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Concealed Carry Bills Introduced In Illinois

February 14, 2011 by 1 Comment

Two bills have been introduced into the Illinois State House that would bring concealed carry to Illinois if passed. HB 112 and HB 148 would both establish the Family and Personal Protection Act. Both bills have been referred to the Agriculture and Conservation Committee. While separate bills have been introduced, they are both identical in wording. As to why two identical bills would be introduced into the same chamber, I don’t have a clue.

The bills would as described in their synopses:

Creates the Family and Personal Protection Act. Permits the county sheriff to issue permits to carry concealed firearms to persons at least 21 years of age who meet certain requirements. Requires an applicant for a permit to have completed specified training requirements developed by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board consisting of classroom instruction and live firing exercises. Preempts home rule. Amends the Illinois Police Training Act and the Criminal Code of 1961 to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Of the seven members of the House Agriculture and Conservation Committee, five are either sponsors or co-sponsors of these bills including both the Chair and Vice-Chair.

HB 112 can be found here and HB 148 can be found here.

According to a story in the Quincy Herald Whig quoting NRA lobbyist Todd Vandermede:

Todd Vandermyde, legislative liaison of the National Rifle Association, believes the Supreme Court rulings and the make-up of the Illinois Legislature both help the cause of gun rights.

“I think we’re positioned better now than we ever have been. A lot more Democrats coming on board,” Vandermyde said.

He pointed out that Sullivan is a member of the Senate leadership and supports gun rights. Additionally, he said a straw poll in the Senate shows a solid majority of the body supports laws to allow Illinois residents to carry firearms for protection.

“This isn’t some wild thing that only a few states do. It’s something that a lot of states do,” Vandermyde said.

The Sullivan referred to in the quote above is Senator John Sullivan (D-Rushville), one of the Majority Caucus Whips, who has consistently voted for gun rights legislation since he entered the Illinois State Senate.

While concealed carry bills may pass both houses of the Illinois legislature, Gov. Pat Quinn indicated in his election bid that he would veto any such bill. This makes the narrow loss of the Republican candidate for Governor in 2010, Bill Brady, even more painful as Brady had indicated he would sign such a concealed carry bill.

UPDATE: Thirdpower has this update about CCW in Illinois. There may be enough support for it there is a veto-proof majority. If that proves true, it is great news!

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Nein! Non! No! Na!

February 13, 2011 by 5 Comments

Switzerland is a quad-lingual country if you count the infrequently spoken Romansch. The other official languages are German, French, and Italian.

Regardless of the language, the voters of Switzerland have said “No” in today’s referendum to greater gun control.

Pro-gun campaign poster in Switzerland.

A bit over 56% of the Swiss voters rejected attempts by a coalition of the Green Party, unions, pacifists, church groups, and NGO’s to force military weapons to be kept in armories. The referendum would have also created a gun registry and banned the sale of both full auto weapons and pump-action rifles.

A overwhelming majority of the cantons – 20 out of 26 – were won by the pro-gun vote in this referendum. For a referendum to pass in Switzerland, both a majority of the cantons and a majority of the votes must be for it.

Here is how the AP reported the results of the vote.

Neutral Switzerland is among the best-armed nations in the world, with more guns per capita than almost any other country except the United States, Finland and Yemen.

At least 2.3 million weapons lie stashed in basements, cupboards and lofts in this country of less than 8 million people, according to the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey.

On Sunday, Swiss voters made sure it stays that way, rejecting a proposal to tighten the peaceful Alpine nation’s relaxed firearms laws.

While gun rights forces won today, I think Sebastian is right that the anti’s will be back. The membership of gun clubs is aging and younger voters were more likely to have voted for the gun restrictions proposed in the referendum.

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Blood Drenched Organization?

February 13, 2011 by 4 Comments

Lawrence O’Donnell of MSNBC’s “The Last Word” describes the NRA as a blood drenched organization in his “rewrite” of Wayne LaPierre’s CPAC speech. He goes on to say that “the merchants of death” aka firearms manufacturers pay Wayne’s salary. And here I thought it was my dues as a NRA member that paid them.

