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Question of the day

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Illinois

We ban, by law, a whole lot of things and activities in this state. So what one thing would you like to “unban”? Explain.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 10:15 am

Comments

Concealed carry. Fourty-eight other states trust their law-abiding citizens. Why doesn’t Illinois?

Comment by howie Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 10:20 am
Marijuana seems like an obvious one to unban and tax.

If alcohol and gambling are legal and taxed, it seems like the laws against MJ are arbitrary.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 10:22 am
Adults riding bikes on sidewalks (although I do believe we would need designated areas for each activity)

Comment by Redbright Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 10:22 am
Most “recreational” drugs.

For what it is worth — I’ve never used recreational drugs (I liked beer a lot when I was in high school and college and never moved over to the hard stuff. Now my “drug” of choice tends to be either a New Zealand Sauv. Blanc or a right bank Bordeaux).

We waste way too many resources and have created a terrible illegal market for those things.
Let people buy them openly and let gangbangers find another line of work.

Comment by Skeeter Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 10:25 am
Take a look at how Marijuana is destroying California, according to the New York Times

Then tell everyone you favor unbanning pot!

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 10:29 am
We should ‘unban’ the ability to end the life of an unborn child. Once the heart of a human unborn baby stops beating that is the end of that human life.

Comment by Bi-Partisan Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 10:31 am
Anything that brings pleasure to the mind or body.

Comment by Diamond Dog Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 10:32 am
VM, stick to the question.

Also, the goofy music on that video is hilarious. The NYT should stick to writing.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 10:32 am
Concealed carry. That Illinois prohibits the most effective method to exercise the natural right of self-defense is an abomination.

Comment by Ken in Aurora Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 10:34 am
Sports gambling.

Comment by Wile Coyote Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 10:34 am
Ganja, sweet ganja.

Comment by DeepFriedOnAStick Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 10:34 am
common sense

Government needs it back, time to lift the ban.

Comment by Ghost Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 10:36 am
I would have to side with those stating concealed carry to be un-banned.

Comment by Siyotanka Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 10:39 am
Nothing says “Lovin” like the sound of blued metal clearing crisp leather…

Comment by Siyotanka Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 10:41 am
Ghost’s suggestion would probably result in a lot of unbanning!

Comment by Ken in Aurora Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 10:42 am
The new car seat law bugs me, with its requirement that any child under 8 have a car or booster seat. My kid is 6 but the size of a 9 year old, so I’d say we should “unban” the ability to ride in the backseat without a carseat (if a kid is big and heavy enough).

Comment by raisin Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 10:45 am
unban ethical behavior in state government

Comment by Dan S, a voter and Cubs Fan Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 10:51 am
What raisin said. Any family that has more than two kids under eight needs a larger vehicle just to accommodate the car seats/booster seats - at a time when we are being encouraged to downsize our vehicles.

Just like with amusement parks, they should set a height/weight standard (you must be this tall to ride this ride) not an age standard.

Comment by Anon from BB Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 10:55 am
I would unban any laws that are put in place by clout for the benefit of a select few.

An glaring example of this is the ban on selling cars on Sundays. This was put in place by large car dealerships so they could close for a day without competition.

There are tons of laws like that, especially in municipalities.

Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 10:56 am
penny-ante poker. Why should it be a crime for friends to play cards for money?

Comment by Reformer Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 10:57 am
Indoor smoking ban of course. Tobacco is a perfectly legal product, why can’t bar owners choose to have it in their establishments? And with respect to the sweet ganja… you should want it banned: it is much cheaper and easier to get since the only thing the government has to do with it is trying to stop it.

Comment by Heartless Libertarian Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 10:59 am
Gun ban.We need open carry.

Comment by Steve Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:00 am
Fireworks on the 4th. of July. The Tri State Tollway is full of billboards advertising an illegal product. One day a year we should be able to blow up a few things in our own backyards.

Comment by Mr. Ethics Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:00 am
Concealed carry. There is no justification for not allowing law-abiding citizens the right to carry a firearm for self-defense if they so desire.

Comment by NimROD Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:03 am
Fireworks. Once I left Sangamon County I could see a lot of them being shot off all over…Sangamon has the strictest fireworks law in teh state…and even if you got a permit, if the fire marshall doesn’t show up to allow your display to go on, the state keeps the money you paid and you’re left having to store the unexploded shells in a bunker. I know cause they did that to a person who was gonna put on a private display on lake springfield.

Comment by Crimefighter Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:07 am
1. Recreational drugs;
2. Prostitution;
3. Concealed carry.

Comment by Just Observing Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:12 am
Radar Detectors. There is no justification for not allowing law-abiding citizens the right to carry a radar detector for self-defense (from traffic tickets) if they so desire.

