By Michael W Loos
USA – -(Ammoland.com)- Here in the State of Illinois, law abiding citizens with a valid Concealed Carry license are denied access to public areas funded by taxes even though in the case of Moore v Madigan, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Posner wrote –
“A blanket prohibition on carrying gun in public prevents a person from defending himself anywhere except inside his home; and so substantial a curtailment of the right of armed self-defense requires a greater showing of justification than merely that the public might benefit on balance from such a curtailment, though there is no proof it would.”
And “The Supreme Court has decided” that the Second Amendment “confers a right to bear arms for self-defense, which is as important outside the home as inside.” He added that a Chicago resident was “a good deal more likely to be attacked on a sidewalk in a rough neighborhood than in his apartment on the 35th floor of the Park Tower.”
How does it come to pass that while the Courts have affirmed our Second Amendment Rights to carry for self defense in public, legislators circumvent the ruling by outlawing public places, funded by tax dollars, for concealed carry? Where is the ‘common sense‘ in that? How is this not a deliberate, treacherous, insidious and illegal infringement upon our Constitutional Rights as confirmed by the Courts ruling?
In “The Cruelty of Gun-Free Zones” economist and statistician John Lott states –
“The vast majority of mass shootings in the U.S. have been extensively planned beforehand — often many months or even years in advance, allowing the perpetrators to find unprotected targets and obtain weapons.”
Here in Illinois there are 23 categories of prohibited places (Gun Free Zones) ranging from schools and stadiums to rest areas and parks. With few exceptions, these prohibited sites are funded by tax dollars. These Criminal Protection Zones have one thing in common – they are in place because fear mongering, left leaning legislators continue to press the idea that the gun itself is the problem, not the person behind the trigger.
They purposely ignore facts that prove gun free zones are shooting galleries, while at the same time preying on the hopolophobic, irrational and illogical fear of a self-righteous citizenry who cringe at the very sight of the scary black gun or rifle.
Now, thirteen months into concealed carry in Illinois, we continue to bring the fight to the anti’s with a vengeance. We are relentless and vigilant in the dogfight to free us from the garrison state of the bought and paid for gun control politicians who thumb their noses at the Courts and their constituency.
Early on it was estimated that 400,000 permits would be doled out in the first year alone, but that figure has fallen well short with roughly 105,000 permits issued at this time.
Why?
First, with public transportation being on the list of places Illinoisans may not carry, many have decided its not worth the time (16 hours of training) nor cost ($400 plus for training and CCL application fee) only to be left defenseless when traveling to and from work. The only option to carry in that situation is in FOID transport mode – meaning you would need to find somewhere out of the public eye to unload and encase your gun before stepping onto a train or bus.
Add in the fact that Chicago, Cook County and the collar Counties account for half of the population in Illinois and those same areas use the bulk of the public transportation and it drives home the fact the anti-gun folk knew exactly what they were doing when they skewered the Courts order, while continuing to retaliate against those who want to exercise their Second Amendment Rights. With high costs and the public transportation prohibition alone, they cut the effective populace who may wish to carry, from 12 million to 6 million.
And why do the liberal left continue to block our Rights at every opportunity? Because the first rule of controlling the populace is to disarm them. How is this accomplished? For those who pledge fealty and reverence to their Socialist God – the all providing government – all that is needed is the warm fuzzy feeling bestowed by the thinly veiled lie of keeping the populace safe. All anyone must do is look back through the history of the world to see this. Anti’s may roll their eyes, but the fact is our Government is persistent in eroding our Rights in the name of keeping us safe… as if safety trumps everything else. Safety for us. Safety for our children. Safety from terrorists… Safety from gangs… Safety from mass shootings… and on and on.
But we must continue the fight! Even as we embarrass the gun-control zealots with win after win in courtrooms and elections throughout the Country, they continue to push on all fronts – from Washington’s I-594 to Minnesota’s Bills HF 1361 and SF 1289, which would allow doctors and family members, including even distant relatives, ex-husbands or ex-wives, to strip citizens of their gun rights without due process of law.
The arrogance of those politicians who fight to take away our rights is appalling. In emailing Dick
Durbin – the long tenured Democrat Senator from Illinois – urging him to vote YES to The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2014 (S. 1908) which would allow those with a valid Concealed Carry permit to carry into other States – just like your drivers license – his response showed the hubris and pomposity of someone who believes in the omnipotence of the Government and his own, overblown, narcissistic ego…
“The elected representatives of each state are in the best position to know and understand the needs of the state. They should be allowed to determine for themselves the policies that govern their homes, streets, neighborhoods, and workplaces.”
Senator Durbin believes that once elected, he should be a Dictator. That you, the stupid, ignorant masses who huddle in fear and trepidation, should look to him as your single guiding light – and he is happy to do whatever he wants… his constituents be damned. This is how anti gunners think, this is what they believe.
Here in Illinois, right now, there are many bills that will scale back the prohibited areas for concealed carry – including public transportation, rest areas, forest preserves and parks – those places that are paid for with public money. These bills are waiting to see the light of day as insider fighting pushes them back, while at the same time bringing forth bills that will restrict further, our Right to carry. The fight will continue for years to come, no doubt, but fight we must to preserve our Rights!
Stay Safe and Carry Responsibly
Michael’s new book “I’m Married… Shoot Me!” The harrowing tales of your average Husband – Children, insanity and manly cowardice, all wrapped up in love – is now available through Lulu.com
“I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish: I have kept the faith.” Timothy Chapter 4 verse 7