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A plea for the middle ground on guns

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* This must-read open letter to constituents by Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) includes a must-watch video…

Yesterday morning, I spoke on the floor of the House on a bill proposed by several downstate legislators that was intended to be a cleanup to our state’s concealed carry law. The bill (SB836), was characterized as a technical clean up bill but was still opposed by the IL Coalition Against Handgun Violence on grounds that the process of negotiating the bill wasn’t inclusive of both perspectives.

The night before, I voted against the bill in committee and objected to the sponsors’ suggestion that the bill was negotiated and agreed to by all parties.

I spent all night thinking about how we keep having the same fight over and over again: few issues are more polarized than gun rights vs. gun control and I am just as guilty of it as anyone on the other side of the argument. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, so I decided change had to start with me.

When I was recognized by the Speaker and rose to address the House, I could see “here she goes again” on the faces of my usual adversaries in years of battles over guns. What many don’t know is that all three of the lead sponsors of the bill are among my dearest friends in the General Assembly. In our private conversations, we acknowledge that we come from different communities with different needs and that we are each forcefully advocating sincere beliefs on behalf of the people we were sent here to represent. We’ve also often talked about how nice it would be if we could sit down together, without the lobbyists pulling us to extremes, and craft common sense policies that reflect that respect and admiration. Just as we are here to represent our communities, the advocates who work here are paid to represent their positions, not to compromise their organizations’ principles.

I shared a story about the last weekend we were home and an exchange between me and my oldest son while he was at his brother’s baseball game. While the game dragged on, my other two boys got bored and wanted to run around and explore the park around the baseball fields. I said no, I wanted them to stay with me and my oldest repeatedly asked me why. He’s 14, so I am used to that question no matter what the issue, but in this case when I said “because I said so,” the truth was that I didn’t want to tell him the real reason I didn’t want to let them out of my sight. As we sat in the lakefront park on a gorgeous evening, I was preoccupied with the news of how many shootings had happened in the previous week in our neighborhood and I was afraid to let the boys out of my sight. But I wasn’t about to tell my kids that, so I stuck with being the “not cool” mom instead.

When we got home that night, I saw that while we were at the game, a 17 year old boy and a 4 year old girl had been shot in another part of the city and that the little girl was clinging to life with a bullet lodged in her brain. My partner and I were talking about it and she challenged me, reminding me that I used to do a lot of work on gun issues. I responded that I had gotten so much horrific hate mail and threats that I had consciously stepped back to take a break from the ugliness. Her immediate response was “break’s over,” and she was right.

But returning to the same bills, same proposals and same battles just doesn’t make any sense to me. Not because I fear the hate mail, but because I believe all of us were sent here to find solutions and our constituents would prefer us to work together towards compromise rather than dig in on extreme positions with no possibility of success.

So yesterday, I gave this speech on the floor:

I reminded my colleagues that it isn’t the lobbyists’ job to find the middle ground, it is ours and I said that in a gesture of good faith, I was willing to acknowledge that while I did object to the process that led to this bill, I had no objections to the substance of the bill and would be voting yes. I went on to challenge them to meet me in the middle. I made clear that, in spite of being known as a “rabid gun grabber,” I didn’t want their guns, but that I also didn’t want their guns to keep turning up in my neighborhood and leaving bullets lodged in the brains of little girls.

There is a common sense middle ground, one that respects the rights of those who are worthy of respect, punishes those deserving punishment and protects those we are all charged with protecting. It’s time for all of us to find that place, so kids can be free to play in our parks without fear of random acts of violence.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:01 am

Comments

Thoughtful…

Comment by A guy Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:07 am
I support her position and I admire the approach.

But I won’t hold my breath waiting for the gun lobby to reciprocate.

Comment by siriusly Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:10 am
Middle ground = balance, boy wouldn’t that be nice.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:14 am
I applaud her courage, but she is dreaming.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:18 am
There’s no middle ground to be found on this issue, it’s either you believe in the right to defend yourself, or you believe in a police state to protect the citizens. Those who believe in defending themselves don’t see police as people to trust to save their lives, as police can’t stop crimes before they occur they show up after the crime has been committed. The ones who believe only Police and Military should have the guns still don’t realize the criminals will still have guns, they are criminals for a reason they don’t follow laws most of society follows. This is one issue I always wanted to go away, but it never will unfortunately too many extremes on each side therefore don’t count on anything ever being solved.

