Illinois Specific Governor's Race

Now that Sam McCann has entered the Governor's race as an independent, Gov. Rauner has very little chance of beating JB the Hut. Sam will be the spoiler. The gun owners of Illinois do need to try very hard to help Rauner however by spreading the word and encouraging others to vote for Rauner.

JB anti-gun?

From a Pritzker Group bio:

he currently is Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence.

From out of state:

“Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Safety for All Committee reported Pritzker gave $150,000 in January and another $100,000 in March." This is a quasi official group getting anti gun propositions on the ballot in California.

From His own Mouth to a downstate newspaper where gun control is not popular:

Reducing gun violence is a top priority for me. Too many families and communities across this state, from Chicago to Rockford to Peoria, are too familiar with the tragedies of gun violence. It is killing innocent people, destroying families, and ripping apart our communities. Reducing gun violence requires us to address the root causes by funding a budget that supports human services and creating jobs – something Bruce Rauner hasn’t done in three years in office.

My criminal justice reform plan includes a public health approach to addressing gun violence and holding law enforcement accountable. My plan includes changes to current gun laws that would increase firearm safety and fight the proliferation of illegal guns in Illinois.

As governor, I will also prioritize community programs like CeaseFire that interrupt violence at the local level. I would oppose attempts to legalize silencers in Illinois, support legislation that creates a Lethal Violence Order of Protection, and sign a gun dealer licensing bill. To stop the flow of illegal guns into Illinois, I will work with stakeholders to create a consortium of states to stop gun trafficking across state lines, and support amending Illinois’ “lost and stolen law” to discourage illegal gun trafficking. I will work to create a dedicated gun crime investigation unit within state police that coordinates with local police departments to focus on illegal gun trafficking and gun crime. We also need an inter-agency working group to evaluate our progress in providing prohibiting records to the federal NICS background check system.

We need universal background checks and a lethal violence of protection order so that families can step in to protect loved ones from harming themselves and others. I also support banning assault weapons and high capacity magazines in Illinois to help prevent mass shootings.

His hotel chain (Hyatt) is posted against concealed carry.


The two other options are to move out of state or give up our guns. Without a doubt there will be a court battle that could end up in the U.S. Supreme Court but that will take years and by that time, some will be dead, some will be in prison, and many will be without their guns.

There is also the issue of a dollar a round tax on ammunition that has already been floated in Cook County.

hso said:

Please read the posting requirements for Activism. This forum isn't a place to complain, but where we're supposed to present and refine actions in support of the 2A. If you want to complain about a state or talk about how you're going to bail out we have a General forum where that fits.

Click to expand...

My goal was not to complain. It was to inform and hopefully to motivate people who might not vote to consider that although Rauner is not the dream conservative, we really need him to remain as Governor if we want any gun rights in Illinois.

TomJ said:

^ That would be me. Sorry. The point I didn't do a good job of making is that the Dems are going for broke since the Parkland shooting, and are trying to pass as many anti 2A bills as they can. Rauner has either already vetoed or can veto these bills. As families like mine leave the state, swinging the percentage of voters the Dems way, a Democratic governor becomes more likely and that veto power is gone. We've made many advances as far as 2A rights go here. It would be a shame to give them back, so as ChanceMcCall pointed out we need to get voters out to support Rauner.

Click to expand...

I am constantly astounded at how many gun owners take the attitude that it is "someone else's job" to push for the election of candidates that will support the Second Amendment. There are many arguments other than gun rights to favor Rauner over JB and all of us should be aware of them when we are talking to other people who may or may not care about gun rights. On Saturday, my wife was going to the movies with several female friends and the subject of the Governor's election came up. None of the women in that group are gun owners but by talking about other issues related to taxation and getting the budget under control she made a real dent in their opinions. One woman, a liberal Democrat, flatly stated that with what she had learned that she was going to vote for a Republican (Rauner) for the first time since the 1960s. She also got every one of them to state they would vote for Erika Harold (R) for Attorney General as well.

We need to use every opportunity to get people involved and vote for the right candidates.

Back to the purpose of the thread: What, if anything, are the readers from Illinois going to do to assist in the reelection of Rauner? I know what I am doing, but what are you doing?

• I'm giving money to his campaign;
• I'm encouraging people who know me to offer fund-raiser sites they have available;
• I'm pushing the pro gun groups I belong to support and push their members to support Rauner and giving them extra money to advertise;
• I'm communicating with Rauner's campaign management with suggestions on things and messages I believe will help him;
• I am educating friends, business associates, and family on why campaigning and voting for Rauner is important and cover many issues other than just gun issues as many people I deal with are not necessarily passionate about the 2nd Amendment.

