Straight Shootin': Assault on gun rights in Cook County
Cook County is considering two anti-gun proposals that must be defeated!
The first, which is called "Safe Streets/Weapons Registration Ordinance," claims to simply require the registration of all firearms and firearm owners in Cook County. As written, however, it is an outright ban of all firearms and ammunition. Even if you do not live in Cook County, this proposal could have a dramatic impact on you because of new restrictions on transporting firearms!
The second proposed ordinance would amend the county's "Deadly Weapons Dealers Ordinance." It seeks to completely ban all gun shows within the county, and prohibits federally-licensed dealers from operating within 10 miles of another federally-licensed dealer. This will not only prohibit new gun stores, but could wipe out most existing ones. This is a blatant attempt by (crooked) Cook County and the Daley machine to restrict free trade and subvert the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.
If you live in Cook County, please contact the Board of Commissioners today and respectfully urge them to oppose these ordinances. If you live elsewhere in Illinois, contact your state representatives and urge them not to enact any future gun restrictions prior to the United States Supreme Court hearing on the Second Amendment case in March.
It is now 2008, and this is an election year, folks. It is time to let these gun-grabbing, individual freedom-suppressing politicians know how you feel. While you're at it, you should also let your legislators know it's time Illinois enacted a concealed carry law like 48 of the other 50 states. Remind them these concealed carry laws SAVE lives every day all over the country. The armed security guard at the mega church in Colorado this last month is credited by the head of that church as saving dozens of people from being killed by a crazed gunman. Had this brave lady security guard not had a concealed carry permit and been armed, there is no telling how many parishioners would have died that day. Very seldom do the liberal media report this side of the story, but armed citizens successfully protecting themselves and others happens everywhere concealed carry is allowed on a regular basis.
How many massacres in malls, churches, schools, and other "gun-free zones" have to happen before we are allowed to protect ourselves? These locations that post "gun-free zones" actually attract the criminal element because the bad guys know their prey are defenseless. They might as well put out a sign that says "unarmed victims inside!"
Even if you don’t want to carry a weapon, you should be outraged by this because if they can deny us our most basic right of self preservation, you can kiss all your other rights good-bye! If they do not allow you to protect yourself, or if you choose not to have a weapon to defend yourself, at least they should not ADVERTISE the fact you are a helpless victim without the means to fight back. It absolutely amazes me they think posting those signs would do any good. If so, why don't we see signs saying "No Armed Robbery Allowed" or "Rape and Murder Strictly Prohibited." Law-abiding citizens don't need signs telling them what is accepted behavior. And bad guys don't follow instructions well, and many of them never bothered to learn to read.
Reminds me of the old rock and roll song: "Sign, sign, everywhere a sign. Do this, don't do that. Can't you read the sign!?"
Eric R. Sonnenberg is a Federal Firearms Licensed gun dealer who owns Forest City Firearms, 137 N. Chicago Ave., Rockford. He can be reached at (815) 262-4279 or via e-mail to forestcityfirearms@comcast.net.
from the Jan. 9-15, 2008, issue