Comment by bloval27 Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:20 am
==- bloval27 - Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:20 am:==

So the police are the criminals.

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:33 am
Your free to own a gun. I’m protected by the clause “A Well Regulated Militia”. You, as the gun owner, are licensed and trained. You are also required to carry illinois of dollars in liability insurance to protect yourself from loss. Just like we do with cars. The For Profit Insurance industry is perfectly suited to price these products.

Comment by Jack Stephens Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:36 am
I see this far differently. This topic, from my vantage, needs context because the Representative conflates, in a pretty self-serving manner, several important issues. What was before the GA was clean up language to the Federal Court required concealed carry law. This clean up language was entirely uncontroversial and reasonable. But to hear the Representative, this was a hard vote. Sure it was … for someone who does not respect law abiding gun owners’ rights. The topic was NOT about illegal guns … which might attach better to the Representative’s rant. Let’s not forget, criminals do not obtain FOID/CC cards.

In the end, this was mostly histrionics by the Representative as there is no “meeting half-way” on CC for law-abiding citizens.

Now should she want to go after illegal guns and the criminals who move and use them … there many will be willing to might her more than “half-way.”

Comment by Georg Sande Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:36 am
The point of the letter isn’t that ‘the sides’ will ever hunt for the middle. It’s that the legislators by themselves have to hunt for that middle, even if that means risking some heat from the various sides. The ‘burn the village to the ground to save it’ mentality of many of the single issue organizations (and lobsters) is what is causing the problems. Sometimes compromise is lost because of what might be sent out on the last weekend of the campaign by a well-funded organization. Very sad indictment on our system and I applaud her in her efforts and wish her the best.

Comment by Not quite a majority Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:39 am
VanillaMan, enjoy it for what it is. You don’t hear sentiment like this too often among the Solons.

Comment by Norseman Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:39 am
I have no doubt that Rep. Cassidy is a good person and truly believes that she is on the side of the angels on this issue, but I have a very difficult time equating her positions with anything approaching the “middle ground.” I suspect her middle ground is far from the center, just like her “common sense” ideas aren’t common or sensible to many of us.

Comment by Ken_in_Aurora Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:42 am
The issue is illegal gun ownership by criminals, that will not be stopped by more laws restricting gun ownership. The courts need to be more diligent in enforcing the laws pertaining to guns used in a criminal act. Other large cities have much lower gun violence and less restrictive gun laws than Chicago.

Comment by Apocalypse Now Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:45 am
- Precinct Captain - Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:33 am:

==- bloval27 - Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:20 am:==

So the police are the criminals.
———————————————–

Didn’t say that, merely explained the 2 extreme views that muck up this issue. The issue with gun violence always has been the criminals who use the guns and how they are obtaining them, but legislators, think tanks and lobbyists spread fear amongst the populace and that’s why this issue I will never see being solved, because once you agree to do one thing the other side screams in horror about their rights being trampled regardless of the side of the issue you stand with.

Comment by bloval27 Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:45 am
There is a common sense middle ground, one that respects the rights of those who are worthy of respect, punishes those deserving punishment and protects those we are all charged with protecting. It’s time for all of us to find that place, so kids can be free to play in our parks without fear of random acts of violence.

Every side of this debate believe that. The devil is of course in the details. Already we have commenters going to their respective corners and saying the other side won’t come to the middle they’re extreme. It has become the norm anymore to blast your opponent as evil, un-american, etc. Anything rather than hear their position state your own and find points of concurrence. It doesn’t seem to matter what the issue is budget deal, workmans comp, debt ceiling, NSA spying etc.

Comment by Mason born Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:46 am
We have the same gun laws in Springfield but I would let my 14 year old go off by themselves a bit. There are other factors at play in Chicago that need to be adressed.

Comment by Union Dues Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:47 am
I don’t know. This congratulatory bombastic language would come off much better if it weren’t coming from her. You voted on a bill. You want a medal?

What happens to these people?

Comment by State worker Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:55 am
Yes…because enacting more laws on law abiding citizens will lower the amount of murders in Chicago…with the most strict gun laws in the nation, it obviously is not working.

