cuchulainn
October 24, 2003, 12:56 PM
from the Daily Southtown
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/yrtwn/seast/241seyt7.htmAs you shoot down I-80, look for signs
Friday, October 24, 2003
By Rex Robinson
Staff writer
On Interstate 80, about a mile west of the LaGrange Road exit in Orland Park, are a series of Burma Shave-style signs.
Read in succession, they extol the virtues of gun ownership.
Heading east, what motorists see is:
"Dialed 911,
"And I'm on hold,
"Sure wish I had,
"That gun I sold."
The final sign advertises the Champaign County Rifle Association's Web site, www.gunssavelife.com. A similar set of signs is visible to those driving west.
The signs went up in November 2001 at the request of landowner Patrick O'Malley, former Republican state legislator and one-time gubernatorial candidate, according to John Bock, vice president of the rifle association.
"He contacted us and said he liked the signs he had seen along other interstates in Illinois," Boch said.
O'Malley said he met with members of the organization and they asked him for assistance with getting a set of the signs in the area. Since he supports the group's efforts, he agreed to help, he said.
"They are a law-abiding group of people," O'Malley said.
The association has 34 sets of such signs, 33 in Illinois and one in Iowa. Boch said collectively the signs are seen daily by 559,400 people.
The signs are controversial — those who support gun-control measures are sometimes offended, he said.
Boch's group hears from both sides.
"There's a lot of gun bigots out there," he said. "It's not uncommon for our signs to be vandalized."
The nonprofit association could not endorse O'Malley's bid for governor, but "we certainly looked favorably on his candidacy for governor," Boch said.
Staunch supporters of the Second Amendment, Boch and other members of the association said gun ownership is a constitutional right. O'Malley agrees.
The signs sit on property currently being developed for senior housing, a business park, a campus of Saint Xavier University and other uses.
Whether the pro-gun signs will remain once the property is developed is "way up in the air," O'Malley said.
Thus far, none of the developers have asked for them to be removed, he said.
James Fitch, special project manager for the Washington & Jane Smith Community, which is building assisted living units, cottages and apartments for senior citizens, has no problem with the signs.
"I don't think there's much association between those signs and our development," he said.
Rex Robinson may be reached at rrobinson@dailysouthtown.com or (708) 633-5964.
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/yrtwn/seast/241seyt7.htmAs you shoot down I-80, look for signs
Friday, October 24, 2003
By Rex Robinson
Staff writer
On Interstate 80, about a mile west of the LaGrange Road exit in Orland Park, are a series of Burma Shave-style signs.
Read in succession, they extol the virtues of gun ownership.
Heading east, what motorists see is:
"Dialed 911,
"And I'm on hold,
"Sure wish I had,
"That gun I sold."
The final sign advertises the Champaign County Rifle Association's Web site, www.gunssavelife.com. A similar set of signs is visible to those driving west.
The signs went up in November 2001 at the request of landowner Patrick O'Malley, former Republican state legislator and one-time gubernatorial candidate, according to John Bock, vice president of the rifle association.
"He contacted us and said he liked the signs he had seen along other interstates in Illinois," Boch said.
O'Malley said he met with members of the organization and they asked him for assistance with getting a set of the signs in the area. Since he supports the group's efforts, he agreed to help, he said.
"They are a law-abiding group of people," O'Malley said.
The association has 34 sets of such signs, 33 in Illinois and one in Iowa. Boch said collectively the signs are seen daily by 559,400 people.
The signs are controversial — those who support gun-control measures are sometimes offended, he said.
Boch's group hears from both sides.
"There's a lot of gun bigots out there," he said. "It's not uncommon for our signs to be vandalized."
The nonprofit association could not endorse O'Malley's bid for governor, but "we certainly looked favorably on his candidacy for governor," Boch said.
Staunch supporters of the Second Amendment, Boch and other members of the association said gun ownership is a constitutional right. O'Malley agrees.
The signs sit on property currently being developed for senior housing, a business park, a campus of Saint Xavier University and other uses.
Whether the pro-gun signs will remain once the property is developed is "way up in the air," O'Malley said.
Thus far, none of the developers have asked for them to be removed, he said.
James Fitch, special project manager for the Washington & Jane Smith Community, which is building assisted living units, cottages and apartments for senior citizens, has no problem with the signs.
"I don't think there's much association between those signs and our development," he said.
Rex Robinson may be reached at rrobinson@dailysouthtown.com or (708) 633-5964.