I'm not giving up my guns or gun privileges, and I would rather not have to leave the state. So, to me, it is worth the sacrifice.

FYI - Current Numbers and names for the candidates running for Governor of the State of Illinois.

While Sam McCann has always voted pro 2A, his entry into the Governor's race means that some voters who might have voted for Rauner will be voting for McCann. This as mentioned in my first post may mean a defeat of the current Governor who is somewhat protectionist of gun rights. He is a hunter for whatever that is worth.

McCann entered the race knowing he could not win, so why did he enter? Well, he was pretty much blocked from any other political avenue and he needs a job. It is interesting that his only major donors since his announcement are unions that actually support JB. JB stands to benefit greatly from McCann's campaign, and McCann now has professional campaign management he has never had before. The campaign talent has always been aligned with Democrats in the past.

As a moderator pointed out, it isn't unusual for PACs to give money to both sides in an election cycle. However, it is unusual for a PAC to waste money on a candidate that has no chance of winning, and given the dollar amounts almost unbelievable. It is also not done that a political consultant would work both sides of the aisle, so the identified Democrat consultants that are helping McCann is highly suspect.

This is going to be one of the, if not the, most expensive Governor's race anywhere in the nation. Money is pouring in from all over the country in the last couple of months (not reflected below because of the reporting cycle) for JB from anti-gun individuals and organizations. The anti gun groups are seeing Illinois as another opportunity to establish new anti gun precedents, like the $1.00 per round tax on ammunition that is floating around the state house.

The anti gunners control both the Illinois House and Senate, and it is only Rauner that has kept us from a raft of terrible legislation. The NRA, ISRA, GSL, and others are trying, but it is an uphill battle.

The information below is presented so as to help people understand what is going on, in the hope this might motivate you and people you educate to get involved beyond just voting to help us keep our guns.

Rauner Donor (Top 25)
Bruce Rauner $95,276,000.00 Dec 20, 2016
Kenneth Griffin $36,089,295.18 Dec 21, 2017
Republican Governors Association $8,700,500.00 Feb 17, 2015
Illinois Republican Party $3,593,644.53 Mar 09, 2018
Richard Uihlein $2,605,300.00 Dec 30, 2014
Target Enterprises $745,655.00 Oct 01, 2014
Elizabeth Christie $405,300.00 Oct 09, 2014
Edgar Jannotta, Jr. $400,000.00 Sep 02, 2014
Illinois Manufacturers Association $360,000.00 Nov 03, 2014
Donald Edwards $305,300.00 Jun 19, 2018
Glen Tullman $280,300.00 Oct 07, 2014
Kent Dauten $280,300.00 Jun 29, 2018
Digital Greensigns $269,942.85 Jun 12, 2018
Illinois State Medical Society PAC $250,209.60 Oct 10, 2014
Paul Singer $250,000.00 Sep 23, 2014
MacLean-Fogg Company $226,599.63 Sep 11, 2014
Alpine Bancorporation, Inc. $223,599.50 Oct 16, 2014
Manufacturers PAC $215,000.00 Oct 24, 2014
William Kunkler $205,300.00 Feb 06, 2018
Joe Mansueto $205,300.00 May 23, 2014
Cash on Hand $39,458,106.40

Sam McCann Top 25 Donors (since announcing for Governor)
IUOE Engineers Political Education Committee $100,000.00 May 16, 2018
Construction & General Laborers' Dist Council $58,900.00 Mar 19, 2018
I.U.O.E. LOCAL 150 $58,500.00 Apr 16, 2018
Cash on Hand $292,325.58

