Sangamon
County Rifle Association
Right Reason on Second Amendment Rights
Springfield, Illinois
Right Reason on Second Amendment Rights
Springfield, Illinois
| |
Sangamon
County Rifle Association
Right Reason on Second Amendment Rights Springfield, Illinois |
|
SCRA
Meeting Notes
March 3, 2008 April 2008 GunNews Chairman Butler opened the meeting by inviting Jim McLaughlin to lead members in the recitation of the pledge of allegiance. Treasurer Chris Smith gave the financial report. Brian Smith discussed the recent New Berlin gun show. Bob Unterbrink spoke briefly about the new Sangamon County Rifle Association t-shirts. An error was made in the spelling on the back of the shirts, Country instead of County. Joel from Five Star Graphics in Springfield, a very nice place to do business with, reprinted all the it-shirts for us making good on the error. Chairman Butler talked about the following. Sangamon County Pro-Second Amendment Resolution Stalled We have been told by a leading Sangamon County Board member that the Pro-Second Amendment Resolution wouldn't be brought before the Board as they would have to deal with other groups such as abortion organizations, etc. This was after we mailed the first letter to them explaining the Pro-Second Amendment Resolution. They were supposed to send us a letter explaining this but haven't done so. At this point, we would like to point out that elected officials, both state and county, are required by state law to swear an Oath or Affirmation of Office to support the U. S. Constitution and the Illinois Constitution. Thereby swearing to support the Second Amendment of the U. S. Constitution and Article 1, Section 22 of the Illinois Constitution, Right to Bear Arms. Below is a copy of the second letter sent to the Board members to clarify the matter: Dear Mr. , During Illinois county board discussions regarding the Pro-Second Amendment Resolution, it has come to my attention that some board members argue that this issue is (1) redundant, because the right to keep and bear arms is already constitutionally protected, and (2) beyond the scope of county governments, because issues regarding constitutional rights ultimately fall on the state and federal governments. Now that this resolution has been discussed in 2/3 of IL counties, that question has been raised, and subsequently answered. Herein I argue that a resolution affirming protection of the right of individual citizens to keep and bear arms is anything but redundant, and that it is indeed within the scope of Illinois county governments. The Second Amendment to the US Constitution states two things - that militias are necessary for the security of a free state, and that the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. However, the Second Amendment is one of the few Bill of Rights provisions that has not yet been incorporated against state and local infringement via the 14th Amendment. The Illinois constitution (Section 22) likewise mentions the right to keep and bear arms, but is more explicit than the federal guarantee because it omits prefatory reference to militias: "...the right of the individual citizen to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." However, as passed at the 1970 IL Constitutional Convention, the guarantee reads in full: "Subject only to the police power, the right of the individual citizen to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." The prefatory statement "subject to police power" clause was mandated by a strong Chicago contingent, generally favorable to gun control measures then, as they are now. What the preface really means, for Illinois citizens, is that they have absolutely no constitutional protection from state government infringement on their right to keep and bear arms. "Subject only to police power" effectively means that the state legislature can enact, and the state police can enforce, any and all laws that would regulate or prohibit outright the possession of firearms by individual citizens. Moreover, the "home rule" provision enacted at the 1970 Convention likewise empowers local governments, such as Chicago, to enact any form of infringement they choose. That means that Illinois citizen's "right" to own firearms is empty and meaningless, and indefensible in anIllinois court of law! Precisely due to the facts outlined above, it is anything but redundant that Illinois counties discuss and pass Pro-Second Amendment Resolutions. This issue is indeed county business; counties are among the most local governmental units and as such, counties can best understand and represent the wishes of their citizens. If government is "by the people and for the people", the political wishes of the people are passed upward to ever-larger units of government. Counties inform state senators and representatives, who in turn, inform the state legislature as a whole. That Illinois counties pass resolutions is indeed their business, because with such resolutions, they inform the state legislature on crucial matters concerning the rights and wishes of their citizens. Sincerest regards, You will notice in the letter that in the 1970 Illinois Constitutional Convention the right to keep and bear arms was changed. It now reads in full: "Subject only to the police power, the right of the individual citizen to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." This clause "Subject to the Police power" was mandated by a strong anti-gun Chicago contingent. "Subject to the police power" sounds like something that Joseph Stalin would have written! Can you imagine the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution being written thus: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances "subject only to the police power". We don't need a police state, and the Founding Fathers didn't think so either. Call or write your County Board member to pass the Pro-Second Amendment Resolution. As this is being written, 70 out of 102 counties have passed this Resolution. Don't let Sangamon County be one of the ones that doesn't. Protect your Constitutional right to keep and bear arms. Don't let this one slide away. It's