Comment by Jake from Elwood Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:12 am
Ghost’s argument for the end of the ban on common sense is compelling. However, I vote for Skeeter’s proposition for the legalization and/ or decriminalization of recreational drug use by adults. Marijuana seesm like the obvious start to legalization/taxation. Regulation of MJ product quality and potency and taxation make a lot of sense to me since the never-ending war on drugs has been an abject failure.

Comment by Captain America Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:12 am
Unban concealed carry.

Comment by Anonymous in Chicago Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:15 am
I’d repeal the smoking ban and reserve that power to local governments. Conceal carry also.

Comment by Levois Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:20 am
Happy hour. Bring it back.
As for legalizing and taxing pot, the gov might be open to that as a budget balancer. He promised to never tax working people. So a pot tax wouldn’t violate that pledge.
Thank you. Try the veal. I’m here all week.

Comment by Frank Booth Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:24 am
If the pro-gun people want conceal carried allowed, are they willing to package it with reforms that make it easier to track the path of firearm ownership so we can better plug the holes in the system that transfer firearms from legal ownership to illegal ownership and criminal activity?

Comment by Carl Nyberg Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:25 am
What Skeeter said.

Comment by Muskrat Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:25 am
Since so many have already addressed concealed carry, I’d suggest getting rid of the labrynth of firearm laws across the state; we need something more uniform. And I’m not saying this as a backdoor way of loosening restrictions. I try very hard to be a law-abiding citizen, and yet it’s easy to find myself in techinical violation of local ordinances.

Comment by Greg Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:31 am
Jake, radar detectors are still legal in Il unless you’re driving an 18-wheeler. Having said that, if you use one and still get stopped by the Five-O, your chances of getting a coupon are approximately 100%.

Unban concealed carry, with training, disclosure, and local signoffs required.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:35 am
==If the pro-gun people want conceal carried allowed, are they willing to package it with reforms that make it easier to track the path of firearm ownership so we can better plug the holes in the system that transfer firearms from legal ownership to illegal ownership and criminal activity? ==

Sure - so long as such a system is not used to further so called ’sins of the father’ type laws to prosecute the legal owner of a gun that ends up being stolen or misused. I think a lot of gun owners are all for allowing the police to do their jobs as long as it doesn’t infringe upon our rights.

If the package includes serial number registration or bullet tagging schemes, the answer would be ‘no’, though.

Comment by NimROD Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:37 am
“If the pro-gun people want conceal carried allowed, are they willing to package it with reforms that make it easier to track the path of firearm ownership so we can better plug the holes in the system that transfer firearms from legal ownership to illegal ownership and criminal activity?”

As a general concept, yes I am. It depends on the details, though - I’m against de facto registration.

Quite frankly this is already in place. Only FOID owners can purchase from dealers or individuals, and further sales must be documented and records kept. What more would you want?

Comment by Ken in Aurora Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:39 am
I will join the chorus of Right to Carry

Comment by Speaking At Will Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:40 am
Hemp production. Hemp can be used to make Livestock bedding and feed, Construction products including insulation, body care products, molded plastics, textiles, paper products, food, medicine, essential oils, and nutritional supplements. The best part about hemp is that it is a weed and because it is, it is easy and cheap to cultivate, maintain and harvest. Besides, think of all the fees Roddy Python and his flying circus could attach to all those products!

Comment by Sweet Polly Purebred Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:42 am
1. Auto sales on Sunday
2. Some local communitiesd check the ID of everyone buying liquor regardless of age. I’m over 60 and tired of being carded to buy a bottle of wine.

Comment by downhereforyears Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:43 am
Concealed carry of marijuana and foie gras.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:44 am
Remove exemptions from prosecution and civil liability for parole boards and judges.

Currently, these people release vicious predators back on us and enjoy safety from consequences of these reckless acts. If parole board members and judges were named and sued in civil court for giving us taxpayers up to the criminals, maybe it would end. Crime goes down, insurance rates drop and we employ many workers to build & staff new prisons.

Comment by North of I-80 Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:45 am
Smoking cigars in private clubs

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:47 am
smoking in private clubs…

Comment by anon56 Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:48 am
Happy Hour

Comment by Feeble Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:50 am
Legal age for everything should be eighteen and for both sexes.

Comment by Chanson Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:51 am
Fireworks

Comment by Old Shepherd Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:53 am
Conceled carry smoking in casinos

Comment by oneman Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 11:56 am
Automobile sales at dealerships on Sundays. Everything else is open on Sunday these days.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 12:14 pm
Six Degrees - Amen - we should restore the rights of the gold coasters to be able to enjoy foie gras with their open take out bottle of a nice Rose or Sauternes.

Comment by Sweet Polly Purebred Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 12:24 pm
VM’s NYT piece in medical marijuana talks about the 400 some providers paid over $100M in state and local taxes. Seems a bit much for how lousy the places looked. Make if 800 places with a 15% tax, suddenly looks like a serious revenue stream.