If Lawrence O’Donnell is considered by MSNBC to be the man to replace Keith Olbermann, it is obvious that he was chosen because of his gift for hyperbole and snide nastiness. Weren’t progressives bemoaning “hate-filled” political rhetoric only a few weeks ago? Mr. O’Donnell must not have gotten the memo.

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Tester To Introduce Collectible Firearms Protection Act

February 12, 2011 by

The problem of importing those Korean Garands and M-1 carbines could be resolved if a bill that will be introduced by Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) is passed. The bipartisan bill already has six co-sponsors.

Below is the text of the bill that Sen. Tester plans to introduce to the Senate:

112TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION S. l

To amend the Arms Export Control Act to provide that certain firearms
listed as curios or relics may be imported into the United States by
a licensed importer without obtaining authorization from the Department
of State or the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

Mr. TESTER (for himself, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. WICKER, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. ENZI,
Mr. BEGICH, and Ms. MURKOWSKI) introduced the following bill

A BILL

To amend the Arms Export Control Act to provide that certain firearms listed as curios or relics may be imported into the United States by a licensed importer without obtaining authorization from the Department of State or the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Collectible Firearms Protection Act’’.

SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO ARMS EXPORT CONTROL ACT.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 38(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2778(b)(1)) is amended—

(1) by redesignating the first subparagraph (B)(as added by section 8142(a) of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1988 (as enacted into law by Public Law 100–202; 101 Stat. 1329–88)) as subparagraph (C);

(2) in subparagraph (C) (as redesignated byparagraph (1) of this subsection)—
(A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ‘‘subparagraph (A)’’ and inserting‘‘subparagraph (A)(i)’’;
(B) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘Secretary of the Treasury’’ and inserting ‘‘Attorney General’’; and
(C) by striking clause (ii) and inserting the
following:
‘‘(ii) the person seeking to export such firearms
to the United States certifies to the Attorney General that the firearms are lawfully possessed under the laws of the exporting country.’’; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(D) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, regulation, or executive order, any such firearms described in subparagraph (C) may be imported into the United
States by an importer licensed under the provisions of chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, without the importer or the person described in subparagraph
(C)(ii)—
‘‘(i) obtaining authorization from the Department of State or the Department of Defense for the transfer of such firearms by the person to the importer; or
‘‘(ii) providing payment to the Department of State or the Department of Defense of any of the proceeds of the transfer of such firearms by the person to the importer.’’.

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by subsection (a) apply to the importation of firearms described in section 38(b)(1)(C) of the Arms Export Control Act (as amended by subsection (a) of this section) on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

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NRA On Project “Gunwalker”

February 12, 2011 by

The NRA-ILA released this yesterday regarding Project “Gunwalker”:

Senator Grassley Presses BATFE On Project Gunrunner

Friday, February 11, 2011

Pointing to documentation that guns used by Mexican nationals in a shootout with Border Patrol agents were allowed to be sold under suspicious circumstances with the knowledge of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) is calling on the agency to fully respond to his inquiries into the case. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was killed in that encounter on Dec. 14 of last year.

Grassley has called the response of BATFE to his original letter on inquiry “little more than delay and denial.”

Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich responded to Grassley on Feb. 4 denying the allegations.

Senator Grassley on Feb. 9 wrote Attorney General Eric Holder to again request that BATFE cooperate with his investigation, writing “the Terry family deserves answers.”

Grassley stated in the letter that he has documentation for his allegations. “The whistleblowers have expressed a desire to honor agent Terry’s memory by disclosing this information. The Justice Department should work to do the same. The best way to honor his memory is to come clean.”

Senator Grassley has demonstrated that he is determined to uncover the truth regarding BATFE’s investigative tactics, even as BATFE seems intent on shutting down his investigation. BATFE has accused Grassley of conducting a “partisan” investigation and has even gone so far as to ask that Senate Judiciary Committee staff stop talking to law enforcement personnel.

Since Agent Terry’s killing, BATFE has denied the allegations regarding its investigations while at the same time claiming that a shortage of manpower and resources prevents the agency from accounting for all the firearms it is tracking.

