The Emperor of Illinois... looking for stricter gun control...
As a former Windy-City area resident, I felt compelled to post the following....
Daley pushes for gun control laws
January 5, 2005
BY MAURA KELLY LANNAN ASSOCIATED PRESSDaley, who has been urging lawmakers to adopt most of the reforms for years with little success, wants them to approve two new proposals that would prevent gun dealers from knowingly selling firearms to criminals and that would allow victims of gun violence to sue dealers who knew the weapon had been sold illegally.
"I believe it balances the rights of gun owners with the rights of people across the state to be safe from gun violence," Daley said. "Our agenda is reasonable and fair. It occupies the middle ground, like most of the people of the state."
The new proposals are in response to the Illinois Supreme Court's dismissal in November of two lawsuits by the city of Chicago and victims of handgun violence.
The lawsuits alleged gun manufacturers, distributors and sellers caused a "public nuisance" by saturating the metropolitan area with guns they knew would end up in criminals' hands.
Todd Vandermyde, a lobbyist for the National Rifle Association, accused Daley of trying to shift blame for Chicago's violent crime to gun dealers.
"The mayor lost his lawsuit and now he's trying to get a second bite at the apple," Vandermyde said. "The mayor is out of step with the rest of the state and their views. It's not up to you, Mr. Mayor. You're not the mayor of Illinois. You're the mayor of Chicago." Read more...
First, from the NCPA website:
Perhaps the most powerful example that gun control does not equal crime control is the United States. Prior to the enactment of federal gun controls in 1968, guns could be bought virtually anywhere by any adult, but the national murder rate then was half what it is now.
In fact, evidence suggests that guns are an effective crime deterrent in the hands of legal owners.
- A study published by the
University of Chicago found that crime rates are lower when civilians are allowed to carry concealed weapons.- Murder rates in the District of Columbia and Chicago actually went up after each jurisdiction passed restrictive gun control laws.
- Burglaries of occupied dwellings in the gun-free U.K. are much more frequent than in the United States.
It isn't even evident that gun control laws have reduced gun ownership in the United States. Despite more than 20,000 gun-control laws nationwide, firearms are present in about the same percentage of households today as in the 1960s.
Source: Daniel D. Polsby, "Firearms and Crime," Independent Policy Report, 1997, The Independent Institute, 134 Ninety-Eighth Avenue, Oakland, CA 94603, (510) 632-1366.
The Ice Palace has a question for you, Emperor Daley:
When was the last time you saw fine upstanding citizens from the Almighty Imperial Gangsters or the Aztec Souls stand in line at their local licensed gun dealer for a reference check?
But then again, never let the facts get in the way of your thirst for power, right Emperor Daley?
Like when you pretty much single-handedly ordered the destruction of Miegs Field?
Just following in Daddy's footsteps, eh?
-Psycmeistr-
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