OSHA cites Illinois Gun Works and

Elections Have Consequences

OSHA cited Illinois Gun Works Ltd of Elmwood Park, Ill. for 28 alleged health violations following a January 21st inspection. Proposed fines total $111,000.

"Illinois Gun Works has a responsibility to protect the health of its employees by ensuring that they operate in a manner which eliminates or minimizes lead hazards, including exposure," Diane Turek, director of OSHA's Chicago North Area Office in Des Plaines, said. "OSHA is committed to protecting employees' safety and health."

In all there were a total of 27 violations labeled serious. Thirteen of the citations were for violating the lead standard. Some of the charges include failing to implement engineering and work practice controls to reduce exposure, collect full shift personal samples for monitoring, dispose of or replace protective clothing, provide clean changing rooms or separate storage facilities for protective work clothing to prevent cross-contamination with street clothes, and require workers exposed to lead to shower at the end of a shift. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

One has to wonder if OSHA going after gun ranges is a fluke or portends the anti-gun agenda President Obama has alluded to many times in the past. It is certainly no fluke that David Michaels holds the appointed position of Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. Michaels, a Ph.D. epidemiologist, was previously a Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health at the George Washington University School of Public Health and is known to be vocally anti-gun.

Oral Arguments Presented in Illinois

Right-to-Carry Case

Oral arguments took place June 8th before the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Shepard v. Madigan involves lead plaintiff Mary Shepard, an Illinois resident and trained gun owner with no criminal record, who is licensed to carry a concealed handgun in both Utah and Florida. On September 28, 2009, while working at her church, Shepard and an 83-year-old co-worker were viciously attacked and beaten by a six-foot-three-inch, 245 pound man with a violent past and a criminal record. Shepard required extensive surgeries and is still in physical therapy. Attorneys for both sides faced probing questions from the three-judge panel. The Shepard case was consolidated with and argued alongside a similar case (Moore v. Madigan); Ms. Shepard's attorney, former Assistant Attorney General Charles J. Cooper, argues second. Questioning the attorneys are (in order of appearance) Judges Richard A. Posner, Ann Claire Williams and Joel M. Flaum. [Source: NRA/ILA]

Michigan Court Clarifies Limits on

Gun Free Zones

In People v. Watkins the concept of gun free zones was addressed. Right-to-Carry permit holder Roger Watkins was arrested for carrying a pistol at a home and garden show held in Michigan State University's Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education. He was convicted of carrying a firearm on the campus in violation of state law based on the prosecutor's argument the pavilion was a sports arena and off limits to those carrying handguns under Michigan law. Watkins appealed to a county circuit court which reversed his conviction on the grounds that the university had failed to give any notice that might warn permit holders that the pavilion was a sports arena. The state appealed to the Court of Appeals which ruled the conviction should be overturned but for an even stronger reason. As the Court of Appeals saw it, the only "arena" in the pavilion was a show arena primarily used for livestock exhibitions. Therefore, the prosecution had failed to prove that the building was a sports arena or that Mr. Watkins had broken any law. [Source: NRA/ILA]