The obvious question is: Did BATFE have no involvement with the firearms involved in the shootout, or did it lack the manpower to do its job effectively?

Either way, the BATFE’s desire to mandate reporting of multiple long gun sales by border area firearms dealers is questionable since BATFE seems incapable of managing the criminal leads it already has and unwilling to submit to constitutionally mandated Congressional oversight.

While this statement is not as strong as that of Gun Owners of America or the Citizen’s Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, it is significant nonetheless because it puts the heft of the NRA behind Sen. Chuck Grassley as he pushes DOJ and BATFE for answers. It never hurts to have the 800 pound gorilla on your side.

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HR 645 – A Bipartisan Bill To Bring The 2nd Amendment To DC

February 12, 2011 by 6 Comments

Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR) along with Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) introduced a bill in the House of Representatives on Thursday that would “restore Second Amendment rights in the District of Columbia. The text of the bill, HR 645, has not be released yet by the Government Printing Office. The bill has been sent to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee for hearings.

According to a press release on the bill issued by Ross’s office, HR 645 would:

The major provisions of the Second Amendment Enforcement Act include:

Repeal the D.C. Semiautomatic Ban. The District has restricted or banned the availability of various types of semiautomatic firearms that are widely owned throughout the United States. This repeal would allow District residents to choose for themselves the best firearms to meet their needs. The District’s current ban on fully-automatic machine guns would remain in place.

Restore the Right to Self Defense in the Home. The bill would repeal the District’s current storage law and allow gun owners to store their firearms so that they are readily available for immediate defensive purposes. It would also provide for criminal penalties when a person allows an unattended firearm to fall into the hands of minors who harm themselves or others.

Authorize Purchases of Firearms and Ammunition by D.C. Residents. Because there are not traditional gun shops in D.C. and federal law prohibits a person from purchasing handguns outside the person’s state of residence, this bill would provide more meaningful opportunities for D.C. residents to obtain the right firearms for their needs in Maryland and Virginia. It would also allow licensed dealers in D.C. to sell non-restricted ammunition.

Repeal Overly Restrictive Registration Requirement. Buying a firearm in D.C. can often take weeks and the registration fees can often cost as much as the gun itself. This bill would repeal the burdensome and very costly registration requirement and allows D.C. residents to exercise their right to bear arms without undue hindrance.

Ensure the Firearms May be Transported and Carried for Legitimate Purposes. This bill would allow a person to transport and carry firearms in prescribed manners for lawful purposes, while authorizing the D.C. City Council to implement regulations governing licensed carry and the prohibition of firearms in sensitive public places.

Ross represents the 4th District of Arkansas. He is one of the few Blue Dog Democrats to be re-elected in 2010 and is co-chairman of the Congressional Sportsman’s Caucus. He notes in his press release that he is a Life Member of the NRA. Both he and Jordan signed the amicus brief submitted by Members of Congress supporting Heller in D.C. v Heller.

Jordan represents the 4th District of Ohio. He is Chairman of the Republican Study Committee for the 112th Congress which is the caucus of Republican conservatives. Jordan serves onthe House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, where he serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs, Stimulus Oversight and Government Spending.

Ross and Jordan were rated A+ for the 2010 election cycle by the NRA Political Victory Fund and both received the NRA endorsement.

UPDATE: The Washington Post reports on the bill introduced by Ross and Jordan. They think that some sort of bill will pass that will reduce the constraints imposed by the DC City Council. However, they are unsure whether a standalone bill will get through Congress and Obama.

House Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) is positively apoplectic in her response to this bill. From a release that her office issue:

“House Republicans revealed themselves to be hypocrites on day one of the new Congress when they stripped our residents of the federal court-approved Committee of the Whole vote,” Norton said. “They won control of the House on the slogans of job creation and reducing the power of the federal government, but they have spent the first month in the majority introducing bills to usurp the local autonomy of the District of Columbia. They underestimate our residents if they think this city will tolerate autocratic rule from Congress any more than the Jordan and Ross districts would tolerate dictatorship from Congress on local matters.”

UPDATE II: The full text of HR 645 is now available. It is a long bill so here is the link to the PDF of the bill.