Comment by Shanks Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:57 am
Sorry about that.

I was going to say or guns.

Common ground is actually easier to define on this issue than many of the others.

1. No one on either side wants criminals to pocess firearms.
2. No one wants children to have unsupervised access to firearms.
3. No one wants to see the horrific deathtolls coming out of Baltimore.
4. Everyone wants to see those who commit crimes of violence punished and kept away from their loved ones.

It’s getting to these points while still respecting the rights of law abiding citzens that turns it into a nightmare.

Comment by Mason born Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 10:58 am
OK, I am pro-gun. Please suggest a “middle ground” that does not make it harder for law-ABIDING people to own, purchase, and use firearms.
We can all agree that criminals should not have access to firearms. In Illinois, we have a FOID card: criminals don’t get them. In Illinois, we have concealed carry with the strictest training requirements in the nation: criminals don’t get them.
The “gun show loophole” hasn’t existed in Illinois for years.
“Assault rifle” bans really don’t affect criminals, since they are ignored. (And a person “really doesn’t NEED an assault rifle” is not justification to ban them.)
I am NOT being facetious, come up with “middle ground” suggestions that will actually lower the crime rate.
I spent some time on this comment, but before I posted it, I went back and read later comments. I thought her “rant” was well spoken, reflecting her viewpoint.
But “Union Dues” has a good point. In our small town, smaller children routinely walk by themselves. One of my daughter’s main reasons for buying a house here 25 miles a way from Springfield where she works was that she (her kids) could ride a bike on the streets when she was (is) six years old.
Gun killings aren’t routine in Illinois, except in Chicago…

Comment by downstate commissioner Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 11:00 am
With the concealed carry legislation which Illinois was forced to authorize, the representative insisted upon parks as gun free zones. She got what she wanted. Parks are now gun free zones and people with a CCl can be charged with a misdemeanor if they have a loaded firearm in a park. Apparently, the gun free zones are not working for her. The NRA has supported efforts to prevent the mentally ill from getting guns and better enforcement measures for straw purchasers. The representative has ignored these ideas and instead has pushed things like gun free zones and mandatory insurance. She may not want guns in her neighborhood, but as a lawyer she is certainly familiar with the second amendment to the United States constitution.

To clarify Jack’s statement, someone can legally own a gun in Illinois and obtain a FOID card and CCL without needing to show insurance to anyone. It is not illegal to possess a gun without insurance.

Comment by Muscular Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 11:07 am
===No one wants to see the horrific deathtolls coming out of Baltimore.===

Agreed. Or Waco.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 11:09 am
Bravo! Reasonable people should be able to find middle ground.

Comment by nc guy Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 11:19 am
I admire her willingness to take another look at things.

At the same time, if ICHV’s biggest and best argument against passage of a bill filled with minor, reasonable, common-sense fixes on guns is that they weren’t a participant in crafting it, then I’d say they oppose the bill for irrational, illogical reasons.

Good for Miss Cassidy for being reasonable and open minded to something besides what has failed so spectacularly to curb violence that leads to 4-year-olds with bullets in their brains.

Those who advocate for additional failed gun control policies and legislation should heed Rep. Cassidy’s words and try something new. What Chicago needs is more good guy gun ownership, not more gun control.

People are looking at photos and videos from the inability of police to protect everyday American citizens in cities like Ferguson and Baltimore and deciding that gun ownership is the best thing they can do to help ensure their families’ safety and the sanctity of their homes. The stills and movies from the violent mobs running wild are like never-ending infomercials for gun ownership.

Heck, just look at all of the violence in Chicago, where folks are numb to it all - instead pretending that it always happens “elsewhere” until it happens to them or someone they know personally.

John

Comment by John Boch Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 11:22 am
In our remarkably gun rich society, the vast majority of deaths by gunshot are not related to criminal activity. How about we all work on reducing those for a while.

Comment by walker Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 11:23 am
I find this really a tough one. On one hand, I know if I lived in a high crime neighborhood I’d be packin’ to protect my family. On the other hand, too many people buy guns who aren’t responsible enough to keep them from falling into the bad guy’s hands.