Comment by zatoichi Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 12:25 pm
The ban on dueling should be lifted.

– SCAM

Comment by so-called "Austin Mayor" Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 12:26 pm
Number 1 is getting rid of the ban on political competition appearing on the ballot.

Then definitely marijuana. As VanillaMan’s video proves, California is exactly the same now, even better since the state will bring in about $200 million in taxes on marijuana this year and save another $300 million by not arresting more people, than it was 12 years ago. And in those 12 years there has not been even one overdose death on marijuana, meanwhile California has seen a rash of overdose deaths of the prescription drugs VanillaMan is pushing on little children.

Industrial hemp could be a $5 billion industry in Illinois within 5 years and create thousands of jobs, since vehicle manufacturing plants in Indiana are already importing it from Canada. And industrial hemp can provide about twice the amount of fuel per acre over corn and 7 times the amount of paper over trees.

Also they should lift the bans on prostitution, smoking on private property, information about smokeless tobacco like snus that is safer than smoking, drinking from 18-21, and voting from 16-18.

Comment by TaxMeMore Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 12:47 pm
unban the defacement of state signs. Well, just certain ones.

Comment by Clown Band roadie Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 12:53 pm
TaxMeMore - Thank you for the followup on Industrial Hemp. It is a far more efficient fuel than ethanol and does not compete with an established food crop. This in itself would help decrease the cost of food.

Comment by Sweet Polly Purebred Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 1:09 pm
not sure if anyone mentioned this one, but Illinois is the only state i know of that does not allow alcoholic beverages in public campgrounds and state parks.

Now, i am a sensible adult, and this state is telling me that I can’t have a beer next to a campfire at Starved Rock, thats downright ridiculous.

That is why if i go camping, boating or fishin, i got to Wisconsin, or Do i dare admit it, Indiana, where a law-abiding citizen can relax with a beer by the lake, if he so chooses to.

Comment by Pickles!! Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 1:14 pm
oh, and alcohol in full-nudie clubs, of course!

Comment by Pickles!! Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 1:16 pm
I like Austin Mayor’s suggetion to unban duelling. Then maybe some of our state government problems could be solved by instant attrition rather than waiting till the next election.

Comment by One of the 35 Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 1:25 pm
Hemp. Both recreational and industrial. Good for farmers, good for Lollapalooza.

Comment by Sango Dem Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 1:28 pm
“Duck Liver Lovers” Be advised that the foie gras ban has been repealed by the Daleyville City Council at the behest of “Hizzoner.”

Comment by Captain America Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 1:36 pm
We should un-ban the ability of the police and especially the State Police to make seatbelt violations a primary traffic stop and get them back to real business.

Comment by Retired ISP Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 1:47 pm
Ghost — LOL!!

As to the QOTD,

1) Conceal Carry
2) Marijuana (although I would decriminalize, not legalize)
3) Fireworks
4) Smoking in casinos, “skin” bars, and private clubs

Comment by Bud Man Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 1:59 pm
Cumulative voting for the General Assembly. This place hasn’t been the same since we lost it…and it helped create the power base for almighty legislative leaders.

Comment by Inquisitor Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 2:00 pm
The whole fireworks ban is the most pointless law the state has. Drive through any neighborhood on July 4, and there’s fire works going off everywhere. The you have dozens of billboards on the Tollway advertising them “just over the boarder”

It’s a law police cannot enforce due to lack of manpower, just like jaywalking and prohibition.

Comment by Pickles!! Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 2:09 pm
Repeal the Gift Ban Act, and all the rest of these “unbans” could come to fruition a lot sooner.

Comment by Captain Flume Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 2:17 pm
Looks like concealed carry has pretty well been covered. Ditto weed, although I’ve never really cared for it (and I went to school in So. Cal. in the mid-60’s. It was EVERYWHERE.)

How about unbanning driving in the left-hand lane on Interstates? 80% of the roadways in Illinois, the semis have beaten the Hell out of the right lane, so it is a lot less teeth-rattling in the left lane. The ISP seem to prefer it, and when I see a trooper in the left lane, I hang behind them - if I can catch them…

Comment by BehindTheScenes Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 2:18 pm
Sorry TaxMeMore, California is not better off…San Fransciso has become the most dangerous city in America as evidenced by the failure of city officials not having illegal aliens committing violent crimes deported, now one women’s family are dead because a repeat offender was given sanctuary.

Comment by Crimefighter Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 2:18 pm
Ummm….what was the question? Oh yeah. I think we should allow people to smoke pot, man. And not just for medical reasons…just for fun. I mean, like 10 to 15 percent of the population does it already…most everybody I know smokes it dude! Ask any cop who he would rather deal with: a stoner, a drunk or someone on crack/meth. Each one will pick the pothead, man! Have the same rules as alcohol: taxed, age limit, not while driving or working and imagine how sweet it will be! Besides the tax benefits, it will also spur sales of Little Debbie cakes at c-stores statewide! Dude!

