Sheila Simon takes shot at new gun laws

[CZ-75BD]

Chicago Sun-Times
January 29, 2013
By Thomas Frisbie

It may seem a little odd for lawmakers pondering gun issues to take target practice.

But that's on the schedule of Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon's new Firearms Working Group. On Tuesday, Simon announced she had convened the group, all of whom are Springfield newbies, and they'll "learn to safely operate a firearm at the Sparta World Shooting Complex."

The 15-member panel is billed as bipartisan, but it has just two Republicans. Of course, after the beating the GOP took statewide in the Nov. 6 election, it's not as easy to find Republicans as it once was.

The panel's official goal is "to learn about different perspectives and bridge the geographical divide on gun ownership and use in Illinois." ...

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[Outlaw Man]

First off, I'm VERY skeptical anytime those guys are in a room together.

That said, if they really mean to look at this with open minds and try to see our perspective, it could be a really good thing.

 

[dab102999]

A good instructor with factual information is the best help that could be given from the gun side.

 

[Valor35]

A good instructor with factual information is the best help that could be given from the gun side.

I agree -- this may actually be helpful. Some of them may have a good time!

 

[C0untZer0]

Simon also says "Guns have no place in schools"

Utopian dreaming.. totally out of touch with reality.

It's like saying "Guns have no place in our banks"

Ya that would be nice...

 

[Hunter125]

I got Sheila Simon's newsletter today, apparently I was signed up after using Ruger's form letter. Here was the portion pertaining to this new group

Across the nation, people are talking about guns. Illinois is no exception. The U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals declared unconstitutional our ban on carrying concealed firearms. The court has given lawmakers until June to pass a law on when and where Illinoisans can carry firearms. The Governor used his State of the State address yesterday to say that guns have no place in our schools, shopping malls or sports stadiums.

Firearms Working Group: Because of the deadline set by the court, I formed a Firearms Working Group, comprised of new members of the General Assembly, to learn about different perspectives and bridge the geographical divide on gun ownership and use in Illinois. Over the next two months, we will meet with stakeholders on all sides of the debate – from hunters to law enforcement to domestic violence prevention advocates – to promote dialogue and work toward consensus on pending legislation. We started our dialogue yesterday with representatives from the Illinois State Rifle Association and Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence. Meet the working group members and send us your thoughts here.

And this is the reply I sent to the email used for the newsletter, to [email protected], and submitted on the response/question page here: http://www2.illinois.gov/ltgov/Pages/ContactUs.aspx

Ms. Simon,

I strongly disagree with your stance on the role of firearms within our communities. All one has to do is look at Chicago with their horrifically high numbers of firearm related crimes and murders to realize that the city's gun control laws, among the most strict in our nation, are simply not effective. I believe that allowing responsible, law abiding citizens to exercise their constitutional right to bear arms in public for their defense, and the defense of our community, will serve to make our communities safer, not more dangerous. The statistics from nearly everywhere bear this out. Law abiding citizens with firearms are not the problem, it is criminals with firearms that are the problem. By restricting the rights of law abiding citizens to carry firearms, I, my family, and my community are put in more danger because we now have no way to defend ourselves from the criminals who will most certainly not follow the firearms laws. It may seem as though tougher gun laws might help people feel safer, but from my perspective as a husband and father, these laws which restrict my right to carry a firearm are taking away my ability to fulfill my responsibility to protect my family. The police simply do not have the ability to be everywhere and protect everyone at once.

You say that firearms have no place in schools, shopping malls, and sports stadiums, but reality is that these are exactly the kinds of places that one might, God forbid, have to defend oneself and others against a criminal or deranged person who wishes to do others ill. I pray I am never in a situation like that, but if I were, I would much rather be armed than helpless. As to firearms in schools, we hire armed guards for our banks and money. My children, and the children of others, are far more precious than any amount of money could ever be. Why would we not have even more security for our children than for our money?

Just the thoughts and opinions of one of your constituents. I hope you will take them into consideration.

 

[Outlaw Man]

Well stated, Hunter.

 

[JayBird]

It is all part of their well orchestrated plan to be seen on one hand as 'not anti gun' while on the other hand they take away our rights.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/02/how-the-gun-control-movement-got-smart/272934/

Here is how advocates of gun control used to talk about their cause: They openly disputed that the Second Amendment conferred the right to own a gun. Their major policy goals were to make handguns illegal and enroll all U.S. gun owners in a federal database. The group now known as the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence was once known as Handgun Control Inc.; a 2001 book by the executive director of the Violence Policy Center was entitled Every Handgun Is Aimed at You: The Case for Banning Handguns.

Contrast that with what you see today: Gun-control groups don't even use the term "gun control," with its big-government implications, favoring "preventing gun violence" instead. Democratic politicians preface every appeal for reform with a paean to the rights enshrined in the Second Amendment and bend over backwards to assure "law-abiding gun owners" they mean them no ill will. Even the president, a Chicago liberal who once derided rural voters' tendency to "cling to guns or religion," seeks to assure gun enthusiasts he's one of them by citing a heretofore-unknown enthusiasm for skeet shooting, adding, "I have a profound respect for the traditions of hunting that trace back in this country for generations. And I think those who dismiss that out of hand make a big mistake."

......

Read the whole thing.

 

[BCCL]

I got Sheila Simon's newsletter today, apparently I was signed up after using Ruger's form letter.

Same here, got that same letter today.

 

[InkEd]

It is a whole bunch of b.s. and to fool people into a false security.