City Council panel approves minimum five days behind bars for those caught with illegal weapons
Posted by Hal Dardick at 7 a.m.; updated at 3:20 p.m.
A City Council committee today approved an ordinance to require at least a few days behind bars for anyone convicted of illegally carrying a gun under city ordinances.
But the measure's fate is in question after influential Ald. Edward Burke (14th) spoke out against the ordinance, which the full City Council may consider next week.
Even if the measure passes the council, it will affect only a small percentage of gun-related cases in the city. That's because it applies to those charged under city ordinances instead of state laws.
Committee Chairman Ald. Isaac Carothers (29th) said the ordinance is needed.
“I think that as we continue to talk about getting tough on guns, we have to have some laws to back up what we say,” he said, noting that most people convicted at the municipal level of illegally toting a gun get off with supervision or a minimal amount of time already served in jail.
Under the measure, a first offense would carry a minimum five-day sentence, a second offense a minium 15 days and a third offense at least 30 days. The maximum penalty would be six months. And the fine for carrying a gun would increase to $300 from $200.
The penalties would not apply to those carrying other types of dangerous weapons, such as switchblades or brass knuckles under the proposal the council's Police and Fire Committee signed off on.
But Ernest Brown, the Chicago Police Department's chief of organized crime, said that whenever someone is arrested on a public way in Chicago, they automatically face state felony charges, not the municipal offense.
Since the start of 2008, municipal courts have handled only 385 cases where someone was charged with illegally carrying a weapon, compared to thousands of felony gun cases that went to state court during that time, statistics gathered by the committee show. It was unclear how those 385 cases ended up in municipal and not state court.
Burke said he was concerned about the owners of liquor store or currency exchanges who have guns at work to protect themselves and might get caught transporting the weapon. “To say that person should go to court on a mandatory basis I think is ill advised,” he said.
Posted at 7 a.m.
The Chicago City Council Police and Fire Committee today will consider an ordinance to impose mandatory jail time for those caught toting unauthorized guns.
Ald. Isaac Carothers (29th) and three other aldermen who each represent parts of the Austin neighborhood say their proposal is a response to recent West Side shootings.
Too often gang members caught carrying handguns go to court, get sentenced to supervision and walk, he said.
“We are trying to send a message to tell people, don’t carry a weapon in Chicago illegally,” said Carothers, who is continuing to serve as police committee chairman after his federal corruption indictment this year.
Police officers, jail guards and others authorized by state law to carry guns would be exempt. The measure also would apply to people who sell, have or carry assault weapons or ammunition, as well as a variety of other dangerous weapons, including switchblades and metal knuckles.
Handgun possession is generally illegal in Chicago, but this newly-proposed ordinance would only apply to those violating carry and conceal provisions of city law.
A first offense would carry a minimum five-day jail sentence. Second offenses would trigger a minimum 15-day sentence, and a third or subsequent offense would carry a minimum 30 days. The maximum penalty would be six months. Fines for toting handguns would increase to $300 from $200.
County prosecutors, meanwhile, would like to know more about the proposal, said Sally Daly, spokeswoman for Cook County State’s Atty. Anita Alvarez.
The city clearly has authority to mandate jail sentences, Daly said. Police also have the option of leveling charges under city ordinances instead of state law, but there is some question about how that decision might be made, Daly said.
Posted at 07:01:00 AM in Chicago City Council
Showing posts with label ccw. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ccw. Show all posts
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Pro second amendment groups attend National Urban League/Black Womans Expo
The Illinois State Rifle Association,Congress of Racial Equality (C.O.R.E) and the Second Amendment Sisters, had a positive impact on this weekends activities.
The people have spoken loud and clear , Illinois needs CCW and needs it now ! We had a couple detractors,but believe me they were very few and far between.
Thanks to everyone who made this event possible !
The people have spoken loud and clear , Illinois needs CCW and needs it now ! We had a couple detractors,but believe me they were very few and far between.
Thanks to everyone who made this event possible !
Monday, July 20, 2009
One by One opposition is crumbling.
Police say concealed-carry law would deter criminals
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By RYAN ORI (rori@pjstar.com)
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
Posted Jul 18, 2009 @ 05:47 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PEORIA — Talk of bringing concealed-carry legislation to Illinois gives many residents a fear of the unknown.
Several local police chiefs and other personnel said putting fear into the minds of criminals on the streets is also one of the best arguments for allowing concealed carry.
"If you're not sure if a guy has a gun, you may not try to do some things to him that you might otherwise try to get away with," said Peoria police Officer Troy Skaggs, president of the Peoria Police Benevolent Union. "It's the fear of the unknown."
Illinois and Wisconsin are the only two states without some type of concealed-carry law.
In February, the Illinois Sheriffs' Association passed a resolution supporting a concealed-carry law in Illinois, with several conditions in place.
Then in May, Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis expressed public support for Peoria becoming a test city for statewide legislation that would allow people to carry guns in a responsible way.
During a recent 10-week stint at the FBI's National Academy, which brought 250 worldwide law-enforcement executives to Quantico, Va., Peoria Police Chief Steven Settingsgaard said, "Everyone I spoke to was in favor of concealed carry."
On July 9, the village of Bartonville and its police department passed a resolution in support of the ISA's recommendation for legalized concealed-carry accompanied by stringent regulation of the process.
