Legislators respond, Suits filed and more!

The past week has been especially busy: dealing with the disappointment of HB148 not receiving 71 votes, final exams and everything else.

The week did see a few people get responses from their legislators concerning their "no" vote on HB148. It seems that fear of their constituents having guns continues to plague these folks, perhaps they should practice being more responsible citizens themselves?

One member over at illinoiscarry.com gives his take on what most of these responses boil down to:

Dear so and so, thank you for voicing your concerns with me. Illinoisans, such as yourself, are too stupid to take their responsibilities into their own hands, therefore I will do it for you. I am the ruling class, you are the pee-on class. Please contact me with any further concerns you have so that I can put you back into your place again!

After reading some of the responses the "no" voters sent out, I have to agree that this is exactly what they seem to be saying. I hope to see them voted out in the next election cycle. Especially the ones that had said they would be "yes" votes and then folded on us. (Are you listening Ms. Davis?)

Anyway.... Yesterday we learned that both the NRA and the SAF have filed suit against the state of IL and the total ban on carrying a firearm for defense. All I can say is: OUTSTANDING!

Rep. Phelps warned the legislators that if they didn't pass HB148 they could count on seeing the matter in court at great cost to the state, glad to see that not much time was wasted in making that happen.

I'm not familiar with the plaintiffs named in the SAF suit, but I am familiar with the story of Mary Shepard, the NRA/ISRA plaintiff. Mary and her coworker were attacked in a church, brutally beaten and left for dead. (You can see a video of Mary telling her story in a previous post)

Hats off to Mary and the other plaintiffs, it takes a lot of courage to go forward with something like this and I'm sure it will be painful for Mary to relive her ordeal for the courts to see.

Best of luck to all the plaintiffs, their suits will impact all Illinois residents.

In the meantime, maybe the House can see the writing on the wall and see fit to pass HB148 if Rep. Phelps would like to bring it up again? Sure would save a lot of court costs!

Find more info at the respective links below:
SAF Complaint

NRA/ILA press release

One more PUSH!

Alright folks, the ever popular HB 0148 (Family and Personal Protection Act - AKA Concealed carry)
has a vote deadline of May 6, 2011. The House is recessed until May 3, leaving a total of four (4) days for this to be voted on in the House.

Todd Vandermyde and others have been working tirelessly to rewrite this bill to satisfy some minor concerns with the IL Chiefs of Police and the Universities and he feels that it's ready.

Because the Bill will override Chicago's existing gun laws, it will require a super-majority to pass; this means 71 votes in the House. There are about 40 co-sponsors on board so it definitely has some potential, but we can't lay down and relax just yet.

The Bill has the support and endorsement of four (4) major law enforcement groups and a mass Transit Union in Chicago. I am yet to speak to any officer on the street that does not support this bill....and I have done everything I know to do to get fence-sitters on board, with pretty good results.

We need YOU to pick up the phone tomorrow and call the offices of those Representatives that aren't sponsoring and tell them that you want this Bill to PASS! Let them know that you are tired of being the ONLY state in the Union that doesn't allow its citizens to protect themselves away from their homes.

Here, you can read the Bill, as amended and see the list of sponsors: Link to HB 0148 at ILGA.gov
If a person is not listed as a sponsor, call them, fax them, email them! This applies to every one of them, as this affects every one of us.

Here you will find the names of all House Reps., click on their name to get their contact info (call both Springfield and their home offices): http://www.ilga.gov/house/

Eat at your desk this week and call during your lunch hour. Email before you leave the house, fax as you can. Just DO SOMETHING!

One day, when your children grow and can legally protect themselves, you can proudly say "I helped make that happen".