I had a now-deceased alcoholic relative who had a thing for guns and hunting knives. He owned a 357 amongst his weapons cache. He had nothing about him that would “red flag” him for legal gun ownership. One night, in a drunken stupor, he gave the 357 to a visitor who in turn bought him a couple gallons of vodka. A few months later my relative was arrested because his 357 was used in a murder and had been recovered at the scene of the crime. Since he didn’t report it as stolen, he was a murder suspect, although he had no ties to the victim. He was able to get off because his father in law had been a CPD detective and his son was a cop.

I don’t know how you keep weapons from irresponsible people like my relative, yet keep them available to those who need them to protect their lives. I’m sure that second amendment right is little consolation to a grieving family of a child who was killed using a stolen gun.

Like I said, tough call…

Comment by Arizona Bob Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 11:27 am
We may or may not have a gun problem in the United States, but we clearly have a violence problem. Canada has about the same rate of firearm ownership, but only a small fraction of our gun violence. Until we get our hands around that, the debate over guns will never end.

What is it about our culture that results in all of the shooting? And let’s face it, if guns were taken out of the equation somehow by magic, the violent would find other weapons to use. Guns just make it super easy to kill other people.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 11:33 am
I think Rep Cassidy’s letter was great and it reflex’s most of my thinking on this issue. As to those who thought it was a rant or mostly histrionics I would venture to guess they don’t live in her district as this was a letter to constituents. The fact that she voted for any bill labeled as a gun bill is a big deal.

Comment by Been There Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 11:42 am
The intemperate reaction to Rep. Cassidy’s sincere comments illustrate why the matter is so divisive. You can’t just accept her statement at face value; you have to attack, attack, attack. Pitiful.

Comment by D.P.Gumby Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 11:48 am
I get that she’s well intentioned and I hope both sides listen to her. The ICHV opposing technical clean up because they didn’t get anything? Really?

They are forced into this position because they have fought tooth & nail against every change until the Court weighed in and ruled against them. Now, they want to compromise?

She is very well intentioned and there should be some middle ground. Hope everyone heeds the call.

Comment by 1776 Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 11:50 am
“I didn’t want their guns, but that I also didn’t want their guns to keep turning up in my neighborhood and leaving bullets lodged in the brains of little girls.”

This is probably my favorite quote of the entire year so far and well said. If only the right wing NRA was willing to find solutions and help prevent gun violence and stop ignoring it.

Comment by Ahoy! Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 11:59 am
Union Dues, I’m guessing that there are parts of Springfield you wouldn’t let your 14-year-old go wandering off alone. Don’t see the point in pretending otherwise.

Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 12:06 pm
I don’t trust her.

She is my “representative” but she doesn’t represent me.

She has lied about prior votes and when I have called her office, they just say, “I’m glad that I did not have to vote”.

She lied about her vote for the pension thief in December of 2013 and her office stated, “it will be overturned by the courts for being unconstitutional”. I stated that if she knowingly voted for something that she believes is unconstitutional then she violated her oath of office.

I will never vote for her again.

Also, this letter is just a bunch of self congratulatory noise made for self promotion.

She will not “compromise” on guns. She just wants her opponents to compromise their rights away.

I do not trust her.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 12:08 pm
And now we know why there will never be a common ground. One side says the nra is holding up progress the other says ichv is holding up progress. It all comes down to hooray for our side.

Comment by Mason born Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 12:10 pm
17 year old kids and 4 year old girls aren’t being randomly shot (or targeted for that matter) by law abiding citizens with concealed carry permits. Neighborhoods on the south side of Chicago with high gun violence rates have nothing to do with concealed carry laws, so why is she even bringing it up? Does she fail to grasp the issue? Or is just looking to get some sound bytes out into the media, despite the fact that they have nothing to do with the topic at hand?

Comment by econ prof Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 12:14 pm
Rep. Cassidy brought tears to my eyes.
Mrs West Sider and I are awakened several times a week by the sound of gunfire. A couple of times a month on average we have to call 911.
Once upon a time responsible gun policy was a cornerstone of the NRA. We have to go back to talking, instead of screaming at each other.

