ISRA: Wilmette Court Ruling Helps Set Gun Owners' Legislative Agenda

10/30/2004 7:29:00 PM


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To: State Desk

Contact: Richard Pearson of the Illinois State Rifle Association, 815-635-3198 Web: http://www.isra.org

CHICAGO, Oct. 30 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA):

As expected, a Cook County Judge ruled against a Wilmette man who shot and wounded a home invader in late 2003.

The homeowner, Hale Demar, was arrested after shooting the burglar and charged with violating Wilmette's prohibition on handgun ownership. Demar's arrest sparked a nationwide furor and spurred the passage of a homeowner protection bill in the Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Governor Blagojevich, a staunch supporter of gun control, later vetoed that bill. At present, the bill is awaiting an override vote when the General Assembly convenes its veto session this November.

Demar subsequently sought dismissal of the gun charges against him, contending that the charges violated his 14th Amendment rights. On Friday, Judge Thaddeus Machnik rejected Demar's arguments.

"In penning his decision in the Demar case, Judge Machnik demonstrated that the courts continue to cling to their cockeyed interpretation of the 2nd Amendment," commented ISRA Executive Director Richard Pearson. "This is pretty much what we expected out of Judge Machnik. The ISRA will now redouble its efforts to pass firearm preemption legislation so that municipalities are no longer free to bully citizens who wish only to protect their homes and families from predatory criminals."