"We're supporting the sheriff's association with mandated regulations if the Legislature decides to enact concealed- carry in the state," Bartonville Police Chief Brian Fengel said. "They're already out on the streets. The gangbangers already have guns. This would allow law-abiding citizens to have them with mandatory training and background checks."
Bartonville's resolution outlines provisions, including:
- Permits being issued by a statewide agency to ensure consistency in evaluation and screening.
- Proper instruction, gun safety and range training, demonstrated ability to fire accurately and safely and required requalification annually.
- Applications processed by sheriff's departments, including the ability to articulate why a permit is being denied.
- Clear identification indicating if a person is allowed to carry in public.
Others proposing concealed-carry also mention the need to evaluate factors such as criminal and mental health histories before issuing permits to carry a gun.
"We want to show our legislators we're in support of it, and we sent the resolution to the Senate and House and the people who represent us in state government," Fengel said of the resolution. "If the city of Chicago doesn't want it, then the rest of the state could do it."
Because of Chicago's longtime opposition to concealed carry, many believe creating such legislation is a long shot.
Peoria-area police chiefs mention the idea of Peoria, the county or the Tri-County Area becoming a test ground for possible future statewide legislation.
"I'm very much in favor of concealed carry," Settingsgaard said. "I believe it's to Peoria's benefit and Illinois' benefit.
"Ideally, it would be the whole state. But if all we carve out is a piece of central Illinois, I think we should do it."
One possible problem with having concealed-carry in just one city or one area of the state is the potential for spill-over into nearby communities. Someone legally carrying a gun could, for example, cross over into Peoria Heights without realizing it.
"It's a concern of mine, because we're landlocked by Peoria," Peoria Heights Police Chief Dustin Sutton said. "A lot of people who go through the Heights don't even realize they're in the Heights. There aren't distinctive boundaries. We get a lot of Peoria traffic, and most of those people don't know where the boundaries are."
Even when the boundaries are clearer, such as crossing the Illinois River, "I would imagine there would be some lapses," East Peoria Police Chief Ed Papis said.
Concealed-carry opponents point to instances of breakdowns in which unqualified or unstable people attain the right to carry a gun, and proponents cite statistics showing reductions in certain types of crimes in the years after approving concealed-carry legislation.
"I don't fear the average, law-abiding citizen wanting to apply for a permit," Settingsgaard said. "I fear guns in the hands of criminals and felons.
"The bottom line is, if somebody is considering breaking into a home or robbing a gas station or attacking someone on the street, if they think they might not survive that confrontation, a lot of people are going to think twice."
Sutton said he supports concealed-carry with the proper safeguards in place, but he worries about loopholes or becoming lax as years go by.
"If it's in place for a couple of years and then it becomes relaxed, it could be a nightmare," Sutton said. "Sometimes, over time, you start to loosen your grip on something. When you're talking about a firearm, there's no room for error."
For many who oppose concealed-carry, one of the biggest fears is seeing their state become the Wild West.
"To me, the best statistic is 48 states have passed a law and no one has repealed it," Settingsgaard said. "There are 48 examples of states that have not become the Wild West."
Papis scoffs at the notion that concealed-carry would flood the streets with additional guns.
"Rest assured, there are plenty of weapons out there - mostly in the hands of people who shouldn't have them or aren't licensed to have them," he said.
Skaggs said Peoria's police union hasn't taken a vote to form an official stance, but from talking with other officers he believes most are in favor of concealed carry.
Papis said he would expect a well-run concealed-carry system to create a reduction in crimes against individuals.
"In my 34 years of law enforcement, there have been many, many instances that I knew if the victim would have had a weapon to defend themselves, the outcome would have been quite different," he said.
Ryan Ori can be reached at 686-3264
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By RYAN ORI (rori@pjstar.com)
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
Posted Jul 18, 2009 @ 05:47 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PEORIA — Talk of bringing concealed-carry legislation to Illinois gives many residents a fear of the unknown.
Several local police chiefs and other personnel said putting fear into the minds of criminals on the streets is also one of the best arguments for allowing concealed carry.
"If you're not sure if a guy has a gun, you may not try to do some things to him that you might otherwise try to get away with," said Peoria police Officer Troy Skaggs, president of the Peoria Police Benevolent Union. "It's the fear of the unknown."
Illinois and Wisconsin are the only two states without some type of concealed-carry law.
In February, the Illinois Sheriffs' Association passed a resolution supporting a concealed-carry law in Illinois, with several conditions in place.
Then in May, Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis expressed public support for Peoria becoming a test city for statewide legislation that would allow people to carry guns in a responsible way.
During a recent 10-week stint at the FBI's National Academy, which brought 250 worldwide law-enforcement executives to Quantico, Va., Peoria Police Chief Steven Settingsgaard said, "Everyone I spoke to was in favor of concealed carry."
On July 9, the village of Bartonville and its police department passed a resolution in support of the ISA's recommendation for legalized concealed-carry accompanied by stringent regulation of the process.
"We're supporting the sheriff's association with mandated regulations if the Legislature decides to enact concealed- carry in the state," Bartonville Police Chief Brian Fengel said. "They're already out on the streets. The gangbangers already have guns. This would allow law-abiding citizens to have them with mandatory training and background checks."
