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* Illinois Review…
Those that are promoting stringent federal and state gun control will be honored Monday by the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, their website says.
Among those receiving awards from the group are Republican U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, Democrat state Representative Kelly Cassidy and former Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence executive director, Democrat former State Senator Dan Kotowski.
Senator Kirk is the only Republican in the U.S. Senate that received an “F” from the National Rifle Association and an “F-” from the Gun Owners for his support of gun control measures.
* According to Kirk’s office, he’s the first GOP Senator to ever get the award…
Kirk Is First Republican Senator to Receive Illinois Coalition Against Handgun Violence Lincoln Award for Leadership in Confronting Gun Violence
Kirk, Gillibrand Introduced S.1760 to Make Gun Trafficking a Federal Crime
Sixty Percent of Illegal Guns in Chicago Come From Out of State
CHICAGO – U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) today received the Abraham Lincoln Award from the Illinois Coalition Against Handgun Violence (ICHV) in recognition of his leadership on legislation to make gun trafficking a federal crime and strengthen background checks. Senator Kirk is the first Republican U.S. Senator to receive the award.
“Illinois families shouldn’t have to live in fear of armed gangs and criminals,” Senator Kirk said. “The Gillibrand-Kirk bill would make it illegal to bring guns used for criminal activity into Chicago - where Indiana, Wisconsin and Mississippi alone are responsible for 30 percent of guns at crime scenes.”
“Senator Kirk was there for us when we needed him most, and crossed party lines to support universal background checks. His courage and leadership truly symbolize the purpose of the Lincoln Award,” said ICHV Executive Director Colleen Daley. “As much as we fight at the local level for common sense gun laws, the fact remains that more than 60 percent of all crime guns in Chicago are illegally trafficked from states with weaker gun laws, like Indiana and Mississippi. The Senator’s support on this issue is critical to public safety, and we are incredibly grateful to him.”
The Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence is a statewide, non-profit organization that works to reduce death and injury caused by guns. Previous winners of the Lincoln Award include New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, President Bill Clinton, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Education Secretary Arne Duncan.
Illinois’ last Republican US Senator, Peter Fitzgerald, was no fan of the NRA, but Kirk has taken it further.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 1:02 pm
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Good for Kirk.
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 1:09 pm
No one should ever question Kirk’s independence. This is a bold move and also the right move.
Comment by Westside Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 1:15 pm
I’m no fan of Mark Kirk, but a grade of “F minus” seems a little harsh.
– MrJM
Comment by @MisterJayEm Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 1:16 pm
Our Great Senator Kirk understands that gun owners are a member of the Well-Regulated Militia as stated in the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America.
May God continue to Bless the Senator and the United States of America,
Comment by Jack Stephens Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 1:19 pm
This will be serious trouble if he has real primary opposition. It’s not just downstate Republicans that are pro-gun. Some of the most hardcore 2nd Amendment advocates I’ve ever seen are from the suburbs. It’s good for his middle-of-the-road bonafides, as long as it doesn’t kill him in a primary. Wonder what the governor has to say about this…
Comment by Anon Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 1:31 pm
With guns and abortion, Kirk has always cultivated the independent suburban woman voter.
Among his problems this time around, though, is that presidential years have a turnout of about 70 percent, not the 50 percent of 2010.
Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 1:41 pm
Good for Kirk but it has to be taken with the context that he has voted to empower the very people in the House and Senate who make any kind of common sense gun reform an impossibility.
Comment by slow down Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 1:41 pm
@anon
Are the Rights of Non Gun Owners protected under the 2nd Amendment anywhere?
Or do they just have to walk around in constant fear of being shot and killed?
Comment by Jack Stephens Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 1:51 pm
@Jack Stephens, “Are the Rights of Non Gun Owners protected under the 2nd Amendment anywhere?”
I would say yes the rights of non-gun owners are protected in the second amendment. Nothing says you have to own “arms”.
Comment by Kevin Highland Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 1:57 pm
@Kevin:
Your right they don’t have to own a gun. But if you want to own a gun you get to run around and play Clint Eastwood in a spaghetti western and Non Gun Owners just have to accept this as a fact of life.
How is this considered to be a “Well-Regulated Militia” then as stated in the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America?
Comment by Jack Stephens Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 2:04 pm
Illinois already has universal background checks through the FOID card system. Kirk’s gun control legislation would have forced private sellers of guns to go through a federal firearms licensee. No FFL’s exist in Chicago so all private sellers in Chicago would have been forced to go to the suburbs. In rural areas, neighbors would have to drive considerable distances to an FFL simply to transfer gun ownership. These burdens would have been an incredible infringement on the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. It is no wonder why the NRA slapped him with a grade of F.
Comment by Muscular Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 2:10 pm
well deserved Sen Kirk
Comment by Etown Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 2:12 pm
@muscular:
How is that an infringement? If your a member of the Well-Regulated Militia (by virtue of “bearing arms”) as stated in the Constitution….then the Government should restrict this.
Senator Kirk is protecting the rights of Non Arms Bearers as stared in the Well Regulated Militia Clause of the 2nd Amendment.
Comment by Jack Stephens Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 2:26 pm
Kirk plays both sides well. Worked perfectly in his Congressional District. Tougher to sustain statewide where the divisions are wider. Still wouldn’t bet against him.
Comment by walker Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 2:47 pm
A great honor for Senator Kirk, well deserved.
Comment by siriusly Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 2:54 pm
RINO
Comment by Damfunny Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 3:01 pm
Reimbursement
IN - house
Orders?
Ok…..if yiu say so.
Comment by Jack Stephens Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 3:20 pm
@Jack Stephens, re: “a “Well-Regulated Militia” then as stated in the 2nd Amendment”
My understanding and what seems to recently have been the Courts is the 2nd Amendment protecting the individual right. I would surmise that by protecting the individual right the ability to pull together a militia. Also keep in mind that “well-regulated” at the time of the writing supposedly meant trained.
Comment by Kevin Highland Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 3:21 pm
Conservative Republicans are facing a dilemma: Either support what the ISRA calls a “gun grabber” or stand up to Rauner and refuse. I bet they find Rauner more intimidating than the ISRA-NRA.
Comment by nona Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 3:33 pm
Civil libertarians complaining you can’t arrest 18,000 black men for being GDs? Propose brand-new federal crimes aimed at “Chicago” — no warning bells at all.
Comment by crazybleedingheart Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 3:41 pm
Nona, get real.
The grifters at the ISRA will fundraise against Kirk and Duckworth. What do they care?
You’re not looking for reason and integrity from that crew, are you?
They’re just looking for the next gravy train now that the conceal carry grift has been taken away from them.
Comment by Wordslinger Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 4:05 pm
@Kevin, you are correct on the 2nd Amendment. See the US Supreme Court ruling on McDonald vs City of Chicago. Gun ownership is an individual right in this country although many in this country are having a hard time accepting that landmark decision.
It will be interesting to see how Kirk’s award will play out for him with moderate and conservative leaning voters in Central and Southern Illinois. If you were to ask my opinion, I think chances are favorable for Duckworth to unseat Kirk and that this issue will hurt Kirk more than it will help.
Comment by The Dude Abides Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 4:06 pm
Until we address the true causes of violence, no gun control law will be worth the paper it is written on. Anyone that believes passing gun control laws will address the cause are delusional.
Comment by FormerParatrooper Monday, Oct 19, 15 @ 11:32 pm