McHenry County Blog

You Don’t Know Jack!State Rep. write-in candidate Joe Rosner has a page on his web sitethat lists the violations of the United States Constitution which he believes incumbent Democrat Jack Franks, an attorney, has violated.

His Second Amendment observation is reproduced below:

You Don’t Know Jack!

Constitution Edition

Think you know Jack? Here are Jack Franks’ actions and positions on YOUR Constitutional Rights:

The Second Amendment clearly states, “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

After 12 years of Jack Franks, Illinois is the only state in this nation that denies its citizens the right to keep and bear arms.

Rep. Franks has served 6 terms without ever proposing any pro 2nd Amendment legislation. In an example of political gamesmanship, Rep. Franks waited for four full months to come out in support of the Family and Personal Protection Act, which would let county sheriffs issue concealed carry permits for firearms.

Only when the Madigan-Emanuel anti-gun cabal saw that there were not going to be enough votes for passage did he scurry for political cover and vote for the bill.

Joe Rosner believes self-defense is a basic human right. He will propose and support concealed carry legislation.

Since the political reality is concealed carry may take years to pass, he will propose legislation clarifying existing law to specify that hip sacks, fanny packs and similar purpose-built cases be considered a “case, firearm carrying box, or other container.”

This will then allow persons who have been issued a valid FOID card to transport a firearm anywhere in their vehicle or on their person as long as the firearm is unloaded and enclosed in a case, firearm carrying box, shipping box, or other container. This is a stopgap measure until a real concealed carry bill is passed.

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More tomorrow.

A press release from Congressman Joe Walsh:

Rep. Walsh responds to Gov. Quinn’s veto of ammunition purchase reform bill

Gov. Quinn’s decision to ban the NRA-backed ammunition purchase reform bill is just another example which highlights his long standing record of treading on the rights of law-abiding gun owners.

Currently, Illinois is the only state in this nation that denies its citizens the right to keep and bear arms. The veto by Gov. Quinn does nothing but impose more restrictions on law-abiding citizens and reinforces how archaic Illinois’ gun laws have become and how important it is that they be repealed.

“Time and again, the state’s anti-gun policies have proven ineffective at best and un-safe for law-abiding citizens at worst,” Walsh said.

“Currently, Illinois is the only state in this nation that has not passed a conceal and carry gun law. Why? It is time for state lawmakers to give our constituents the constitutional right to protect themselves.”

Violent crime in the United States has steadily dropped since the 1990s, yet crime rates in major cities in Illinois continue to increase. There has been a 35% spike in crime rates this year alone, and Chicago has one of the highest murder rates in the country.

“I took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, and I will continue to fight for my constituent’s Second Amendment rights.”

Since coming to Congress, Walsh has been on the front lines of the Second Amendment debate.

He has defended the Second Amendment against anti-gun groups stressing the importance of gun rights and they work to protect residents of Illinois.

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You may remember I interpreted Joe Walsh’s speech to the Tinley Park State Republican Convention as an announcement that he was interested in running for Governor.

A press release from Congressman Joe Walsh:

Rep. Walsh to Governor Quinn: Give Our Constituents the Right to Protect Themselves

Urges passage of a conceal and carry gun law

WASHINGTON –Today Congressman Joe Walsh (IL-8) and 3 other Members of the Illinois delegation urged Governor Pat Quinn to give residents their constitutional right to protect and defend themselves. Members were called to action by the string of shootings that happened in Chicago over Memorial Day weekend.

“Time and again, the State’s anti-gun policies have proven ineffective at best and un-safe for law-abiding citizens at worst,” Walsh said.
“Currently, Illinois is the only state in this nation that has not passed a conceal and carry gun law. Why? It is time for state lawmakers to give our constituents the constitutional right to protect themselves.”

Violent crime in the United States has steadily dropped since the 1990s, yet crime rates in major cities in Illinois continue to increase. There has been a 35% spike in violent crime rates this year alone, and Chicago has one of the highest murder rates in the country.

In the letter to Governor Quinn, Walsh and others stated the obvious correlation between the lack of protections in place and rise in violent crimes. Over the Memorial Day weekend, 40 people were shot and 10 more were killed in Chicago, including a 7-year-old girl.