Bartonville's resolution outlines provisions, including:
- Permits being issued by a statewide agency to ensure consistency in evaluation and screening.
- Proper instruction, gun safety and range training, demonstrated ability to fire accurately and safely and required requalification annually.
- Applications processed by sheriff's departments, including the ability to articulate why a permit is being denied.
- Clear identification indicating if a person is allowed to carry in public.
Others proposing concealed-carry also mention the need to evaluate factors such as criminal and mental health histories before issuing permits to carry a gun.
"We want to show our legislators we're in support of it, and we sent the resolution to the Senate and House and the people who represent us in state government," Fengel said of the resolution. "If the city of Chicago doesn't want it, then the rest of the state could do it."
Because of Chicago's longtime opposition to concealed carry, many believe creating such legislation is a long shot.
Peoria-area police chiefs mention the idea of Peoria, the county or the Tri-County Area becoming a test ground for possible future statewide legislation.
"I'm very much in favor of concealed carry," Settingsgaard said. "I believe it's to Peoria's benefit and Illinois' benefit.
"Ideally, it would be the whole state. But if all we carve out is a piece of central Illinois, I think we should do it."
One possible problem with having concealed-carry in just one city or one area of the state is the potential for spill-over into nearby communities. Someone legally carrying a gun could, for example, cross over into Peoria Heights without realizing it.
"It's a concern of mine, because we're landlocked by Peoria," Peoria Heights Police Chief Dustin Sutton said. "A lot of people who go through the Heights don't even realize they're in the Heights. There aren't distinctive boundaries. We get a lot of Peoria traffic, and most of those people don't know where the boundaries are."
Even when the boundaries are clearer, such as crossing the Illinois River, "I would imagine there would be some lapses," East Peoria Police Chief Ed Papis said.
Concealed-carry opponents point to instances of breakdowns in which unqualified or unstable people attain the right to carry a gun, and proponents cite statistics showing reductions in certain types of crimes in the years after approving concealed-carry legislation.
"I don't fear the average, law-abiding citizen wanting to apply for a permit," Settingsgaard said. "I fear guns in the hands of criminals and felons.
"The bottom line is, if somebody is considering breaking into a home or robbing a gas station or attacking someone on the street, if they think they might not survive that confrontation, a lot of people are going to think twice."
Sutton said he supports concealed-carry with the proper safeguards in place, but he worries about loopholes or becoming lax as years go by.
"If it's in place for a couple of years and then it becomes relaxed, it could be a nightmare," Sutton said. "Sometimes, over time, you start to loosen your grip on something. When you're talking about a firearm, there's no room for error."
For many who oppose concealed-carry, one of the biggest fears is seeing their state become the Wild West.
"To me, the best statistic is 48 states have passed a law and no one has repealed it," Settingsgaard said. "There are 48 examples of states that have not become the Wild West."
Papis scoffs at the notion that concealed-carry would flood the streets with additional guns.
"Rest assured, there are plenty of weapons out there - mostly in the hands of people who shouldn't have them or aren't licensed to have them," he said.
Skaggs said Peoria's police union hasn't taken a vote to form an official stance, but from talking with other officers he believes most are in favor of concealed carry.
Papis said he would expect a well-run concealed-carry system to create a reduction in crimes against individuals.
"In my 34 years of law enforcement, there have been many, many instances that I knew if the victim would have had a weapon to defend themselves, the outcome would have been quite different," he said.
Ryan Ori can be reached at 686-3264
Friday, July 17, 2009
NATIONAL CONCEALED CARRY !
Vote on Right to Carry Coming Soon
-- Please urge your Senators to vote YES!
Friday, July 17, 2009
A vote to protect your right to travel out-of-state with a firearm could come to a vote next week -- even as early as Monday!
Senators John Thune and David Vitter are the sponsors of S. 845 -- a bill that will establish concealed carry reciprocity amongst the several states.
Senators Thune and Vitter offered the bill as an amendment (#1618) to the Department of Defense authorization bill (H.R. 2647).
This provision will use the constitutional authority allowing Congress to enforce "full faith and credit" across the country, so that each state respects the "public acts, records, and judicial proceedings" of every other state (Article IV).
The benefit of the Thune/Vitter legislation is that -- unlike other, competing measures -- it would protect the right of any U.S. citizen to carry out of state (regardless of whether he possesses a permit), as long as he is authorized to carry in his home state. This is important because of states like Vermont and Alaska, where residents can carry concealed without prior approval or permission from the state... in other words, without a permit!
ACTION: Please urge your Senators to vote YES on the Thune/Vitter concealed carry reciprocity amendment that will be offered to the Department of Defense authorization bill and NO on any modifying amendments. This vote could come as early as Monday, so please act on this right away!
You can use the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center to send your Senators the pre-written e-mail message below.
----- Pre-written letter -----
Dear Senator:
Please support the Thune/Vitter amendment to the Department of Defense authorization bill. This amendment will protect the right of citizens to carry firearms outside of their home state without violating the rights of the other states. Thus, the reciprocity language masterfully protects the principle of federalism while also promoting Second Amendment rights.
A person's right to defend himself and his family should not end at the border of his state.
I urge you to vote for the Thune/Vitter concealed carry amendment and to oppose any modifying actions that seek to weaken their amendment.
