GSL ExecDir Report: Guns Save Life gets results, Madigan uses gun control to distract from sex scandals

by John Boch
Guns Save Life Executive Director

Guns Save Life gets proven results.  This past month has seen us working on multiple fronts to defend your right to defend yourself.  

Most importantly, we worked with the National Rifle Association to slow down the onslaught of gun control bills in Springfield.

We also stopped Village of Deerfield’s gun ban for now, thanks to the NRA-ILA’s outstanding legal team.  

Not only all that, but we took unwanted guns up to Chicago and sold them to the do-gooders in Rahm’s Chicago.

But wait, there’s more!  We’re working closely with  both David Conte, the NRA-ILA’s new Regional Grassroots Coordinator, and John Weber, the NRA-ILA’s new Illinois liaison on a plan for this fall’s elections.  Working together, and with your help, the good guys will make examples of select Illinois politicians.  Yes, voting against guns has consequences.

Mr. Conte, who appeared at three GSL regional meetings and saw-first hand our fun, friendly and informative meetings, praised GSL extensively for our members and our work.  

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
The spring session wrapped up very early in June.   The Democrats, under House Speaker Michael Madigan’s leadership, pushed gun control.  Hard.  Why?  It distracted the mainstream media from sex scandals swirling around Madigan’s office and still more against his fellow Democrats.

Madigan is juggling nearly a dozen sexual harassment scandals in his office alone.  One women referred the Speaker’s Office as a locker room.  A week later, Michael Madigan’s chief of staff resigned after announcement of yet another sex scandal.   Meanwhile, Senator Ira Silverstein and now-former House Deputy Majority Leader Lou Lang both resigned from their leadership positions following credible allegations.   

What’s more, as Capitol Fax’s Rich Miller wrote, everyone in the Capitol Complex knew about Lou Lang – much the same way everyone in Hollywood “knew” about the pervert Harvey Weinstein.  Miller called it the “worst-kept secret in the Capitol”.  And yet nobody came forward (!!).  

In the end, three gun control bills are on the way to Governor Rauner’s desk.  Please call his office (217-782-0244) and urge him to veto them all.

The “new” Gun Retailer Licensing bill now includes formal gun registration on all sales in addition to all the other warts in the original bill.  I look for the governor to veto this bill outright.  It did not pass with a super-majority in either the House or Senate.  The Dems have used a procedural move to keep this bill off the governor's desk until after the election, depriving Rauner of an opportunity to veto the bill ahead of the elections.  Politics, you know.

Two bills that did pass with super-majority support include a 3-day wait for all gun purchases and the Lethal Violence Order of Protection bill. 

The Lethal Violence bill passed after the ISRA went neutral on it.  ISRA Executive Director Rich Pearson called this bill the Snitch Bill earlier in the session.  I thought that a nice moniker.  However, after revisions were made watering it down, our sister gun rights group went neutral on it.  

Guns Save Life remained opposed to the bill because we see the abuse with existing orders of protection – particularly during divorce proceedings – and see this bill as no different.  The bill has no meaningful provisions for liability against accusers levelling baseless or vexatious complaints.

Different groups, different perspectives.   [Attacking or flaming the ISRA on this will not be allowed in comments.  They simply had a difference of opinion with us and we can respect that.]

There was also some talk that the NRA dropped its opposition as well, but those claims remain patently false.  

Will the governor veto these two bills despite the super-majority votes?  It will all come down to his assessment of the mood of the state in August when the 60-day window for action approaches.  He won’t want to give Democrats a chance to over-ride the vetoes to publicly humiliate him ahead of November’s election.

If he does veto them, we will need to make sure to pressure squishy legislators to uphold the veto.  Yeah, it means making calls, office visits and writing letters.  And getting our friends and family to do the same.  Is your State Rep. solid on guns?  If so, then call House Minority Leader Jim Durkin’s office (217) 782-0494 and tell him to sustain the governor’s vetoes.

Remember in November!
This summer, we need to energize ourselves and our pro-gun friends to get out and vote in November.  Bring your friends and neighbors to do the same.  The Chicagoland Democrats in particular lack enthusiasm for this election.  But if pro-gun folks don’t show up out of disgust in the governor’s race, we cannot capitalize on a lack of turnout among the anti-gun types.

Sign up today to attend the Second Amendment Foundation’s Gun Rights Policy Conference.  It will take place right here in Illinois at The Hyatt Regency O’Hare on September 22, & 23.  It’s FREE to attend – they even provide lunch.  These events are incredible and will help arm you with all manner of information and skill sets to make you a better citizen and activist.  REGISTER HERE!

Lastly, on a personal note, Guns Save Life will have two new members soon.  My lovely bride and I are expecting twins with a due date around Thanksgiving!  Exciting times.

Thank you for being a member and thanks for coming out!