“I took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, and I will continue to fight for my constituent’s Second Amendment rights.”

Since coming to Congress, Walsh has been on the front lines of the Second Amendment debate. He has defended the Second Amendment against anti-gun groups stressing the importance of gun rights and how they work to protect residents of Illinois.

The other signatories included Representatives Randy Hultgren (IL-14), Timothy Johnson (IL-15), and Donald Manzullo (IL-16). Walsh led the initiative.

A copy of the letter sent to Governor Quinn is attached.

Here’s what District McHenry County Board member Nick Provenzano is handing out as he goes door-to-door.

Here’s the piece that was mailed to gun owners:

Any other candidates who would like to share their campaign material, please email it to the address on the left side of the page.

Below is a press release from State Senate candidate Cliff Surges. He is running agasint Karen McConnaughay.

Surges Announces Support for Illinois Concealed Carry law on Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day (IGOLD) in Springfield

Gilberts, IL – Cliff Surges, Republican candidate for the Illinois Senate in the 33rd district, has announced his strong support for passing a “Shall Issue” concealed carry law in Illinois.

Currently, Illinois is the only State in the United States, along with the District of Columbia, that completely outlaws its citizens from protecting themselves outside their homes and businesses.

Surges joins with the thousands of law-abiding gun owners from all over Illinois who are marching to the State Capitol today to demand that the Illinois General Assembly protect the 2nd Amendment rights of ALL law-abiding citizens in Illinois by passing a strong “Shall Issue” concealed carry law.

“I believe that at it’s core the 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution provides for the right of EVERY law-abiding citizen in this Nation to keep and bear arms both inside and outside the home, and that includes the citizens of Illinois,” Surges says.

“When I am elected as Senator, I pledge to always protect the 2nd Amendment rights of the law-abiding citizens of Illinois, the 2nd Amendment could not be more clear when it says ‘…the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed’.”

A press release from Congressman Don Manzullo:

Manzullo Urges Illinois Officials to Oppose Bills
that Would Undermine the Rights of Gun Owners

[ROCKFORD] – Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) today urged Illinois leaders to oppose gun control legislation working its way through the Illinois General Assembly and instead join our nation’s 49 other states and pursue viable conceal-carry legislation.

In a letter to Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-IL) and Republican Leader Tom Cross (R-IL), Manzullo called on the leaders to oppose legislation that would ban and increase penalties on semi-automatic firearms (HB 1294 and HB 1599), impose a 2 percent tax on ammunition (HB 5167), and create a firearms registry supported by a new fee (HB 5831).

“Illinois already has some of the nation’s strictest firearms laws, including a requirement for gun owners to possess the Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card. These bills are nothing but an assault on the constitutionally-protected right to bear arms,” Manzullo said. “I respectfully urge you to not adopt these bills but instead to work towards passage of viable conceal-carry legislation for all of Illinois.”

A strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment, Manzullo co-signed a letter last summer authored by U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL) encouraging Illinois officials to enact a conceal-carry firearms law.

Illinois is the only state in the nation that does not allow conceal-carry. Manzullo also voted last November for the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011 (HR 822) that would unfortunately have little effect on Illinois until the state joins the other 49 states and adopts a conceal-carry law.

“The United States Supreme Court affirmed in McDonald vs. Chicago that states cannot violate an individual’s right to bear arms for lawful purposes under the Second Amendment,” Manzullo added. “There is no evidence that gun registration does anything to keep illegal firearms out of the hands of criminals. Banning semi-automatic firearms, which are used in the biathlon competition in the Winter Olympics, and adding a $65 firearms tax, a 2 percent ammunition tax, and a gun registry only punishes law abiding citizens.”

Attorney Sally Wiggins, organizer of a group of woman in favor of changing the law in Illinois so people can possess handguns with which to protect themselves is holding its second meeting Monday, January 9th.

Here’s Wiggins’ summary of the first meeting, held

Nice turnout on such short notice

Excited with the energy and diversity the women bring to making this group a success and guaranteeing us an important voice in obtaining right to carry in Illinois.

