Supremes' Heller Opinion May Be The Beginning Of The End Of 'The Chicago Way'

John Kass is an award-winning journalist who writes a regular column for the Chicago Tribune. And he has noticed something that disturbs him. Specifically, that the ban on handguns in Washington D.C. that the U.S. Supreme Court is about to throw out with the Heller ruling, bears a striking similarity to the handgun ban in Chicago.

And then he says this:

"But what's not often reported by the decidedly pro-gun-control media is that since Chicago's anti-handgun law went into effect in 1982, only two classes of people have had ready access to firearms:

"The criminals. And the politicians. Cynics who scoff at everything decent suggest these are one and the same, but taxpayers know the difference."

Incredibly true words. Exceptions to these "bans" often include politicians, even police officers. And of course, we know that criminals don't follow the rule of law, so they steal guns and use them anyway with impunity -- for the law-abiding are just that, law-abiding, and don't want to get into trouble.

But there is a groundswell across this nation, a feeling of "enough is enough." Moms are tired of being told they cannot keep a sidearm to protect their children. Especially when the reason given that they can't own one, is that "it's for the protection of the children." Tell that to an inner city mom or grandmother who cannot afford to move to an area where she and the kids won't be caught in gang crossfire. Crossfire whose root element is drugs, and NOT guns.

But I digress. Kass is pissed that politicians in his city (and many others) hold themselves out to be a special class . . . more important than the taxpayers who want to be safe and live their lives in peace.

"Criminals get guns the old fashioned way, by stealing them or buying them illegally. Politicians write the anti-gun laws, and wonder of wonders, they often exempt themselves and call themselves peace officers.

"In Chicago, our politicians often go around surrounded by armed bodyguards on the city payroll. Or they walk our streets strapped. Or they know a guy who knows a guy in some suburb, and they become deputized peace officers so they can carry.

"Politicians are not violent by disposition. They live in some of the safest neighborhoods, with wrought iron fences, automatic garage doors, cameras on light poles and armed police bodyguards.

"Meanwhile, the taxpayers, who live without bodyguards, are told that if they want to protect themselves with a handgun just like the politicians, they themselves will be criminalized.

"It is all about power in the end."

The belief is that once the DC ban falls, Chicago is next. I, for one, will do everything I can to support such a move. But the reason is because the Second Amendment is for all the people, not just those privileged few who think the rules don't apply to them. Read the entire essay, and pass it on.