Sincerely,
-- Please urge your Senators to vote YES!
Friday, July 17, 2009
A vote to protect your right to travel out-of-state with a firearm could come to a vote next week -- even as early as Monday!
Senators John Thune and David Vitter are the sponsors of S. 845 -- a bill that will establish concealed carry reciprocity amongst the several states.
Senators Thune and Vitter offered the bill as an amendment (#1618) to the Department of Defense authorization bill (H.R. 2647).
This provision will use the constitutional authority allowing Congress to enforce "full faith and credit" across the country, so that each state respects the "public acts, records, and judicial proceedings" of every other state (Article IV).
The benefit of the Thune/Vitter legislation is that -- unlike other, competing measures -- it would protect the right of any U.S. citizen to carry out of state (regardless of whether he possesses a permit), as long as he is authorized to carry in his home state. This is important because of states like Vermont and Alaska, where residents can carry concealed without prior approval or permission from the state... in other words, without a permit!
ACTION: Please urge your Senators to vote YES on the Thune/Vitter concealed carry reciprocity amendment that will be offered to the Department of Defense authorization bill and NO on any modifying amendments. This vote could come as early as Monday, so please act on this right away!
You can use the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center to send your Senators the pre-written e-mail message below.
----- Pre-written letter -----
Dear Senator:
Please support the Thune/Vitter amendment to the Department of Defense authorization bill. This amendment will protect the right of citizens to carry firearms outside of their home state without violating the rights of the other states. Thus, the reciprocity language masterfully protects the principle of federalism while also promoting Second Amendment rights.
A person's right to defend himself and his family should not end at the border of his state.
I urge you to vote for the Thune/Vitter concealed carry amendment and to oppose any modifying actions that seek to weaken their amendment.
Sincerely,
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
more ccw
Record numbers seek permits to carry concealed weapons
By GLENN E. RICE
The Kansas City Star
DAVID EULITT
Concealed weapons training at Great Guns in Liberty includes practice on an indoor firing range. Jerica Unger shot at targets with a .22-caliber handgun.
Crime Scene KC | More on concealed-carry
Photos | Concealed-carry applications up
Breaking News
Still no positive ID on man found dead after Bates County standoffOverland Park man convicted of raping 9-year-oldRelatives of dead man soughtNBC Action Weather | Nice and sunny Thursday, high 86Major case squad reconvenes in Cole Camp homicidesNixon signs bills opening fee office contracts to biddingHigher court fees start today in Johnson CountyMajor elbow surgery for Royals' AvilesRoyals’ Olivo suspended one game, finedLow levels of hazardous chromium found in some Missouri soil samplesKansas regulators postpone decision on racetracksKU Endowment Association posts big lossesL.A. woman sentenced in Olathe drug deliveryWater referee says Nebraska owes Kansas $10,000 -- not $9 millionNorthwest Missouri man killed in crashSt. Louis County man charged in wife's deathBody found after Bates County standoffEnvironmental officials to discuss sludge probeBank robber sentencedKansas drivers: Be aware of new lawsJackie Poynter surveys the row of handguns on the metal table and picks out a silver .22-caliber Smith & Wesson.
With protective ear muffs on, the 31-year-old Independence woman waits for the firearms instructor to give the signal before squeezing off a series of shots.
“We’ve got a marksman right here,” she exclaims. “Lord help anyone breaking into my house.”
Across the Kansas City area, record numbers of people like Poynter are applying for permits to carry concealed weapons. The surge reflects the fears of rising crime in a down economy and concerns that the election of President Barack Obama might bring new limits on gun rights.
Clay County has seen the biggest increase.
From Jan. 1 through the end of May, 801 Clay County residents applied for permits to carry a concealed weapon — compared with 863 in all of 2008.
Sheriff Bob Boydston said that in January the line of applicants stretched across the office. Each week, the line got longer.
Eventually, Boydston had to pull deputies from other duties to handle the demand. The county has gone from accepting applications two days a week to five.
“They are afraid that weapons and ammunition will not be available, but there is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding fueling this,” Boydston said.
Since Obama’s election, gun dealers nationwide have reported strong sales, and ammunition makers can’t keep up with demand.
Ken Novak, an associate professor and the chairman of the criminal justice and criminology department at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, said the economy is prompting homeowners to take extra measures to protect themselves and their families.
“They perceive crime is going up and will act on that,” Novak said.
In Kansas City, violent crime in the first four months of the year was up 10 percent compared with the same period last year. Aggravated assaults were up 20 percent, at 1,265, and the homicide count — 34 — was 17 percent higher than a year earlier. Rapes and robbery were down about 5 percent.
Novak said, however, that there is no measurable evidence that concealed-carry laws deter crime.
Supporters of concealed-carry say the law has fulfilled its mission of giving people the ability to protect themselves.
Rachel Parsons, a spokeswoman for the National Rifle Association, said the group has noticed a nationwide increase in applications for concealed-carry permits.
“Folks have a reason to worry, and that is why they are going out in droves, purchasing guns and ammunition and getting their right-to-carry permit,” Parsons said. “After 9/11 and (Hurricane) Katrina, people have learned the police will not always be there and they want to be able to protect themselves and their families.”
She said those seeking concealed-carry permits point to Obama’s record in the Illinois Legislature.