Initial Focus is in organizing quickly to have a proactive role in seeking candidate positions in the up coming elections

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“Girls with Guns” is not the name of group. Chalk up my headline with my fascination with onomatopoeia. [Two people have pointed out, one below, that I meant alliteration. Guess that my lessons when I read "Julius Caesar" didn't take well enough.]

A press release from Congressman Joe Walsh:

Rep. Walsh to Brady Campaign: Break Free of the Beltway

“The last time I checked, I represent the folks of Illinois’ 8th Congressional District, not Congressional staff, Washington lobbyists, or the national press corps.”

WASHINGTON –Today, Representative Joe Walsh (IL-8) sent a letter to Acting President Dennis Henigan of the Brady Campaign criticizing Mr. Henigan’s request for any debate to be held in Washington D.C.

Rep. Walsh had previously invited Mr. Henigan to a debate on the Second Amendment at home in his congressional district, after Mr. Henigan denied the relevance of gun rights and ownership to the American people.

Congressman Walsh sent a letter to reiterate the importance of holding this debate in Illinois and in front of the American people, not in Washington.

Walsh stated:

Joe Walsh at the Huntley Area Tea Party gun control forum this past fall.

“While I appreciate Mr. Henigan’s willingness to debate me, his desire to do so in Washington D.C. is exactly what is wrong with our nation’s capitol.

“Washington politicians, bureaucrats, and lobbyists are too obsessed with Washington insiders and not the real Americans they represent.

“The last time I checked, I represent the folks of Illinois’ 8th Congressional District, not Congressional staff, Washington lobbyists, or the national press corps. Why would I care what Washington insiders have to say?

“I assume that Mr. Henigan is also in Washington D.C. to advocate on behalf of the real Americans outside the Beltway. That is why I find his insistence on including only Washington insiders in our debate so disturbing.

“I believe that the right to bear arms is a fundamental right for all Americans that guarantees them the right to protect themselves and their families.

“This is exactly why Mr. Henigan and I must debate the Second Amendment outside the Beltway and back in my district in the heartland in front of real Americans, and not just Washington insiders.”

A press release from Congressman Randy Hultgren:

Hultgren Applauds House Passage Of Right To Carry Reciprocity Act

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 822, the Right to Carry Reciprocity Act, by a bipartisan vote of 272-154.

“Today’s vote is a victory for gun-owning, law-abiding citizens nationwide,” said Hultgren. “The passage of H.R. 822 means that a concealed carry license, like a driver’s license, must be recognized by other states. This commonsense bill ensures that a law-abiding citizen’s Second Amendment right to self-defense does not stop at their state line, and I was proud to support its passage.”

“NRA has made the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act a priority because it enhances the fundamental right to self-defense guaranteed to all law-abiding people,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director of NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action.

“People are not immune from crime when they cross state lines.

“That is why it is vital for them to be able to defend themselves and their loved ones should the need arise. And today, thanks to the work of Randy Hultgren, Congress has moved one step closer to advance crucial self-defense laws in this country.”

A press release from Congressman Joe Walsh:

Rep. Walsh Stands with Illinois Gun Owners

Votes in Support of Legislation that would Ease Restrictions on Conceal Carry

WASHINGTON- Congressman Joe Walsh (IL-8) voted in favor of the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R. 822) that passed in the House of Representatives today. Rep. Walsh has been a vocal advocate for the right to carry a concealed weapon in Illinois – the only state to not permit law-abiding gun owners to carry a firearm.

Walsh stated: “Today’s vote brings us one step closer to making Illinois a right-to-carry state and allowing Americans to exercise their Second Amendment rights across state lines. Currently, Illinois is the only state in this nation that denies its citizens the right to keep and bear arms. The vote today shows just how archaic Illinois’ gun laws have become and how important it is that they be repealed.

“I have been on the frontlines of the Second Amendment debate since I came to Congress in January. In a recent back-and-forth debate that I have had with the Brady Campaign, I have defended the Second Amendment stressing the importance of gun rights and how they are being disregarded, especially in Illinois.

“I am pleased with the outcome of today’s vote and will always be an outspoken advocate for Second Amendment rights and particularly, a repeal of Illinois laws preventing the right-to-carry.”