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The following is a statement released today by Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) Executive Director, Richard Pearson:
On behalf of the officers and directors of the Illinois State Rifle Association, I would like to extend condolences and sympathies to the families of those killed and injured during Friday's armed assault on a downtown Chicago law office. I would also like to commend the Chicago Police Department for taking the decisive actions necessary to bring the standoff to a swift conclusion.
This tragedy underscores the fact that we live in a violent world - a violent world where individuals bent on committing murder and mayhem will take great lengths to evade the law and thwart even the most sophisticated security systems in order to commit their barbaric deeds.
As home to some of the nation's leading financial service companies, the Citigroup Center employs state of the art security hardware and comprehensive security procedures to protect its tenants. Nonetheless, Friday's gunman was able to muscle his way through a security checkpoint, travel to the 38th floor of the building, chain the doors to the law office shut, and methodically execute 3 people -- all for the sake of a disagreement over, of all things, a toilet seat.
With their only means of escape chained and padlocked shut by the gunman, the 30 or so workers in the law office became the proverbial "fish in a barrel." Had the police not intervened so swiftly, the gunman could have continued on his rampage, unimpeded, until he either ran out of ammunition, or until he ran out of victims to kill.
One has to wonder how the outcome may have differed had any of the law office staff been trained and licensed to carry a defensive firearm. Unfortunately, the answer to that question will remain unknown as Illinois is one of only 2 states in the nation that prohibit law abiding citizens from carrying firearms as a means of self defense. Indeed, the outcome would be hard to predict, but at least the people in that office would have been given a fighting chance to survive.
In response to Friday's tragedy, the Illinois State Rifle Association will be drafting legislation that will provide well trained, law-abiding citizens the opportunity to carry defensive firearms. That legislation will be introduced into both chambers of the General Assembly early next year.
Whereas those lobbying against concealed carry laws can muster only invective and hyperbole to support their opposition, the facts undeniably demonstrate that reduction in violent crime accompanies the implementation of laws allowing citizens to carry defensive firearms. It is time for the Illinois General Assembly to recognize that citizens can be trusted with the awesome responsibility of defending themselves, their homes, and their families.
This will not be the first time that concealed carry legislation has been introduced into the General Assembly. Unfortunately, previous concealed carry bills have, time and time again, been unceremoniously buried in committee, never to see the light of day.
I am calling upon Senate President Jones and House Speaker Madigan to allow open debate of the merits of these upcoming bills before the full Senate and full House. It is high time for an open and honest discussion of the rights and responsibilities of both the government, and individual citizens, when it comes to the matter of self defense.
It is regrettable that we even have to talk about people carrying guns to defend themselves. But, as we learned Friday, good people too often find themselves the victims of the evil intentions of others. With that in mind, the very least the legislature could do is recognize that the good people of Illinois have a right to defend themselves, and allow these good people to exercise that right with the most effective means available -- the defensive firearm.
CCW for Illinois
The following is a statement released today by Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) Executive Director, Richard Pearson:
On behalf of the officers and directors of the Illinois State Rifle Association, I would like to extend condolences and sympathies to the families of those killed and injured during Friday's armed assault on a downtown Chicago law office. I would also like to commend the Chicago Police Department for taking the decisive actions necessary to bring the standoff to a swift conclusion.
This tragedy underscores the fact that we live in a violent world - a violent world where individuals bent on committing murder and mayhem will take great lengths to evade the law and thwart even the most sophisticated security systems in order to commit their barbaric deeds.
As home to some of the nation's leading financial service companies, the Citigroup Center employs state of the art security hardware and comprehensive security procedures to protect its tenants. Nonetheless, Friday's gunman was able to muscle his way through a security checkpoint, travel to the 38th floor of the building, chain the doors to the law office shut, and methodically execute 3 people -- all for the sake of a disagreement over, of all things, a toilet seat.
With their only means of escape chained and padlocked shut by the gunman, the 30 or so workers in the law office became the proverbial "fish in a barrel." Had the police not intervened so swiftly, the gunman could have continued on his rampage, unimpeded, until he either ran out of ammunition, or until he ran out of victims to kill.
One has to wonder how the outcome may have differed had any of the law office staff been trained and licensed to carry a defensive firearm. Unfortunately, the answer to that question will remain unknown as Illinois is one of only 2 states in the nation that prohibit law abiding citizens from carrying firearms as a means of self defense. Indeed, the outcome would be hard to predict, but at least the people in that office would have been given a fighting chance to survive.
In response to Friday's tragedy, the Illinois State Rifle Association will be drafting legislation that will provide well trained, law-abiding citizens the opportunity to carry defensive firearms. That legislation will be introduced into both chambers of the General Assembly early next year.
Whereas those lobbying against concealed carry laws can muster only invective and hyperbole to support their opposition, the facts undeniably demonstrate that reduction in violent crime accompanies the implementation of laws allowing citizens to carry defensive firearms. It is time for the Illinois General Assembly to recognize that citizens can be trusted with the awesome responsibility of defending themselves, their homes, and their families.
This will not be the first time that concealed carry legislation has been introduced into the General Assembly. Unfortunately, previous concealed carry bills have, time and time again, been unceremoniously buried in committee, never to see the light of day.
I am calling upon Senate President Jones and House Speaker Madigan to allow open debate of the merits of these upcoming bills before the full Senate and full House. It is high time for an open and honest discussion of the rights and responsibilities of both the government, and individual citizens, when it comes to the matter of self defense.
It is regrettable that we even have to talk about people carrying guns to defend themselves. But, as we learned Friday, good people too often find themselves the victims of the evil intentions of others. With that in mind, the very least the legislature could do is recognize that the good people of Illinois have a right to defend themselves, and allow these good people to exercise that right with the most effective means available -- the defensive firearm.
CCW for Illinois
