This is the second part of my reflections on the Appellate Court’s finding the prohibition against carrying guns to protect oneself outside the home to be unconstitutional.  The first part is here.

“Controversial” could be used to describe the 2002 campaign gubernatorial radio ad about my Personal Protection proposal. It was modeled off an NRA TV ad I saw in 1992 Traverse City at an American Legislative Exchange Council convention.

It featured a woman calling 911 saying, “Someone’s breaking into my home.”

The 911 operator asks typical questions as the woman shouts, “He’s in the house.”

She hangs up the phone and the listener hears her running upstairs.

He goes into her bedroom, slams the door and pushes some furniture in front of it.

She calls 911 again.

“He’s coming up the stairs. Help!

The 911 operator asks the same questions again.

“He’s breaking down the door.”

Then a shot rings out.

The announcer says, “When the police can’t get there soon enough, you need Cal Skinner’s Personal Protection Plan.” Then, “Cal Skinner for Governor. Change you can believe in.”

WGN-radio hosts apologized prior to running the ad, saying it was inappropriate.

Now, Alderman Howard Brookins, Chairman of the City Council’s Black Caucus is quoted in the Sun-Times as saying he is not at all concerned concealed carry would turn inner-city neighborhoods into shooting galleries.

“Those people have a gun now. They’ve just been made criminals because they can’t legally have it. And the gang-bangers and thugs are gonna have a guy regardless.”

Now, let me tell you about Chicago two dinner companions I had at the Annual Conference of the Northern Illinois Conference of the Methodist Church.  Before the speaker at the Northern Illinois Conference Evangelical Association, I asked our African-American brothers if I could ask them a political question.

Having receive permission, I asked their opinion of concealed carry.

The first to answer was a retired Chicago Policeman who revealed that President George W. Bush had signed a bill that allowed him to carry his weapon. He said the Federal statute required him to take training, but that was no problem

The second man was an attorney. He was at least six feet tall.

He said he carried a gun.

He related seeing some “punks” coming down the sidewalk toward him.

He said he put his hand in his pocket and they crossed the street in order to avoid walking by him.

Yesterday afternoon, WBEZ’ afternoon interview program discussed the decision with a young upwardly mobile professional who lived in Bronzeville. The purpose of her being on the show was to preview the NPR story she had done, which was to be aired this morning.”

She said she didn’t know anyone who carried a gun.

Let me reveal one other interaction with a representative of the black community.

And, by “representative,” I mean State Representative.

We were voting on a bill to restrict gun rights in the Illinois House.

As the roll call was being taken a black representative walked across the aisle and told he he/she had to vote in favor of the bill, but hoped I would vote against it.

I wonder if that legislator will have more courage now that the Appellate Court decision has been rendered.