JB Pritzker Top 25 Donors
JB Pritzker $106,500,034.95 May 31, 2018
Matthew Pritzker $250,000.00 Jun 22, 2018
Liz Lefkofsky $50,000.00 Jun 18, 2018
Illinois Education Association $42,486.22 Jun 15, 2018
Jon Ballis $15,000.00 Jun 22, 2018
Berkley Net $9,419.00 Feb 27, 2018
Office Depot $3,621.67 Mar 19, 2018
MNJ Technologies Direct, Inc. $2,970.31 Nov 20, 2017
Best Buy $2,775.76 Mar 13, 2018
Networking Technologies & Support, Inc. $1,404.00 Jul 01, 2017
The Tremont Hotel $1,162.67 Jul 19, 2017
Matthew Lindberg $1,149.60 Aug 31, 2017
Michael Alter $1,000.00 May 24, 2018
Treasurer of the City of Chicago $1,000.00 Sep 12, 2017
Steven Collens $1,000.00 May 25, 2018
Mitchel Greenberg $1,000.00 May 24, 2018
Harley Korman $1,000.00 Jun 11, 2018
White Elephant Hotel $770.73 Jul 17, 2017
ComEd $760.19 Jan 16, 2018
Kara Zubo $697.77 Sep 19, 2017
Cash on Hand $38,468,525.62

hso said:

So McCann is a "divide and concur" candidate to help put the Anti into office by this analysis?

Click to expand...

Yes. I'm sure part of it is that McCann hates Rauner because of a battle they had. I'm also sure it was because McCann lost his seat in the GA and he needs money. Just as certainly, JB is making sure he has funding and political direction help from high priced political consultants that he could not access on his own. There are rumors that JB has also promised him a job after the election if JB wins.

TomJ said:

This doesn't help him. Signing a bill that allows us to lose our 2A rights based on hearings we're not aware of and during which we're unable to defend ourselves is incomprehensible to me.

https://www.nraila.org/articles/20180717/illinois-governor-signs-two-gun-control-bills

Click to expand...

It is not that I don't agree with you, but the bill he signed was a compromise of an earlier version that several gun groups agreed to. In any case, he also vetoed the dealer bill and he is far better than the vehemently anti-gun JB.

From a pro gun group's announcement:

IllinoisCarry would like to thank Governor Rauner for announcing at a press conference in Chicago today that he will veto SB337, the gun dealer licensing bill. The bill was passed by both House and Senate during the spring legislative session but has not been sent to the Governor's desk yet. It is good to know that when it is sent, it will be dead on arrival!!

The Governor signed HB2354. The new law provides for emergency intervention when someone is threatening to commit suicide,or a school shooting, work place violence, etc.
We in the firearms community strongly feel someone who is a danger to themselves or others should not be in possession of firearms. We know how important emergency intervention is when someone is posing a danger to themselves or others. However, we also hold strong to the fact that Second Amendment Constitutional rights must also be protected. The Second Amendment community worked long and hard to insure those protections are in this bill:
1. The level of clear and convincing evidence required for an order to be issued is among the highest level in the nation.
2. The order is not final until the respondent has a hearing before a judge, and this must happen with 14 days or sooner.
3. The respondent does not lose ownership of their property. They can transfer possession to someone they trust for safekeeping.

4. The new law calls for immediate expungement if the petition is determined to be unfounded and if the order is issued, the respondent's record is sealed after a period of three years.
5. The penalty for providing false testimony is a felony offense, which we believe will help deter vengeful/vexatious claims.

Earlier in the day, the Governor signed the 72-hr. waiting period bill. We want to thank the Governor for making sure the proposed definition of "assault weapons' was NOT codified into law. The bill passed with a super-majority in both chambers and a veto would have easily been overridden. The bill now creates a uniform waiting period on all firearms. IllinoisCarry will continue to work for an exemption for concealed carry license holders.

THE BUZZ: A new independent poll shows Democratic challenger J.B. Pritzker with a commanding 16-percentage-point lead over incumbent Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. The survey, conducted by NBC News/Marist, has 46 percent of registered Illinois voters backing Pritzker, compared to 30 percent supporting Rauner. Libertarian nominee Kash Jackson is at 6 percent in the poll, and third-party candidate Sam McCann is at 4 percent.

We need to all reach out to any Illinois voter we can influence.

rodinal220 said:

If JB gets in,its game over in IL. The Democratic Machine is strong and too connected. The Democrats are not what they used to be from like 30-50 years ago, they have become increasingly Progressive Center Left (commie/pinko) . The only way to thwart them will be in SCOTUS. I would like to see SCOTUS 6-3/7-2 in our favor to take up some badly needed 2nd Amendment cases to roll back so many Infringements.

Anyone trapped behind enemy lines should start thinking of fleeing or buying Cosmoline/VCI bags and good hiding places for certain items.

Click to expand...

Just a reminder that the two critical state-wide races for gun owners are the Governor's and Attorney General's race. Both Democrats are strongly anti-gun. Illinois gun owners and their friends and families need to get out and vote.