Editorial

Politics makes strange bedfellows

David A. Lombardo

At first glance the idea of stiffer minimum sentences for violations of the unlawful use of a weapon statute makes sense. One might think it was a House Republican that presented the bill instead of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

The Mayor's proposal, which he said is aimed at felons and gang members, calls for a mandatory three-year prison sentence for certain violations of the unlawful use of a weapon statute. So far, so good, though it's a bit disconcerting to be on the Mayor's side of a gun control argument.

However the bill was pulled from the House Judiciary Committee by Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-Riverside) in the wake of protests by pro-personal-protection advocates and, in particular, the Illinois State Rifle Association.

Richard Pearson, ISRA's executive director and head lobbyist in Springfield, wrote in his weekly epistle to members, "The big topic is the City of Chicago's push for enhanced penalties for gun possession offenders. While I am generally not opposed to increased penalties for bad guys, the idea the City is proposing would sweep otherwise innocent people who make a simple mistake into prison. What the ideas put forth by the City do show is the utter contempt the City and Cook County State's Attorney, Anita Alvarez, have for gun owners and the Second Amendment."  

 Oops, my bad. I didn't see that one coming, and suddenly I find myself back on the side of the guys who wear white hats. 

 Zalewski, who pulled the plug on the proposed bill, commented that progress was being made to allay fears of gun-rights advocates and largely acquiesced to the concern that law-abiding citizens who make a simple mistake could face mandatory prison time under the mayor's plan. In any event, it was unlikely he had the votes to get it passed. "It's a reasonable and honest concern," he said. "We're doing our best to address it. We're giving an added assurance in the law that no mistake will be made when it comes to the law-abiding gun owner."

Harrisburg's Representative, Brandon Phelps, yet another Democrat, said, "If we want to go after the criminals and the bad guys, there's a way to do that and a way to write it. I want to make sure that we protect the first-time offenders that make a mistake-an honest mistake."

It is interesting to note that the Dems seem to be looking out for the little guy, even if it took a bit of nudging from the ISRA, but U.S. Senator Mark Kirk endorsed Emanuel's proposal. Kirk said he would use the "bully pulpit" of his office to encourage lawmakers to approve the bill. 

Kirk, Emanuel and Chicago police Superintendent Garry McCarthy held a press conference in Chicago touting the merits of the proposed law. McCarthy pooh-poohed pro-personal-protection advocates that expressed concern over the possibility that an otherwise law-abiding citizen could face prison time and offered the reassurance that prosecutors would have discretion over the charges they level. Yeah, I can see Cook County's Anita Alvarez exercising the discretion to behead someone. 

Lost in the rhetorical shuffle is an estimate that suggests passage of the bill would add a $900 million expense to the Department of Corrections. For his part Kirk said, "[It] will solve the toughest crime problems bedeviling our state." The law, that is, not beheading... at least I think that's what he meant. Wait, I thought Kirk was a Republican. It's getting so you can't tell the players without a score card, but you know what they say: politics makes strange bedfellows. 

Anti-gunners begin campaign

to dismantle concealed carry
  

The Illinois General Assembly returned to session this week, and the anti-gunners wasted no time in attempting to dismantle the concealed carry bill passed last spring, according to the Illinois State Rifle Association. The ISRA's Executive Director Richard Pearson has put out the word to the organization's members to help shut down the gun control movement's efforts to strip Illinoisans of their fundamental right to defend themselves and their families from muggers, murderers, robbers and rapists. "We also need your help to support three pro-concealed carry bills that have been introduced. According to Pearson, HB3651 would reduce the burdensome 16-hour training rule to a more reasonable 8-hour requirement and would eliminate re-training requirements for carry permit renewals. HB3650 provides for concealed carry reciprocity between Illinois and dozens of other states, and HB3649 reduces the exorbitant fees the State Police plan on charging people for permit applications. The state should not be allowed to price-gouge citizens who want to defend themselves. Pearson also noted HB3646, HB3669, HB3675 and SB2594 were bad news for shooters.