Comment by West Sider Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 12:19 pm
- 47th Ward - Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 11:33 am:

Thank you

It is the causes that need to be worked on.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 12:32 pm
Listening to Kelly’s speech on the floor. What I heard was a mother of 3 young boys who is scared. Scared, about one of her son’s being hurt or killed. That the randomness of the violence is no longer contained to the south and west side areas. It has found its way to her front door step.

later that evening we spoke and her voice had the same tone. A tone of fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of a mother unable to do what they do most, protect her children. It was sincere and real.

I don’t expect this to make her run out and buy a gun, start carrying and take a bunch of training, for her to keep one in the home or vote a lot differently.

We speak quite often about things in general in Springfield. And that was not the rant of an anti-gunner. That was the plea of a mother who wants to have her kids come home at night. Be more than happy to sit down with her and see what she has in mind.

Some want to parse every one of her words. I don’t . Simply accept the invitation to talk. No preconditions. There is nothing to loose by seeing where we can find agreement.

Comment by Todd Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 12:57 pm
Thanks, Todd. You’re a mensch.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 1:23 pm
Wordslinger true, but a public forum such as a baseball field wouldnt be of them.

Comment by Union Dues Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 1:50 pm
=== I had a now-deceased alcoholic relative who had a thing for guns and hunting knives. He owned a 357 amongst his weapons cache. He had nothing about him that would “red flag” him for legal gun ownership. ===

Federal law prohibits gun sales too anyone who is an illegal user of, or addicted to, a controlled substance. Alcohol is specifically excluded from the list of controlled substances, even though alcoholism is the drug addiction that causes the worst harm to society.

How about working together to better enforce this federal prohibition? Surely there are some legal gun owners who smoke marijuana, and some who are addicted to controlled substances, the way Rush Limbaugh was. How about removing the exemption for alcohol? If it is too dangerous to let a pot smoker possess a firearm, then it is certainly too dangerous to permit a rage alcoholic like AZ Bob described to have guns.

Comment by nona Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 2:17 pm
Todd: You’re a credit to your causes.

Comment by walker Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 2:42 pm
I’m truly sorry Rep Cassidy lives where gun violence is apparently so rampant. There are many neigghborhoods where many guns are owned by citizens but gun violence is practically non-existent. I know, because I live in one. It’s really too bad Rep Cassidy can’t live in such a neighborhood.

Comment by Slippin' Jimmy Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 2:51 pm
The Chicago area is one of the easiest big metro areas for Minors to acquire alcohol. Chicago taxes bottled water at three times the rate of beer. Are all these shooter sober? I doubt it. They are under the influence of our societal gateway drug alcohol.

Our State budget has a $4 billion dollar alcohol subsidy. A dime extra on a drink is a win-win good public policy and would raise $500 million for the budget and reduce violence in our society.

Comment by Beaner Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 2:52 pm
@Anonymous,

Good points and some added information that we all need to know and consider when she speaks on an issue.

Comment by Federalist Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 2:53 pm
I am sure that none of the shootings where done by conceal carry permit holders. The guns didn’t come from law abiding citizens. The shooting are being done by criminals who could care less about what the laws are. The criminals get guns illegally and don’t have permits. Until we put Felons and criminals who posses or commit crimes with guns away for long sentences, this will not stop. The concealed carry permit holder at least has a chance to protect themselves and possibly others. Without concealed carry everyone could be a victim and had no way to protect themselves. I am sure the Criminal on the street with a gun now has to think twice before he commits a crime!!

Comment by Concealed carry Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 3:07 pm
Concealed carry:

Thank you for completely missing the point.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 4:07 pm
I truly feel that Rep. Cassidy believes in her heart that it is the concealed carriers we all need to be afraid of, as well the criminals and felons doing all of the shootings. Unfortunately only the law abiding people will follow the laws she wants passed because well, we are law abiding.

Whenever a felon commits a crime with a gun, she wants to pass a law again the person who didn’t do it.

The NRA does more for gun safety in a single day than any of our lawmakers could do in their entire career.

It’s time for them to swallow their pride and stop viewing the NRA as the enemy, but instead as a partner who can possibly help them solve the violence problem. It is Kelly Cassidy and others like her who need to stop the NRA hate and come to meet in the middle and listen, instead of dictate.

Comment by Billiam Monday, Jun 1, 15 @ 4:51 pm