Wilmette officials upset at law that protects gun owners
November 18, 2004 (Wilmette, Ill.) Officials in this suburb north of Chicago are searching for new ways to make it difficult to own a gun after Illinois lawmakers overwhelmingly voted to give new legal protection to homeowners who use a banned handgun to shoot burglars.
Because Wilmette operates under home rule, the Village Board might adopt a local ordinance exempting the community from the law, which went into effect Tuesday, village attorney Timothy Frenzer said Wednesday.
Under the new state law, someone who shoots an intruder on his or her property could not be convicted of violating a local gun ban. The new law does not, however, prevent state charges if prosecutors believe the shooting itself was a crime.
The bill's supporters saw it as a statement of support for the basic concept that people should be able to defend themselves in their own homes. Opponents viewed it as an attempt to undercut local gun laws.
"The point, I think, was to do a favor for the gun lobby," Frenzer said.
It was inspired by the case of Hale DeMar, a Wilmette restaurant owner who shot a burglar who had broken into his home twice. County prosecutors declined to press charges for the shooting, but Wilmette officials charged DeMar with breaking the city's ban on handguns.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich vetoed the bill earlier this year, arguing it would encourage people to defy local gun laws. But House lawmakers were able to override the veto with a 85-30 vote.
Wilmette Village President Nancy Canafax said she was not surprised by the House's action.
"It's just always frustrating and aggravating that Springfield can decide a very local issue like this," Canafax said. "We don't impose our laws on handguns anywhere else."