As a state senator, Obama supported bans on semiautomatic weapons and tighter firearms restrictions in general. He also voted to leave gun manufacturers and dealers open to lawsuits, and he has said local jurisdictions should be able to regulate guns to reduce crime on city streets.
But Obama also has said that owning guns, including handguns, is an individual right and an American tradition and should remain legal.
Peter Hamm, a spokesman for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said there was no tangible evidence that the Obama administration would seek to curtail ammunition purchases or limit gun rights.
“To think Obama is going to take their guns away is stupid. The man has his hands full,” Hamm said. “The calls of gloom and doom that are being sold out there are not only untrue but not healthy.”
Joining Poynter in the recent concealed-carry class in Liberty was Dan Pulliam, 39, of Excelsior Springs. Pulliam said he wanted the permit so he could carry a handgun to protect himself and his wife when they’re driving in some of the more remote parts of town.
“There are too many weirdos out there, and I like to have something, just in case,” Pulliam said.
By GLENN E. RICE
The Kansas City Star
DAVID EULITT
Concealed weapons training at Great Guns in Liberty includes practice on an indoor firing range. Jerica Unger shot at targets with a .22-caliber handgun.
Crime Scene KC | More on concealed-carry
Photos | Concealed-carry applications up
Breaking News
Still no positive ID on man found dead after Bates County standoffOverland Park man convicted of raping 9-year-oldRelatives of dead man soughtNBC Action Weather | Nice and sunny Thursday, high 86Major case squad reconvenes in Cole Camp homicidesNixon signs bills opening fee office contracts to biddingHigher court fees start today in Johnson CountyMajor elbow surgery for Royals' AvilesRoyals’ Olivo suspended one game, finedLow levels of hazardous chromium found in some Missouri soil samplesKansas regulators postpone decision on racetracksKU Endowment Association posts big lossesL.A. woman sentenced in Olathe drug deliveryWater referee says Nebraska owes Kansas $10,000 -- not $9 millionNorthwest Missouri man killed in crashSt. Louis County man charged in wife's deathBody found after Bates County standoffEnvironmental officials to discuss sludge probeBank robber sentencedKansas drivers: Be aware of new lawsJackie Poynter surveys the row of handguns on the metal table and picks out a silver .22-caliber Smith & Wesson.
With protective ear muffs on, the 31-year-old Independence woman waits for the firearms instructor to give the signal before squeezing off a series of shots.
“We’ve got a marksman right here,” she exclaims. “Lord help anyone breaking into my house.”
Across the Kansas City area, record numbers of people like Poynter are applying for permits to carry concealed weapons. The surge reflects the fears of rising crime in a down economy and concerns that the election of President Barack Obama might bring new limits on gun rights.
Clay County has seen the biggest increase.
From Jan. 1 through the end of May, 801 Clay County residents applied for permits to carry a concealed weapon — compared with 863 in all of 2008.
Sheriff Bob Boydston said that in January the line of applicants stretched across the office. Each week, the line got longer.
Eventually, Boydston had to pull deputies from other duties to handle the demand. The county has gone from accepting applications two days a week to five.
“They are afraid that weapons and ammunition will not be available, but there is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding fueling this,” Boydston said.
Since Obama’s election, gun dealers nationwide have reported strong sales, and ammunition makers can’t keep up with demand.
Ken Novak, an associate professor and the chairman of the criminal justice and criminology department at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, said the economy is prompting homeowners to take extra measures to protect themselves and their families.
“They perceive crime is going up and will act on that,” Novak said.
In Kansas City, violent crime in the first four months of the year was up 10 percent compared with the same period last year. Aggravated assaults were up 20 percent, at 1,265, and the homicide count — 34 — was 17 percent higher than a year earlier. Rapes and robbery were down about 5 percent.
Novak said, however, that there is no measurable evidence that concealed-carry laws deter crime.
Supporters of concealed-carry say the law has fulfilled its mission of giving people the ability to protect themselves.
Rachel Parsons, a spokeswoman for the National Rifle Association, said the group has noticed a nationwide increase in applications for concealed-carry permits.
“Folks have a reason to worry, and that is why they are going out in droves, purchasing guns and ammunition and getting their right-to-carry permit,” Parsons said. “After 9/11 and (Hurricane) Katrina, people have learned the police will not always be there and they want to be able to protect themselves and their families.”
She said those seeking concealed-carry permits point to Obama’s record in the Illinois Legislature.
As a state senator, Obama supported bans on semiautomatic weapons and tighter firearms restrictions in general. He also voted to leave gun manufacturers and dealers open to lawsuits, and he has said local jurisdictions should be able to regulate guns to reduce crime on city streets.
But Obama also has said that owning guns, including handguns, is an individual right and an American tradition and should remain legal.
Peter Hamm, a spokesman for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said there was no tangible evidence that the Obama administration would seek to curtail ammunition purchases or limit gun rights.
“To think Obama is going to take their guns away is stupid. The man has his hands full,” Hamm said. “The calls of gloom and doom that are being sold out there are not only untrue but not healthy.”
Joining Poynter in the recent concealed-carry class in Liberty was Dan Pulliam, 39, of Excelsior Springs. Pulliam said he wanted the permit so he could carry a handgun to protect himself and his wife when they’re driving in some of the more remote parts of town.
