Greater Chicago, Downstate Illinois, Sacrificing Themselves For Questionable Causes

Updated: Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008, 2:22 pm -- I don't know whether the proposed ordinance ever passed, but less than five months ago village officials in Tinley Park, Ill., site of yesterday's mall shooting, were proposing Chicago-style gun control to ban nearly every kind of privately owned firearm from the village. Not that criminals would care, but this will effectively prevent Tinley Park residents from using firearms to protect their lives. The measure was linked to Chicago Mayor Daley's proposal to establish a 100-mile gun free zone around his city.

Meanwhile, the writers over at NortheastShooters.com have a statement and a question:
1) "If only we could pass some common-sense legislation outlawing cold-blooded murder;" and 2) "Ted Kennedy supports laws that make women in shopping malls defenseless victims of homicidal manaics . . . Do you think N.O.W. will issue a press release condemning that "betrayal of women" they way they did over Kennedy's endorsement of Barack Obama?"

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Updated: Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008, 11:17 pm -- Media reports state the Lane Bryant store had no security cameras anywhere inside the facility. Unconfirmed at this time. If true, however, clearly Lane Bryant was negligent in not being able to guarantee its shoppers' safety.

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Updated: Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008, 8:24 pm -- Just yesterday, attorney Teri O'Brien wrote a column for the Chicago Daily Observer that accuses Cook County, Ill. democrats of denying women one very important thing -- choice.

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The nation watches tonight to learn the details of the horrible shooting that occurred today in a suburban Chicago strip mall. I can only imagine how some of the gun controllers there -- Chicago Mayor Daley as Numero Uno -- will be rubbing their hands together with delight in confidence that their latest registration schemes will be rubber stamped by Cook County officials.

It is terribly sad, and unnerving, that Cook County and greater Chicagoland residents must continue to be forced to sacrifice their rights on the alter of gun control. No Speed Bumps wrote an essay in 2005 about a nighttime visit to a downtown Chicago blues club. He wished he had his sidearm as he walked the streets with his wife.

I would feel the same way now, considering Mayor Daley's ongoing assaults on the basic human right of self defense, were I visiting downtown Chicago.

Outrage In North Carolina

"If you want a gun permit in Pasquotank, you can go to the new Pasquotank Public Service Building in Elizabeth City, but you must stand in line. The only problem is that you, a law-abiding citizen, may have to stand in that line with convicted sex offenders."

Once again, government "efficiency" and insensitivity insults the very taxpayers who foot the bill for the new public service building.

One More Weekend Quote

This one from Say Uncle, by way of Sebastian.

It will give you a chuckle (it did me).

. . . And it might potentially solve our energy problems, while simultaneously "doing something" (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) about those who 30+ years ago danced in the mud singing "make love, not war," but today keep trying to criminalize every American's 2A birthright.

Romney Receiving Big Bucks From Ohioans; Millions Spent For 'Super Tuesday'

This is interesting. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were the nation's top presidential fund-raisers last year, each collecting more than $100 million, but they lagged behind republican Mitt Romney in securing campaign dollars from Ohio.

Romney received 1.4 million from Ohio donors in 2007. The Plain Dealer has the story.

In the meantime, CNN has a report on the millions of dollars being "burned" in TV advertising to convince voters to pull the switch, check a box, or push a touchscreen for their favorite candidate on February 5's "Super Tuesday" primaries around the U.S.

Sigh . . . just imagine if that kind of funding were available to teach young people marksmanship, responsibility and leadership.

Hoping Buckeye Chuck Doesn't Lose His Job

With the news that Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland is slashing jobs in order to help balance the state budget, one wonders whether our own Buckeye Chuck -- Ohio's official weather-predicting groundhog -- will still have a job a year from today.

BTW, Buckeye Chuck saw no shadow this morning and is predicting an early spring instead of six more weeks of winter. Our warm winter hopefully will be ending a little early, according to the furry weathercaster, who was pulled from his cage in Marion, Ohio this morning to give the official forecast. Under cloudy skies, and before a crowd of about 200 people eating spam sandwiches and drinking hot chocolate, the groundhog emerged at 7:42 am. Buckeye Chuck's handlers report he looked around, but did not see his shadow.

We hope you are with us for a forecast next year, Chuck!

Note: The inspiration for this post is from Breda, who notes that "the human longing for the warmth of the sun is ancient and universal."

Chicago: Another Victim Disarmament Zone Shooting?

The Associated Press is reporting that five people were shot today at a women's clothing store south of Chicago, authorities said. Tinley Park police reported four deaths in the shooting at a Lane Bryant store in a strip mall, Will County Coroner Patrick O'Neil told the Chicago Tribune. Authorities at the scene declined to give details on the incident, but cordoned off the strip mall area.

Here is a report from CBS2 in Chicago, stating the shooter is at large.

I hate to say this, but what will you bet the strip mall was posted with a "no guns" sign? I'm sure Illinois self defense advocates will soon have the answer.

Hawaii Used To Be Such A Beautiful State . . .

"We just received word tonight that you plan to hear House Bill 2392 tomorrow concerning the serialization of handgun bullets. Please consider our thoughts on this issue:"

Guest column from Hawaii residents appearing in the Hawaii Reporter.

Also, read the full story on the Hawaii House of Representatives ammunition proposal.

Gun Controllers Smell Blood?

With anti-gun democrats leading the pack for nomination as that party's candidates for presidents, and moderate to liberal republicans (all with histories of supporting gun control and/or free speech restrictions),seemingly ahead as well, it is being suggested that gun controllers smell blood in the water for the next four years. At a minimum.

In a piece titled "Anti-Gunners Gathering Like Maggots To Carrion," the writers at Little Red Pills show how various ban promoters seem to be coming together like never before.

h/t to keepandbeararms.com