Sangamon County Rifle Association
Right Reason on Second Amendment Rights
Springfield, Illinois



Jim Butler




Chicago politicians deny citizens self-defense

Jim  Butler, President, SCRA
December 2008 GunNews







One of the most frequent questions I am asked is, "When are we going to get concealed carry for the citizens of Illinois?"

As of now the only two states in the nation that don't have some form of concealed carry are Wisconsin and Illinois.  Wisconsin's legislature twice passed concealed carry but it was vetoed both times by the present governor.  Their legislature was unable to overturn either veto.

On May 4, 1995, the Illinois Senate voted on SB1129, a Concealed Carry Permit bill.  The bill was defeated by a 29 to 28 vote with two Senators not voting.

The bill was supported vigorously by the National Rifle Association, the Illinois State Rifle Association, the Law Enforcement Alliance of America and the Sangamon County grassroots pro-gun group, now the Sangamon County Rifle Association.  As they say, it was close but no cigar.  Chicago won that one.

Thanks to the efforts of activists of the Illinois Concealed Carry, the issue surfaced again when the Winnebago County Board members decided to put it on their ballot as an advisory referendum and asked all other Illinois county boards to do the same.  Fourteen counties honored their request.

The referendum failed in Winnebago, Kendall, McDonough and LaSalle Counties.  However, the other ten counties, Saline, Ogle, Union, Jefferson, Jasper, Greene, Franklin, Woodford, Effingham and Crawford passed the referendum.

Most people who ask me why we don't have concealed carry in Illinois don't understand how difficult it is to pass it in Illinois with 68% of all our state lawmakers coming from the Chicago area, including the Governor, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House.

As most of you know, Chicago and Cook County are very corrupt entities as proven by Federal investigations and criminal trials there.

The big question now is whether President Obama will keep U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald who has systematically hunted down those responsible for corruption in Chicago.  Obama, who owes the Chicago big city political machine big time, could have his new U.S. Justice Department head appointee promote Fitzgerald and send him to another area far from Chicago or simply transfer him out.  The problem with this is it would cause a strong public outcry.  Another way would be to underfund or limit manpower for Fitzgerald's Chicago operation.  This would take the heat off those who are under investigation or already indicted for corruption.  And then it would be back to business as usual.  The Chicago way as they say.

So now you know what the rest of the state is up against when trying to pass legislation that doesn't benefit those leaders of the big city Chicago machine.

In 2007, legislation that would have allowed state's attorneys, Judges and public defenders to carry concealed firearms was defeated in the Illinois House despite 62 yes votes.  Most bills need 60 votes, but the House Democrats who control the chamber claim it requires three-fifths approval or 71 yes votes.  They claim this number is necessary because the normal 60 votes would limit the power of home-rule units of government.  The same controversial large number of votes would be needed for a statewide concealed carry bill. Republicans disagree with the Democrats over the three-fifths vote for approval.

Have you heard that Cook County Judge Eileen Brewer was mugged and beaten by a thief who stole her purse just blocks from Barack Obama's home the night before the election?  Those legislators who voted in 2007 to deprive her of the right to carry a firearm for protection should be proud of themselves.

Last year former Senator Carol Mosley Braun, who lives in the same neighborhood, was mugged there also.  If these high profile people can't be protected, where does that leave the rest of us ordinary people?

Big city Chicago Democratic machine politicians are the main obstacle to getting concealed carry in Illinois.  These same politicians have made a mess of Chicago by levying higher taxes for its citizens, waste, and widespread corruption.  Politicians responsible for this mess should be voted out of office and those caught with their hands in the cookie jar, imprisoned.


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