ISRA: Illinois State Police Voice Opposition to Closing Gun Show LoopholeSPRINGFIELD, Ill., May 11 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA):
In a move that has shocked many on Capitol Hill, the Illinois State Police (ISP) have come out in opposition to a bill designed to close the "gun show loophole."
In a tersely worded May 11, 2005 letter, ISP Director Larry Trent implored state legislators to vote "no" on Senate Bill 57. In that letter, Trent made unfounded claims that the bill would endanger the lives of police officers.
Sponsored in the Illinois House by Rep. John Millner, SB57 would put in place safeguards to prevent terrorists, drug lords and gang bangers from acquiring weapons at gun shows. The bill would greatly strengthen the state's background check law -- thus protecting the public and police officers alike from gun violence. The bill would also bring the state's gun purchase record keeping system into line with federal regulations.
Those close to the issue suspect that Governor Blagojevich bowed under pressure from the Daley Administration to run interference against passage of SB57 because a gun show bill backed by Daley failed earlier this session. Legislators rejected the Daley gun show bill because it needlessly interfered with the rights of law-abiding citizens.
"It's incredible that Director Trent would accuse Rep. Millner of sponsoring a bill that would endanger police officers," commented ISRA Executive Director Richard Pearson. "Rep. Millner is a highly regarded member of the law enforcement community. He is the former Chief of the Elmhurst Police Department as well as a past president of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police. He is also the recipient of the 1998 Thrasher Award for prevention of gang violence. In 1996, Chief Millner received the Chief of the Year Award from the Illinois State Crime Commission. If anybody knows what is good for the welfare of our police officers, it's Chief Millner. To suggest otherwise smacks of political sour grapes."
"Terrorists pose a serious threat to all Illinois citizens," continued Pearson. "It's time for us to remove gun shows from that threat equation. SB57 is just the tool to do that. In fact, it is the only tool to do that. If SB57 fails because the governor thinks that it came from the "wrong" side of the aisle, the people of Illinois lose again -- thanks to petty politics. Any representative that votes against SB57 will have to face his or her constituents and explain just why they voted against closing the gun show loophole."
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=47217*FW Note:Further evidence that the goal of current government is to protect and empower the state and not to serve the needs of The People. The excuse? Terrorism, of course.
They claim that all the idiotic hoops that average citizens have to jump through to purchase a firearms are simply too much to expect of those poor mistreated police officers.
:roll:
