WBEZ Blog Asks “Is Mayor Daley the #1 gun control advocate in America?”
Writing for the WBEZ blog, Justin Kaufmann asks “Is Mayor Daley the #1 gun control advocate in America?” Kaufmann also expresses concern that the incoming Mayor Rahm Emanuel may not be enough of an anti-gun zealot.
Kaufmann writes:
“there are probably no other politicians in this country that would go as far as calling out the gun lobby and publicly outing the federal government for not doing more.”
He does include a link to Wikipedia’s list of the top 35 gun control advocates. We respond that all of these people want to take control way too far. Their version of reasonable gun laws is that no one should have a gun.
Let’s see if the honorable Richard Daley feels the same way once he no longer has his armed guards. Maybe he’ll begin to see why men such as Otis McDonald felt they needed a gun for protection.
Sadly, there will be more shootings and we understand Daley’s concern. But we disagree that disarming the law-abiding citizens is the answer. Maybe he should have been tougher on criminals rather than taking aim at those who never committed a crime.
Is Media Taking Sides in Illinois Gun Debate?
There is a “battle” raging in Illinois, at least if you read any of the various stories online about the debate taking place in Illinois over the issue of concealed carry. But is the debate really a fair one? Consider some facts.
NBCChicago.com: “Concealed Weapon Debate Hits Springfield”
This one includes a photo of the Virginia Tech shooter, not exactly an image that has anything to do with Illinois
The Huffington Post: “Concealed Carry in Illinois? Lawmakers Say It Could Happen”
That headline offers an ominous “it could happen here” style to it, and the photo accompanying this one shows a man with an M4 carbine in plain sight. So much for “concealed weapon.”
Both of the above articles throw in insight from Mark Walsh of the Illinois Coalition against Handgun Violence, who offered the results recent study that suggest that since 2007, concealed carry permit owners have been involved in 25 murder suicides, 17 mass shootings and at least 9 shootings of police officers. No counterpoint or any examples of where concealed firearms may have saved lives, although NBCChicago did quote Otis McDonald at least.
Firing Back: Chicago Mayor Daley Calls for “Common Sense” Gun Laws
Outgoing Chicago Mayor Richard Daley called for a push for “common sense” gun laws, reported ABC News from the Windy City. Windy being the key word, as this wind bag continues to open his mouth about gun laws. He offered this thought on guns in America:
“Why isn’t America outraged about this? We get outraged by a lot of things, but why can’t we be outraged when someone loses their mother, father, brother, sister, their friend or neighbor, what is taking place in America.”
What Daley has lost sight of is that there is “outrage.” Daley sees the crime in his city, a problem he never was able to solve, and thinks guns are only used by the bad guys. The outrage is actually from those who respect guns and respect the law. Daley clearly lacks the “respect” of the law-abiding gun owners, and that is clear as he can’t accept that anyone who follows the law would want a gun.
But the soon to be “former” mayor will lose his security detail, so let’s see if he changes his tune about guns. Maybe if he moved to Otis McDonald’s neighborhood instead of some posh part of the city, he’d finally understand.
Salon: Guns cost more lives than they save
This week writing for Salon.com Gene Lyons offered a chilling thought, “Guns cost more lives than they save.” He takes the stand that guns in the hands of the untrained are really self-defense tools at all. He notes:
“NRA fundamentalists pretend that America will be a freer, safer place if more poorly trained, inexperienced, unfit, would-be Bruce Willis heroes were waddling around shopping malls carrying pistols.”
First, no one is suggesting such a thing. Anyone who gets a gun for self defense should get practice with it, learn to fire it and not merely stash it in a holster until the bad guys come. Second, to put it bluntly, the world is still here despite the fact that the super powers had enough nuclear weapons to destroy the world many times over.
The point there is that this was a deterrent. While not on the same level, criminals know there is a deterrent. The alternative is locking one’s self away in a house and hoping the bad guys never do come knocking. That’s why Otis McDonald took his case to the Supreme Court after all.
Election 2010: McDonald Endorses Brady in Illinois Governor’s Race
Otis McDonald of McDonald vs. City of Chicago, has crossed party lines. The stalwart Democrat has decided to publicly endorse Senator Bill Brady for Governor of Illinois in next week’s election. McDonald has stated that he believes Brady will help protect his Second Amendment Rights.
McDonald vs. City of Chicago Audio Released
The Supreme Court ruling this past summer in the case of McDonald vs. City of Chicago was ground breaking, and this week the NRA reported that the June 2010 case is now available as an audio recording.
McDonald v. Chicago Oral Argument
Chicago Didn’t Enforce Gun Laws Reports New York Times
Irony in the Windy City indeed. We’ve been continuing to report that Chicago had had for years one of the strictest gun laws on the books in the country and yet has seen a wave of gun violence. Mayor Richard Daley, among others, pointed the blame at guns.
The Supreme Court overturned the city’s gun ban earlier this year, a move that Daley has been trying to find a way of fighting at all costs. But in another example of true irony, it is being reported by The New York Times that the gun ban in Chicago wasn’t all that well enforced. Read more
Op-Ed Piece Looks to Extreme, Uses Little Actual Reason
In an editorial for PennLive.com, writers Joe Grace and Phil Goldsmith come out with some very strong words. Too bad much of what they have to say borders on nonsense, even as they write about “commonsense.” In their editorial titled “We need gun laws within reason,” the pair writes:
“Opponents of commonsense laws to prevent gun violence — most notably the National Rifle Association — claim the Supreme Court’s recent ruling in McDonald v. City of Chicago gives Americans the right to carry guns anywhere, anyplace, all the time.” Read more
Otis McDonald Gets His Gun – Almost
The 76-year-old man who took his case to the Supreme Court has gotten his gun, well almost. Chicago resident Otis McDonald has applied for a gun permit in his native town, reports several media outlets.
The Associated Press via WHBF noted:
“McDonald applied Monday and says he plans to buy a .45-caliber handgun. He says he’s already completed the four hours of classroom training and an hour on a firing range needed to get the permit.”
The Chicago Tribune put its own spin on things:
“The process took only 20 minutes, but McDonald said some of the requirements to obtain the permit seemed excessive. And though a gun permit was worth any price for him, he said he is concerned that the $100 fee could deter some law-abiding citizens from buying a handgun.”
Interesting that the Tribune goes to great lengths to show some bias… noting that the “process took only 20 minutes.” It doesn’t mention the “four hours of classroom training” or the “hour on a firing range.” Interesting way that was spun for the readers, because if you didn’t read multiple versions of the story you’d never know about the training time required. Isn’t the media sneaky sometimes?
Huff and Puff Looks at “More Guns = Less Crime” Argument With Shaky Logic
In writing for the Huffington Post, Dennis A. Henigan, Brady Center Vice President and author of Lethal Logic attempts to question the concept of “more guns = less crime.” Maybe he missed the fact that gun ownership continues to climb, yet crime is down? Instead he offers some interesting, but flawed points. Read more
