Governor Blagojevich urges Treasurer Topinka to support assault weapons ban
Governor sends letter to Topinka urging her to use position as state’s only republican office holder to lobby other republicans to support ban


CHICAGO – Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today sent a letter to State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka urging her to change her position and support a statewide assault weapons ban.  The Governor believes Topinka, as the only republican statewide officer holder, can help convince republican lawmakers to vote for the ban.  The Governor’s letter follows a lobbying effort at the State Capitol in Springfield on Thursday when he joined families of victims of assault weapons, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and other gun safety advocates today to call on the Illinois General Assembly to pass a statewide assault weapons ban.

“I am writing today to urge you to change your position on the assault weapons ban and to use your influence and position as the state’s top Republican official to work with your fellow Republican members of the General Assembly to support the ban as well.   As you know, we are only a few votes short of passing the assault weapons ban.  The legislators who should be in a position to vote for the ban are Republican legislators from the Chicago suburbs whose constituents strongly support banning assault weapons.  I know that the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the Illinois State Rifle Association are powerful special interests, but as public servants, it is our responsibility to put the safety of the people ahead of the demands of groups like the NRA and the Illinois State Rifle Association,” Governor Blagojevich wrote.

The ongoing effort to pass a statewide assault weapons ban intensified after the tragic murders this month of two young girls from Englewood.  Police report 14-year-old Starkesia Reed and 10-year old Siretha White were both killed by gunfire from assault weapons that would be illegal to buy, own, or sell in Illinois under the proposed ban.

House Bill 2414, sponsored by state Rep. Eddie Acevedo (D-Chicago), would prohibit the manufacture, possession, and delivery of semiautomatic assault weapons, assault weapon attachments, large capacity ammunition feeding devices, and the .50 caliber rifle.  Other banned weapons would include UZIs, Colt AR-15s, and TEC-DC9s.

Under the proposed legislation, possession of a .50 caliber rifle or assault weapon would be a Class 3 felony for a first violation, carrying a sentence of 2-5 years, and a Class 2 felony, carrying a sentence of 3-7 years, for a second or subsequent violation or for having 2 or more weapons at once.

Assault weapons fire bullets rapidly and can fire at multiple targets, making them ideal for military use.  For example, the larger magazines allow a shooter to fire 20, 50, or even 100 rounds without having to reload.  Assault weapons have a high level of firepower, can penetrate body armor, and therefore pose a significant threat to police as well as innocent bystanders.

In September 2004, leaders in Washington D.C. allowed the federal assault weapons ban to expire, despite promises from President Bush that he would renew the law.  Since the federal ban was lifted, the Chicago Police Department has seized over 500 assault weapons, 400 in 2005 alone.  In fact, just this past New Year’s Eve, the Chicago Police Department recovered 22 weapons, including an AK 47 and MAC 10 with a 30 round clip and a laser sight-weapon that would be banned statewide if lawmakers pass the pending measure.


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Ladies and what gentlemen there is in here.....It’s  best to start the campaign of letter writing to JBT and let her know our position on the ban, with words in effect if she supports such a ban, that it would not be in her best political interest.

Of course Rod the Puke desires her to not support the ban, which would give him motivation to say she supports special interest groups….just remember people, we are the special interest group. It’s not in a name such as the NRA or ISRA, it’s US!

Then if it so happen, she did support the ban. He knows that she has lost the gun vote and given him the victory in the fall election.

Quoted: “I know that the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the Illinois State Rifle Association are powerful special interests, but as public servants, it is our responsibility to put the safety of the people ahead of the demands of groups like the NRA and the Illinois State Rifle Association,” Governor Blagojevich wrote.

I wonder who are the people in need of such a ban that already exists in Chicago and has proved to be so screwed up. Are these people in need of such protection felons, robbers, bandits, burglars, stalkers, drug dealers, rapists, murderers, carjackers, muggers, garrotters, criminals, culprits, delinquents, outlaws who will violate gun-ban anyway, or law-abiding people in Chicago who cannot even arm themselve with pepper spray and stun guns?

Every marginal Republican should be called and reminded how in the mid-90's the support of gun owners was the force for the federal congress takeover from the communists. They should also be reminded that the Republican party has traditionally stood for less government and more rights. Gun owners help turn the tide for Bush in 2000 and 2004, and helped pick up seats in the senate in 2004. They need to be reminded of these points this election, and to be asked where they stand on the gun grab bill. McAuliffe, Philos, Bellock to name a few Margrepublicans. Perhaps a call to that Republican broad from Glenview, is in order. Can't think of her name right now
 Judy needs to be told this aswell.

Send Judy some mail and let her know what the campaign issues should be.

If she wants our vote (and she does) tell her she has to distinguish herself from her opponent. Let her know it is no longer enough to simply be a republican faced by a anti 2nd Amendment democrat to get our vote. That republican will have to earn our votes by being actively pro 2nd Amendment.

If she is getting consensus it will help convince her that Pro 2nd ammendment issues can now be used to win elections.

She has to go on record.

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JR