“There are too many weirdos out there, and I like to have something, just in case,” Pulliam said.
More lies debunked !
Concealed carry five years later: Why it works
Comments 6 | Recommend 5
June 27, 2009 - 9:12 PM
Greg Sowinski
LIMA - When two men knocked on Charesa Smith's door at 5 a.m. wanting to use her phone last winter, she feared the worst.
She knew about a rash of home invasion robberies happening around the county.
Smith and her husband never let them inside, where they have three young children. They called the Sheriff's Office, and the men left.
"It broke the safe barrier I had around myself and my house. I felt as if I was violated. They never did anything, but it felt like it could have gotten nasty," she said.
That incident was enough to spur Smith and her husband to obtain their concealed carry licenses. She now feels safer, she says, especially since she spends a lot of time out alone with her children, who range in age from 10 months to 7 years old, running to the store and appointments.
"It was a safety issue," she said. "I don't think the world is as safe of a place as it used to be, and I wanted something to protect my children."
More people packing
More and more Ohioans are carrying concealed weapons, with an enormous increase this year alone. Most officials attribute that increase to the fear that Barack Obama's administration in the White House will take away guns, coupled with the struggling economy and an increase in crime.
Through March, Ohio reported 159,000 residents with concealed carry licenses, which represents about 1 percent of the population. Of that number, 16,323 were new licenses issued in the first three months of the year, a number that continues to climb at a high rate.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives estimates 25 percent of the U.S. population owns a gun of some type, and half the households in the country have at least one gun inside.
Many local counties report doubling or tripling the number of applicants for the first six months of the year compared to all of 2008. In Auglaize County, 92 licenses were issued last year, compared to 295 so far this year. Allen County issued 323 licenses last year, compared to 449 so far this year.
Insight Firearms Training Development instructor Steve Farmer, of Lima, said there's been an explosion in the number of people taking his class. In previous years, he averaged 15 in his monthly class. During the first five months of the year, he's had classes as big as 40 people and had to hold two each month to keep up with demand.
Bob Davis, a 64-year-old owner of a small business in Lima, said his job takes him to all areas of town, including those with high crime rates, where he does not feel safe.
"I just can't tell someone we can't do your work because you live in a high-crime area," he said.
Patrick Kennedy, a former police officer who now works as a psychiatric attendant for the state prison system, said he feels safer carrying a gun. That's especially true since he deals with criminals every day, some of whom threaten to hurt him should they be released.
"I just want to have a choice to carry it to protect myself and my family," he said.
Best citizens
Farmer said he sees people in class from all walks of life, from doctors and lawyers to factory workers, teachers and preachers.
Farmer, a former police chief who is also a police firearms trainer, said people with concealed carry licenses are among the most law-abiding. He said he rarely came across people with their concealed carry licenses during traffic stops, saying it's because they follow the law to begin with.
Allen County Sheriff Crish said people with their concealed carry licenses typically are the most law-abiding citizens. Otherwise, they would not have been issued a license.
"We're not worried about those individuals," he said.
Benefits of CCW
U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, fought to bring concealed carry to Ohio as a state legislator more than five years ago. He said the law levels the playing field and gives good people the chance to protect themselves, deterring crime.
No law is going to stop a bad guy from carrying a gun, but without a law they had more targets to go after with less worry, Jordan said.
"Now they have to stop and think," he said.
Carrying a gun makes Davis feel as if he has a chance, especially when he hears about robberies where someone shoots the victim for no reason, he said.
"I just don't want to be in that position," he said.
Davis also tries to avoid being in a bad situation. He said he would much rather take preventative measures than to risk harm or be put in a position to use his weapon. He's never had to pull out his gun since he began carrying last year.
"I hope I never have to pull it for any reason, and I wouldn't look forward to shooting anyone," he said.
Another aspect of obtaining a license Smith said doesn't catch the headlines comes through the training. She wanted to have a gun before taking her concealed carry class under Farmer but was reluctant to get a gun without knowing how to safely store and handle it with three children at home.
Farmer worked closely with her to explain options such as gun storage safes and ways to teach children guns are dangerous, she said.
The police view
When the concealed carry concept was first proposed, those against it said it would lead to shootouts or a return to the days of the Wild West.
That has not happened. Police and sheriffs in the region have not recorded a single case.
"Experience has proven it has not created any problems," Lima Police Department Maj. Kevin Martin said.
Auglaize County Sheriff Al Solomon said he remembers the few who were opposed saying there also would be vigilantism.
"That hasn't been the issue," he said.
Solomon, who supports the law, said he hasn't even had a case of a concealed carry license holder legally shooting someone in self-defense.
Van Wert County Sheriff Stan Owens supports the law, saying there is proof it deters crime. He said carjackings across the country have declined since concealed carry laws hit the books.
"It adds a deterrent. The criminal may be faced with lethal force should he try to rob or harm someone," Owens said.
Opposition
While concealed carry is gaining popularity and more are doing it, there's still those who remain opposed.
Doug Pennington, a spokesman for the Brady Campaign, a Washington-based group whose mission is to reduce gun violence through stronger laws, said the campaign is not completely against concealed carry but believes there are too many problems with existing laws.
He said there are numerous examples where a person held a concealed carry license only to get in some type of trouble. The strongest example is a man in Twinsburg, near Cleveland, who shot and killed a police officer last year during a routine traffic stop.