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Who Is John Galt?

February 12, 2011 by 4 Comments

Myths about this movie.


To help dispel some common myths floating around about the new Atlas Shrugged movie:

* It will not star Angelina Jole. She was in serious discussions at one point a few years ago, but those plans fell through. Nor will it star Brad Pitt, who was also rumored to be interested. The movie stars Taylor Schilling (as Dagny Taggart) and Grant Bowler (as Hank Rearden).
* It will be neither a feature film nor a mini-series. There was some talk of a mini-series many years ago, but none of the networks signed on for it. The current production is instead a trilogy, corresponding to the three parts of the Atlas Shrugged novel. And it will be released in movie theaters, rather than direct to television.
* The budget is not $5 million. That figure has been cited widely, especially by those disparaging the movie. The final production budget is closer to $10 million, and the full budget is likely to be $25 million by the time the movie is released.
* Vadim Perelman is not the director. He was involved in plans for the movie a few years ago, but they didn’t pan out. The director is Paul Johansson.
* “Hollywood” won’t have a chance to ruin it. Many people have complained that Hollywood will inevitably water down Ayn Rand’s themes, but actually there were no major studios involved. The first part of the trilogy was financed out of John Aglialoro’s pocket. The pre-production, shooting, and post processes were not supervised by a studio representative the same way other movies are.

We’ll continue adding (and correcting) myths on this page as we come across them. If you spot any other myths that need to be dispelled, feel free to mention them in the comments below.

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Fashion Trends And Concealed Carry

February 12, 2011 by 4 Comments

In the concealed carry world, fanny packs and photographer’s vests – while comfortable and effective – have been characterized as “shoot me first” tip-offs. They are obvious. Well, obvious at least to those who have some familiarity with concealed carry and firearms. And, it is said, to crooks.

Now, thanks to high fashion that may be changing at least for the fanny pack. Just don’t call them fanny packs. Fashion designers prefer the new hipper name of “bum bag” or “hands free bag”. The prices also reflect it. As reported in the Wall Street Journal, Korean-American handbag designer Sang A Im-Propp sells her alligator “belt bag” for $1,995.

So now, women at least can have the belt bag or bum bag for concealed carry and be considered high fashion.

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CCRKBA Urges Investigation Into “Project Gunwalker”

February 11, 2011 by

From the Second Amendment Foundation’s sister group, the Citizen’s Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms comes a demand that the Senate conduct a full and open inquiry into Project Gunwalker

CCRKBA URGES INQUIRY INTO ATF’S ‘PROJECT GUNRUNNER’
Friday, February 11th, 2011

BELLEVUE, WA – The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms is urging its members to contact the Senate and demand a full and open inquiry into a controversial gun trafficking sting operation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that may be linked to the December slaying of a federal peace officer.

After Customs and Border Protection Agent Brian Terry was killed in a shootout two months ago, two of the guns recovered at the crime scene were traced to a sale that was part of the ATF’s “Project Gunrunner” investigation. U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, has asked the ATF about this case, and has been met by bureau stonewalling. In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder this week, Sen. Grassley said it is time to “come clean” about this operation.

“For two years,” said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb, “we’ve been hearing from Holder and others in the Obama administration about a so-called ‘iron pipeline’ of American guns across the border. Only after the recent arrests in Arizona did we learn, through court documents, that hundreds of guns were allowed to be purchased by alleged straw buyers, while ATF conducted its investigation. Now, according to various news reports, two of those guns showed up at a crime scene where a federal officer lost his life. What is going on here?

“CCRKBA applauds Sen. Grassley’s persistence in trying to get at the truth,” he continued. “We are asking our members to call their Senators and encourage them to support Grassley’s inquiry effort, and press for a full Senate investigation.

“We also want to know if ATF officials tried to retaliate against agency whistleblowers who have cooperated with Grassley’s office,” Gottlieb added, “and we are delighted that the senator is pushing forward.”

“Wouldn’t it be ironic,” he observed, “to learn that while the Obama administration was blaming our gun rights for the drug war violence in Mexico, its own gun sting operation was a major source of illicit firearms?”

Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.