Comment by Vote Quimby! (or, Otto's Jacket) Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 2:19 pm
.

Comment by Vote Quimby! Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 2:22 pm
We should Unban Political INcorrectness!!!

Comment by Sweet Polly Purebred Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 2:42 pm
Throwing beads during the Pride Parade.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 2:59 pm
Unban Concealed Marijuana Smoking!

Comment by phocion Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 3:14 pm
License to carry a firearm throughout the state, and reciprocity with all other states’ LTC. States that have implemented personal protection acts have seen a drop in violent crime. “Wild West” predictions have been made in every LTC state, never materialized. A civilian with LTC is 5.7 times less likely to be arrested for violent crime than the general public.
Tim

Comment by TimB Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 3:58 pm
1) Grandparents rights!
2) Conceal Carry
3) Smoking in bars, private clubs, VFW’s (I don’t smoke, but leave them alone already)
4) Fireworks

Comment by Say WHAT? Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 4:15 pm
1. Weed. 2. Gambling–including poker machines for “entertainment purposes only.” 3. prostitution. 4. Sunday car sales.

Comment by cermak_rd Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 4:17 pm
Unban unsanctioned Lake Michigan swimming.

Comment by Ivory-billed Woodpecker Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 4:44 pm
Slot machines and other gambling at horse race tracks. People are already there gambling and it helps the horse racing industry and the State.

Comment by BIG R.PH. Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 4:52 pm
Concealed carry. There are 48, that’s 48, other state that allow concealed carry. So the chances are almost 100% that when you are on vacation somewhere in this great country, you are sitting at a concert, driving down the freeway, eating with someone in the next booth who is packing. Does that keep you within the boundaries of Illinois? Does that keep you from every going away from home for any kind of a vacation or business trip? Think about it folks. We are only one of two states that do not allow our citizens to carry a concealed firearm. What is everyone so afraid of?

Comment by Little Egypt Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 5:55 pm
Oh yeah, and why the heck can’t you buy beer before noon on Sundays?

Comment by phocion Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 6:00 pm
Repeal the ban on Sunday car sales.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 7:32 pm
I don’t think the “one-man, one-vote,” Supreme Court would allow the unique former practice of “bullet” voting.

But a Californai/Iowa redistricting plan, with contiguous and conterminous districts, would rock this state more than any other Con-Con initiative.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jul 23, 08 @ 8:10 pm
Here is one out of an old hat… the one dollar minimum beer in the city of dekalb. I remember going to the bar getting 50 cent drafts… until the moralists (and they are the liberals too, imagine that) passed a law that bars had to charge a minimum of $1 per beer.

Comment by Heartless Libertarian Thursday, Jul 24, 08 @ 12:02 am
Fireworks. I think we are losing alot of revenue to border states and our police officers could spend their time doing something more productive than searching cars during the fourth looking for fireworks. Maybe they could further monitor and make sure that on the fourth, drunk drivers are removed from the road.

By th by, does anyone know why we banned fireworks in Illinois.

Comment by Lazy intern Thursday, Jul 24, 08 @ 11:07 am
Concealed carry, give law abiding citizens back the right to protect themselves.

Comment by Ultra50k Thursday, Jul 24, 08 @ 2:01 pm
Crimefighter, please share what ordinance it is that allows city officials to deport people.

phocion, one of the pleasures of moving from Indiana to Illinois was to be able to buy beer AT ALL on Sundays!

Comment by yinn Thursday, Jul 24, 08 @ 3:51 pm
Legalize and “sin tax” the heck out of weed = more jobs and tax income, easily enough to pay for the “drug war” against more serious and harmful substances (i.e. meth labs that cause death and destruction for both users and their neighborhoods).

Concealed carry, for all the reasons others have given.

We would also be better off, I imagine, if we were to “unban” the option of removing someone from office for Gross Mismanagement.

Comment by Chambananon Monday, Jul 28, 08 @ 4:21 pm
Un-ban CCW!

Comment by GF Tuesday, Jul 29, 08 @ 5:35 am
I would like to ban the capitol fax from being able to close for a week. Its selfish on my part, but I need some more Cap Fax!

Comment by Speaking At Will Tuesday, Jul 29, 08 @ 11:35 am
nice to know you are missing us

unban smoking in bars!!

Comment by Loop Lady Tuesday, Jul 29, 08 @ 12:47 pm
Pot for sure. When was the last time you heard of someone being killed by a “marijuana impaired” driver? Meanwhile drunk drivers kill people every single day!!

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jul 30, 08 @ 2:36 pm