"These things do happen," he said.
State Rep. Matt Huffman, R-Lima, said exceptions can be found to almost anything. He said he fears that cases such as the one mentioned by Pennington can lead to responses that are not well thought out. He said some miss the point to begin with, that the right to carry a weapon is guaranteed in the Bill of Rights.
"We shouldn't willy nilly be getting rid of guns because a tragedy happens. There are more tragedies with automobiles that cause death and injuries than guns," he said.
Former Allen County Prosecutor David Bowers said the risks of having more guns outweighs the benefits. As a prosecutor, he saw too many accidents and deaths occur by gunfire.
"I don't think guns are the answer," he said.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol also remains opposed to concealed carry. After realizing early on it was just a matter of time before it was law, troopers found a way to accept it by offering measures aimed at officer safety, such as the license-holder's requirement to notify a police officer he is a concealed carrier during a traffic stop, said Lt. Shawn Davis, a spokesman for the state patrol.
Davis said the patrol occasionally comes across concealed carry license-holders who forget to notify the trooper or who are intoxicated.
"Those scenarios are alarming to us," he said.
Future of CCW
While some want stronger laws, there are those who want the law to provide more options. Farmer wants the option of being able to carry in a restaurant that serves alcohol when he's having a meal with his family but not consuming alcohol. House Bill 203, which Huffman supports, would provide that.
Existing law makes it a crime to carry a gun while intoxicated.
Huffman said there also is a pending bill to loosen the concealed carry license requirement to taking the training course and passing the FBI background check at the time a person purchases a gun. There would be no license to obtain.
Hardin County Sheriff Keith Everhart said the only change he would propose in the law is to have the person qualify with the gun he or she carries, which is a requirement for police in Ohio.
Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey, a supporter of concealed carry, said if he could change anything in the law, he allow a sheriff more room to deny someone who may not have landed in jail but has problems.
"That's the downside, it's a shall-issue law. I don't have the ability to deny someone who I think should be denied," he said.
Martin said Ohio law does allow police or a sheriff to take away a person's license if there is trouble or a crime is committed.
There also is proposed legislation in Congress on concealed carry that would require states to recognize licenses from other states, similar to driver's licenses. Its aim is to do away with the confusion that exists when traveling from one state to another, since each state is responsible for making its own concealed carry laws and not all states allow it.
"It's common sense. There should be some uniformity to concealed carry law so when you move from one jurisdiction to the next, you don't find out in one state you were fine and in another you're in violation of the law," Jordan said.
Jordan said the national bill has an uphill battle, given the Democratic leadership. Even so, it does have support on both sides of the isle, he said.
"It won't be easy," he said.
Comments 6 | Recommend 5
June 27, 2009 - 9:12 PM
Greg Sowinski
LIMA - When two men knocked on Charesa Smith's door at 5 a.m. wanting to use her phone last winter, she feared the worst.
She knew about a rash of home invasion robberies happening around the county.
Smith and her husband never let them inside, where they have three young children. They called the Sheriff's Office, and the men left.
"It broke the safe barrier I had around myself and my house. I felt as if I was violated. They never did anything, but it felt like it could have gotten nasty," she said.
That incident was enough to spur Smith and her husband to obtain their concealed carry licenses. She now feels safer, she says, especially since she spends a lot of time out alone with her children, who range in age from 10 months to 7 years old, running to the store and appointments.
"It was a safety issue," she said. "I don't think the world is as safe of a place as it used to be, and I wanted something to protect my children."
More people packing
More and more Ohioans are carrying concealed weapons, with an enormous increase this year alone. Most officials attribute that increase to the fear that Barack Obama's administration in the White House will take away guns, coupled with the struggling economy and an increase in crime.
Through March, Ohio reported 159,000 residents with concealed carry licenses, which represents about 1 percent of the population. Of that number, 16,323 were new licenses issued in the first three months of the year, a number that continues to climb at a high rate.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives estimates 25 percent of the U.S. population owns a gun of some type, and half the households in the country have at least one gun inside.
Many local counties report doubling or tripling the number of applicants for the first six months of the year compared to all of 2008. In Auglaize County, 92 licenses were issued last year, compared to 295 so far this year. Allen County issued 323 licenses last year, compared to 449 so far this year.
Insight Firearms Training Development instructor Steve Farmer, of Lima, said there's been an explosion in the number of people taking his class. In previous years, he averaged 15 in his monthly class. During the first five months of the year, he's had classes as big as 40 people and had to hold two each month to keep up with demand.
Bob Davis, a 64-year-old owner of a small business in Lima, said his job takes him to all areas of town, including those with high crime rates, where he does not feel safe.
"I just can't tell someone we can't do your work because you live in a high-crime area," he said.
Patrick Kennedy, a former police officer who now works as a psychiatric attendant for the state prison system, said he feels safer carrying a gun. That's especially true since he deals with criminals every day, some of whom threaten to hurt him should they be released.
"I just want to have a choice to carry it to protect myself and my family," he said.
Best citizens
Farmer said he sees people in class from all walks of life, from doctors and lawyers to factory workers, teachers and preachers.
