura Fine’s in Glenview would be refreshing. Is there little doubt that most of the anti-gun crowd figures the average ISRA member perpetually looks like a character out of Duck Dynasty.

The same folks who are asking my fellow ISRA members to effectively dress in their “colors,” would never dream of wearing their Smith and Wesson tees to church on Sunday because it would be disrespectful. Public discourse requires a level of decorum in order for it to have any value, intimidation is not a good starting point for a dialog. We have the law, now we have to show it can be used appropriately and with due restraint.

Comment by Rod Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 2:01 pm
OneMan, good point there. Hard to reach for a gun when your hand is deep in a bag of Cheetos.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 2:05 pm
==But is the whole subject matter of the alert insane==

You are still trying to justify the “alert.” It’s not justifiable. I don’t care what the subject matter is. The “subject” gets lost with the way over-the-top language of the alert.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 2:12 pm
This is really nothing new. Gun advocates generally do attend such meetings even when the situation is nearly hopeless.

I have even seen gun owners address the Evanston City Council despite the fact that the seven aldermen usually always vote 7-0 to restrict gun rights and that city winds up wasting money on court challenges to its ordinances.

Comment by Upon Further Review Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 2:14 pm
==Gun advocates generally do attend such meetings==

But I’m guessing they don’t publish “the sky is falling” action alerts prior to attending those meetings and I’m guessing they address the meetings in a respectful manner. That’s the way it should be done. I hate it when groups have the singular intention of creating a zoo atmosphere at meetings. There have been groups of all stripes pull those kinds of stunts. As @Rod says, participation at meetings needs to be done with some level of decorum.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 2:20 pm
Ridiculous on the part of ISRA, and I am a pro-cc. There are legitimate legal issues businesses have to address, so its not unthinkable that a forum would be held to answer any questions.

Comment by Just Observing Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 2:31 pm
THe ISRA should be up in arms about the proposed marijuana rules than some anti-gun legislator. It has the potential to create more problems for legal gun owners. What do marijuana and guns have in common? Todd apparently (from what I read) wasn’t too shook up about it.
“Reefer madness” was disproved a long time ago, but apparently the people involved in setting rules are high on something else. (Was surprised that Rich hadn’t started a thread on this topic, but he is probably right-it will just bring out the ranters who (or their spouses) might benefit from medical marijuana, but want to keep their guns).

Comment by downstate commissioner Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 2:39 pm
=== I never saw Larry Fine with a gun. Now, Shemp Howard was a gun grabber ===

Nyuk nyuk nyuk. Soitenly!!!

Comment by dupage dan Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 2:52 pm
Rod:
I too am a ISRA member and I agree with your message. Also, the pros are not going to change the confirmed antis. So don’t scare away the undecideds and prove the antis point.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 2:56 pm
==efforts to REPEAL CONCEALED CARRY==

Well well, Fine and Co would like nothing better than for IL’s CCW law to be modeled after that of NYC, NJ, or MD, where anyone can apply for CCW but no one can get one.

Comment by Palanon Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 3:03 pm
The more businesses ban guns, the more likely you are to leave them home. It’s quite a maze we have.

Comment by Libertyville's finest Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 4:25 pm
This kind of alert has been issued by the ISRA in advance of any meeting on gun regulation, for at least three years now. Usually no one shows, unless they go so far as to arrange a pre-meeting or car-pooling.

I have been at two public meetings where one or two ISRA members have tried (and mostly failed) to disrupt the meeting, while most have been orderly and respectful.

Occasionally there is a loud interruption, but the rest of the crowd then asks for a little courtesy. It’s all part of our democracy.

Have the darn meeting.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 4:25 pm
Rep. Fine can pretend that she only wanted to have a Q&A about a new law, but that’s as believable as PETA wanting to write a restaurant review on a newly opened steak house only to help the eating public.

Comment by James Wednesday, Jan 22, 14 @ 5:52 pm