Deerfield, IL School Superintendent violates Illinois law with Gun Control ‘Call To Action’

As the old saw goes, you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet. So if your cause seems righteous enough, what does it matter if you have to break a few laws in order to advocate for a policy using public school resources in your official capacity as a public school superintendent? That’s what Michael Simeck, the Superintendent of Schools for the Deerfield, Illinois School District #109 has done.

A few days ago, in a clear violation of Illinois law, Superintendent Simeck wrote a screed attacking the gun rights of all Americans. Because who needs personal defense…particularly in the greater Chicagoland area? He emailed his call to action in support of gun control to the parents of students of the Deerfield Public School District 109.

Nevermind that Americans use firearms more than 1.6 million times each year to protect themselves and their families and keep themselves from being victimized by criminals.

Here’s the email:

Here’s the relevant Illinois statute that Simeck violated . . .

LOCAL GOVERNMENT
(50 ILCS 135/) Local Governmental Employees Political Rights Act.
     (50 ILCS 135/1) (from Ch. 85, par. 7601)
    Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Local Governmental Employees Political Rights Act.
(Source: P.A. 87-385.)

    (50 ILCS 135/5) (from Ch. 85, par. 7605)
    Sec. 5. Definition; political rights. “Political rights” include, without limitation, the following political activities: to petition, to make public speeches, to campaign for or against political candidates, to speak out on questions of public policy, to distribute political literature, to make campaign contributions, and to seek public office.
(Source: P.A. 87-385.)

    (50 ILCS 135/10) (from Ch. 85, par. 7610)
    Sec. 10. Political rights protected.
    (a) No unit of local government or school district may make or enforce any rule or ordinance that in any way inhibits or prohibits any of its employees from exercising the employee’s political rights.
    (b) No employee of a unit of local government or school district may (i) use his or her official position of employment to coerce or inhibit others in the free exercise of their political rights or (ii) engage in political activities while at work or on duty.
(Source: P.A. 87-385.)

Again, if you have to break a few laws in order to promote the infringement of an enumerated civil right, it’s all good as long as you feel strongly enough about it.

By the way, this might be a great time to submit a FOIA request to District 109 to ask for all of Superintendent Simeck’s emails from the past three months – or perhaps narrowing it down to all emails with any of those individuals or organizations listed.  Along with all emails with the phrase “gun violence” in them.