important! Sangamon County Board members and contact information: Harry "Tom" Fraase, Jr. (R) 625 N. Old Covered Bridge Springfield, 62711 H: 787-5538 Todd Smith (R) 1100 Old Tipton School Rd. Sherman, 62684 H: 544-1803 David Mendenhall (R) 1021 Mecla Road Buffalo, 62515 H: 364-5157 Andy Goleman (R) 1248 E. Divernon Road Divernon, 62530 H: 628-1125 Don Stephens Jr. (R) 704 E. Chestnut Chatham, 62629 H: 483-5175 Sam Snell (R) 1015 West VanBuren Auburn, 62615 H: 438-6047 Craig R. Hall (R) 13438 W. State RTE 104 Waverly, 62692 H: 435-7431 VACANT Sarah Musgrave (R) 3587 North Oakhill Road Rochester, 62563 H: 498-5917 Rosemarie F. Long (R) Vice-Chairman 8 Monica Court Springfield, 62702 H: 528-9393 Mike Sullivan (R) 3205 Easton Court Springfield, 62702 H: 679-0816 Linda Fulgenzi (R) 2100 Illini Road Springfield, 62704 H: 787-7495 Sam Montalbano (R) 3228 South 5th St. Springfield, 62703 H: 529-4598 Joel Tjelmeland, Jr. (R) 3109 Beavercreek Lane Springfield, 62712 H: 529-0832 John "Ted" Buecker (R) 62 Fox Mill Lane Springfield, 62707 H: 529-6012 Greg Stumpf (R) 2113 N. 24th St. Springfield, 62702 H: 525-2419 John Fulgenzi (R) 1168 Sangamon Avenue Springfield, IL 62702 H: 544-8520 Dave Kamper (D) 1330 N 3rd Street Springfield, 62702 H: 528-2648 Doris Turner (D) 2100 E. Lawrence Springfield, 62703 H: 544-0517 Linda Douglas Williams (D) 1828 E. Pine Springfield, 62703 H: 544-0554 Clyde E. Bunch (D) 2124 S. Martin Luther King Springfield, 62703 H: 528-8484 Tim Moore (R) 1501 S. Holmes Springfield, 62704 H: 544-0755 Jennifer Dillman (R) 1208 W. Leland Avenue Springfield, 62704 H: 698-1832 A.D. (Andy) Van Meter (R) CHAIRMAN 6 Fair Oaks Springfield, 62704 H: 546-1630 George Preckwinkle (R) 825 S. Lincoln Springfield, IL 62704 H: 546-5444 John O’Neill (R) 532 Gatlinburg Chatham, 62629 H: 483-4984 Abe Forsyth (R) 3 Pajim Lane Springfield, 62711 H: 546-2068 Bill Moss (R) 1109 North Park Springfield, 62702 H: 525-8675 John Davsko (R) 2708 Happy Landing Dr. Springfield, 62711 H: 391-6686 Board members can also be contacted at the following: E-mail: countyboardmembers@sangamonco.il.us Fax: 217/753-6651 "Public Official A" The identity of "Public Official A" in the Antoin "Tony" Rezko political corruption case in Chicago was identified by federal judge Amy J. St. Eve as our anti-gun Governor Rod Blagojevich. Various news organizations including the Associated Press have long reported Blagojevich as Public Official A. He hasn't been charged with any wrongdoing. Sound familiar? Two prominent politically connected people from the Springfield area have also been mentioned in have also been mentioned in Chicago papers prior to the trial. The results of the trial should be interesting to say the least. U.S. Atty. Mitchell Mars Dead Assistant U.S. Atty. Mitchell Mars, a low-keyed prosecutor who terrified the powerful Chicago Outfit died recently at age 55 of lung cancer. Mitchell led the historic "Family Secrets" prosecution that led to the convictions of mob bosses, hit men and a crooked cop. Mitch Mars was a public servant of the highest order. As John Kass of the Chicago Tribune said, "Young people might do themselves a favor by studing the careers of low-key public servants like Mars, folks who slogged through corruption to get at those who consider themselves untouchable." Anti-Gun Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin Swing Vote For More Tax Increase in Cook County Cook County commissioners voted 9-8 to pass a huge tax increase, a move that puts Chicago's sales tax among the highest of the nation's big cities. .Anti-gun Cook County Larry Suffredin's yes vote allowed this to happen. His was the swing vote. A large number of Cook County taxpayers don't trust President Todd Stroger and his allies on the board to spend their money wisely and in an efficient manner. They're aware of evidence that the county wastes tax revenue on padded payrolls, foolish frills and unnecessary outside contractors. It is so bad that it is beyond belief. Only in Chicago. This one could keep federal investigators busy for decades. CCRKBA Suggests Investigation of Ammunition Coding Campaign The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms today is calling upon lawmakers in the states of Washington, Arizona, New York, Illinois, Hawaii and several other states to scrutinize legislation that would require ammunition coding, because it mandates a sole-source monopoly for a Seattle-based company that owns the technology. Based on a story in the new edition of Gun Week, and a look at virtually identical legislation that has been introduced in several states, CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gotlieb said there are serious questions that need to be addressed about these measures, and the effort to pass them into law. "Sponsors of bills that would require coding of cartridge casings and bullets in their respective states have neglected to mention that there is only one company in the country with the technology, and that company has been working with a 'hired-gun' consulting firm that offers its help to lawmakers drafting the legislation," Gottlieb said. "Essentially, you have state legislators drafting the legislation working as promoters for a company called Ammunition Coding System, pushing measures in at least ten states that would mandate the use of this proprietary technology at the expense of gun owners. . . . . . Read the whole press release at http://www.ccrkba.org/. These types of laws would cause each box of shells you buy to be registered at the checkout counter. It would increase the costs dramatically to pay for the costs of stamping or marking the cases and bullets, and setting up the national database. You would have a certain time limit to use up all your old unmarked ammunition. Reloading ammo would be illegal. Again only a law that would penalize legal gun owners. Think the criminals can't bypass the system? Another waste of time and money. At the end of the meeting the 50/50 drawing was held. Jim McLaughlin was the lucky winner. Jim donated his winnings to our organization. Thank you Jim! SCRA Meeting Index Return to SCRA Home Page |