Chicago's Tough New Gun Law Under Fire Already

[RamboLiberal]

Source: ABC News

Bucking a national trend toward more tolerance for firearms, Chicago today begins enforcing the toughest gun law in the nation -- and it's already under fire.

Two lawsuits have already been filed against the ordinance, which bans gun shops in the city and limits permit holders to one ready-to-fire weapon inside the home -- excluding the porch, the garage or the yard. People are allowed to own more guns, but they cannot be loaded.

Legal experts say the law is not bulletproof and could be headed toward the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in June that Americans have the right to possess handguns for self-defense. That ruling made the Chicago's existing gun ban, which had been in effect for 28 years, unenforceable. In its place Mayor Richard M. Daley and the City Council created the new law that goes into effect today.

"This law is most vulnerable on the broad general ban on carrying guns in public," said Eugene Kontorovich, assistant professor at Northwestern University Law School. "The Second Amendment allows Americans to 'keep and bear arms' and 'bear' means carry and 'arms' means more than one. It's not about being able to defend your home, it's about being able to defend yourself. It seems the city misread 'to keep and bear arms' as 'to keep arm.'"

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/chicagos-tough-gun-law-fire/story?id=11144125

---

Lawsuits have already been filed by a man who wants to open a gun shop in Lincoln Park, by four residents and a gun sellers group. They claim the ordinance is unconstitutional.

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/07/chicagos-new-gun-law-goes-into-effect-today.html

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Pavulon]

2. Please define sensible. Currently I can buy the permit

by having an attorney distribute cash to the person who makes the call on who gets a permit and who does not.

There are thousands of laws regulating firearms. What should we add.

[ColesCountyDem]

4. Sensible gun control?

What does that mean, exactly? The Supreme Court seemed pretty clear in saying what the 2nd Amendment means, but Mayor Daley seems intent on not understanding the decision. Must be nice to have so much money to spend that you can spend gazillions of dollars defending yourself against lawsuits YOU caused.

:eyes:

[Glassunion]

9. Mayor Daly contributes more money to the pro 2nd amendment than the NRA does.

Too bad it is on the taxpayer's dime.

[spin]

3. Mayor Daley has a passionate dislike of firearms in the hands of honest citizens ...

But seems unable tackle the crime problem in his city (which has got so bad that some have requested the National Guard be sent in).

Gun Laws: Chicago Politicians Think You're Stupid

Recently the Supreme Court struck down Chicago's 28 year-old handgun ban as unconstitutional. While the outcome surprised few, Chicago's reaction to the ruling has raised a few eyebrows, especially among the pro-liberty crowd.

In response to the ruling, the city of Chicago has moved to revise its handgun ownership laws. Among the new laws, which are already being challenged, with support from the NRA, are a restriction to one gun per household and a continued ban on sale within the city limits of Chicago. None of this is surprising to anyone following the continuing saga of gun ownership rights in Chicago and across the nation. What is surprising, is the notion, promoted by "city leadership" that these tough new restrictions are necessary to prevent an outbreak of handgun violence in the city.

Hello! Planet Earth calling. This is Chicago, Illinois we're talking about, right? The same city that earlier this very year was contemplating calling in the National Guard to help with the outbreak of violence in the city? The very type of outbreak about which they are warning us now? Is that really the position they are taking?emphasis added

This wouldn't be so sad if they weren't serious and the stakes weren't so high. There have already been at least 152 murders with a firearm in Chicago (as of June 15) and more are sure to follow. The city has become so dangerous that an 80 year-old Korean war veteran, a month before the ban was lifted, shot and killed an intruder who first fired at him. This, despite it being against the law at the time to own a handgun. But being 80 years old with your wife and grandson in the home leaves you few realistic choices for self defense. Luckily for this family one person made the right choice and it saved lives.
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/gun-laws-chicago-politicians-think-you-re-stupid

Gun owners owe Chicago and Mayor Daley a profound vote of thanks. Without the good mayors fight against handguns in his city, the recent ruling by the Supreme Court in McDonald v Chicago would have never occurred. And the mayor is the gift that keeps on giving. His draconian gun regulations will be overturned in court.

Note that I don't oppose truly reasonable gun laws. The gun laws in Florida, where I live, are realistic and fair.

[ColesCountyDem]

5. If it weren't for Mayor Daley, Illinois would ALSO have fair and sensible gun laws.

His stranglehold on the Legislature keep anything resembling 'fair and reasonable' laws from being passed, despite OVERWHELMING 'downstate' ( read: non-Chicago/Cook County ) support for them.

[spin]

10. The proper title should be King Daley. (n/t)

[Imajika]

6. The gun grabbers lost this debate a long time ago...

Just let it go already. Gun control has been a failure and the public has so turned against it that virtually the entire Democratic Party has dropped it as an issue.

[txlibdem]

7. I used to be in favor of gun control

When right wing politicians put up a loud but ineffectual effort to oppose something it's a guarantee that liberals will take the opposite opinion. Up until a couple decades ago I was a true believer in gun control. But I've since realized that if only the right wing and the gun nuts have all the guns the rest of us stand no chance when the fascists make their move. The 2nd Amendment may be the only thing standing in the way of their takeover plan.

When all the law abiding liberals have guns the psycho right will be held in check.

[ColesCountyDem]

8. Exactly!

Why should we 'go quietly' to whatever hell the fascist right-wing has in store for us?

[rrneck]

12. I expect you have a lot of company

on this side of the aisle.

[proteus_lives]

11. Good! I hope the law goes down in flames.

[oneshooter]

13. Can we throw Daley And Co. in them and watch? n/t