Farmer, a former police chief who is also a police firearms trainer, said people with concealed carry licenses are among the most law-abiding. He said he rarely came across people with their concealed carry licenses during traffic stops, saying it's because they follow the law to begin with.
Allen County Sheriff Crish said people with their concealed carry licenses typically are the most law-abiding citizens. Otherwise, they would not have been issued a license.
"We're not worried about those individuals," he said.
Benefits of CCW
U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, fought to bring concealed carry to Ohio as a state legislator more than five years ago. He said the law levels the playing field and gives good people the chance to protect themselves, deterring crime.
No law is going to stop a bad guy from carrying a gun, but without a law they had more targets to go after with less worry, Jordan said.
"Now they have to stop and think," he said.
Carrying a gun makes Davis feel as if he has a chance, especially when he hears about robberies where someone shoots the victim for no reason, he said.
"I just don't want to be in that position," he said.
Davis also tries to avoid being in a bad situation. He said he would much rather take preventative measures than to risk harm or be put in a position to use his weapon. He's never had to pull out his gun since he began carrying last year.
"I hope I never have to pull it for any reason, and I wouldn't look forward to shooting anyone," he said.
Another aspect of obtaining a license Smith said doesn't catch the headlines comes through the training. She wanted to have a gun before taking her concealed carry class under Farmer but was reluctant to get a gun without knowing how to safely store and handle it with three children at home.
Farmer worked closely with her to explain options such as gun storage safes and ways to teach children guns are dangerous, she said.
The police view
When the concealed carry concept was first proposed, those against it said it would lead to shootouts or a return to the days of the Wild West.
That has not happened. Police and sheriffs in the region have not recorded a single case.
"Experience has proven it has not created any problems," Lima Police Department Maj. Kevin Martin said.
Auglaize County Sheriff Al Solomon said he remembers the few who were opposed saying there also would be vigilantism.
"That hasn't been the issue," he said.
Solomon, who supports the law, said he hasn't even had a case of a concealed carry license holder legally shooting someone in self-defense.
Van Wert County Sheriff Stan Owens supports the law, saying there is proof it deters crime. He said carjackings across the country have declined since concealed carry laws hit the books.
"It adds a deterrent. The criminal may be faced with lethal force should he try to rob or harm someone," Owens said.
Opposition
While concealed carry is gaining popularity and more are doing it, there's still those who remain opposed.
Doug Pennington, a spokesman for the Brady Campaign, a Washington-based group whose mission is to reduce gun violence through stronger laws, said the campaign is not completely against concealed carry but believes there are too many problems with existing laws.
He said there are numerous examples where a person held a concealed carry license only to get in some type of trouble. The strongest example is a man in Twinsburg, near Cleveland, who shot and killed a police officer last year during a routine traffic stop.
"These things do happen," he said.
State Rep. Matt Huffman, R-Lima, said exceptions can be found to almost anything. He said he fears that cases such as the one mentioned by Pennington can lead to responses that are not well thought out. He said some miss the point to begin with, that the right to carry a weapon is guaranteed in the Bill of Rights.
"We shouldn't willy nilly be getting rid of guns because a tragedy happens. There are more tragedies with automobiles that cause death and injuries than guns," he said.
Former Allen County Prosecutor David Bowers said the risks of having more guns outweighs the benefits. As a prosecutor, he saw too many accidents and deaths occur by gunfire.
"I don't think guns are the answer," he said.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol also remains opposed to concealed carry. After realizing early on it was just a matter of time before it was law, troopers found a way to accept it by offering measures aimed at officer safety, such as the license-holder's requirement to notify a police officer he is a concealed carrier during a traffic stop, said Lt. Shawn Davis, a spokesman for the state patrol.
Davis said the patrol occasionally comes across concealed carry license-holders who forget to notify the trooper or who are intoxicated.
"Those scenarios are alarming to us," he said.
Future of CCW
While some want stronger laws, there are those who want the law to provide more options. Farmer wants the option of being able to carry in a restaurant that serves alcohol when he's having a meal with his family but not consuming alcohol. House Bill 203, which Huffman supports, would provide that.
Existing law makes it a crime to carry a gun while intoxicated.
Huffman said there also is a pending bill to loosen the concealed carry license requirement to taking the training course and passing the FBI background check at the time a person purchases a gun. There would be no license to obtain.
Hardin County Sheriff Keith Everhart said the only change he would propose in the law is to have the person qualify with the gun he or she carries, which is a requirement for police in Ohio.
Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey, a supporter of concealed carry, said if he could change anything in the law, he allow a sheriff more room to deny someone who may not have landed in jail but has problems.
"That's the downside, it's a shall-issue law. I don't have the ability to deny someone who I think should be denied," he said.
Martin said Ohio law does allow police or a sheriff to take away a person's license if there is trouble or a crime is committed.
There also is proposed legislation in Congress on concealed carry that would require states to recognize licenses from other states, similar to driver's licenses. Its aim is to do away with the confusion that exists when traveling from one state to another, since each state is responsible for making its own concealed carry laws and not all states allow it.
"It's common sense. There should be some uniformity to concealed carry law so when you move from one jurisdiction to the next, you don't find out in one state you were fine and in another you're in violation of the law," Jordan said.
Jordan said the national bill has an uphill battle, given the Democratic leadership. Even so, it does have support on both sides of the isle, he said.
"It won't be easy," he said.
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