I received a call from my friend Matt tonight that Senate Bill 1007 (SB1007) passed the Illinois Senate today. Unfortunately I can not find anything online the corroborates this, but if it just happened today, tomorrow may be the earliest the various websites are updated. For those of you that donÂ’t know what SB1007 is, basically bans all magazines holding more than ten rounds.

Provides that beginning 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act, it is unlawful for any person within this State to knowingly manufacture, deliver, sell, purchase, or possess or cause to be manufactured, delivered sold, purchased, or possessed a large capacity ammunition feeding device. Provides that these provisions do not apply to a person who possessed a prohibited weapon, device, or attachment before the effective date of this amendatory Act. Provides that on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act, such person may transfer such device only to an heir, an individual residing in another state maintaining that device in another state, or a dealer licensed as a federal firearms dealer. Specifies penalties for violations. Provides exemptions. Provides that the provisions of the Act are severable. Effective immediately.

Emphasis Mine

Folks that little highlighted phrase pretty much sums up the bill. However, notice they have the word deliver in there. That means that if a visitor from out of state comes to Illinois with a large capacity magazine, say as the standard magazine for some Ruger 9MM handguns they own. They are at a range with some friends and loan them some mags to be used in their own Ruger 9mm. They technically are in violation of the law. Yes, I know itÂ’s a stretch, but that is how itÂ’s worded.

Right now if you live in Illinois our only hope is that the house votes this bill down. I urge, no let me take that back, I beg you to contact your State Representative, which can be found here if you don't know who it is, and tell them to oppose the passing of this bill. If you think it wonÂ’t pass, remember itÂ’s already two thirds of the way there. We all know the Governor will sign this law. Lets stop it in its tracks now.

My major problem with this is that it’s a gateway bill. A gateway to the more oppressive Senate Bill 16 (SB0016) that pretty much bans all “assault weapons” and their definition of assault weapon is pretty loose, including most semi-automatic weapons. That’s just opening the way to banning all firearms.

Since we are on the subject of Assault Weapons, I found this very informative video clip that truly explains the difference between an assault weapon and a semi-auto and how they are easily confused together.

Posted by: Contagion at 05:41 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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It is at the point that IÂ’m wondering when IÂ’m going to snap. Let me just say that when I first heard about this immigration proposal I was driving home from work. It angered me so much that I almost ran over a small car with a Viva Mexico and Estados Unidos De America Mexico sticker on it. Some deity has a sick joke with that timing; either that or the fates are testing my anger management.

When I got home I wanted to run right in here and write a twenty-page rant on the entire situation. The only problem is that every other word would have been an expletive and probably incoherent due to anger babble. So I went out back took a hatchet to a pole IÂ’m working for my new tent, smoked some chicken, and put 5,000 rounds through BoopieÂ’s Air Soft M-16 into a target box. Well, whatÂ’s left of the target box. After that and eating dinner IÂ’ve calmed down enough to sum up my frustration into this:

These are our political leaders. These are the people we put into office. These are the ones that feel that the best way to deal with the problem is basically to throw out our laws and tell those that broke them that, “It’s okay, we love you” er I guess that should be, “Está bien, nosotros amor usted.” These people honestly do NOT care about America, it’s security or it’s citizens. They just want to create a new base of voters to help keep them in office. To give them even more power. They view us as their vassals, their serfs, their subjects to serve and provide for them. This little agreement has made them happy as a sailor at a hooker convention. It gives them what they want. Something for both sides to help keep them in their positions.

I am not anti-immigration. Actually IÂ’m pro-immigration. Pro LEGAL immigration that is. Yes, the laws that one must jump through to be a legal citizen needs to be revisited because they are almost unrealistically difficult. However, that does not mean someone can just choose to ignore that law to get what they want. Think about it, I want to have concealed carry in Illinois. That does not mean since the laws donÂ’t give me that ability, and getting them changed is a long tedious process I should just start packing my .45. Because if I did, and I got caught IÂ’d have to pay the penalty, fines and jail time. Now with this proposal those in this country will get off with a $5,000.00 fine. BAH! Yes, that is going to be a chunk of money, but after that they are citizens. Does anyone else look at this as kind of a bribe? I mean think about it. If they come forward and pay $5,000.00 to the government you get to be a citizen.

Then again, will this make any difference? It is not like the illegals care about or respect our laws now. What makes them think they will in the future? I highly doubt this will do anything except motivate them to go back to what ever country they came from to get more of their friends and family.

I just wonder how much longer the American citizenship is going to put up with this before they start voting these clowns out of office.

Posted by: Contagion at 06:17 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Folks, IÂ’m tellinÂ’ ya gun laws just donÂ’t work. Lets look at Illinois if you will. We have this fancy registration system. You have to have a license to own a gun; itÂ’s called a Firearm Owners Identification card (FOID). But what good is it, if they state doesnÂ’t monitor it or issues them to anyone that applies and pays their fee. Like say a 10-month-old child? ThatÂ’s right, the state of Illinois issued a FOID card to a ten-month-old child.

"Anyone who wants to own a firearm or purchase a firearm needs a FOID card," Ludwig told FOX News. "I applied for one of these for my son. Now ironically he canÂ’t buy a gun until heÂ’s 18 years old, but if he wants to own one -- which he does thanks to Grandpa -- he needs one of these cards anyhow."

How stupid is that? Lets face it, the state just wants to make money by having us pay ever 5 years to own a firearm. They don't really care who gets the card.

Posted by: Contagion at 06:41 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Holy crap, there may still be hope for Illinois! It seems that Pike County in Illinois adopted a resolution last month to oppose ANY legislation that infringes on the right to keep and bear arms. It seems that the citizens of the county were afraid that all of the anti-gun legislation that is being pushed through Springfield is going to not only jeopardize their Constitutional rights, but also hurt their tourism industry. Pike county is famous for itÂ’s hunting. I know a lot of people that have traveled there to go Deer Hunting. The citizens and county board feel that the StateÂ’s attempt to ban firearms would end that hunting tradition.

On April 24, 2007 in a 7-2 vote they adopted a resolution that read:

” Now, Therefore, It Be And Is Hereby Resolved, that the people of Pike County, Illinois, do oppose the enactment of any legislation that would infringe upon the Right of the People to Keep and Bear Arms, and deem such laws to be Unconstitutional and beyond lawful Legislative Authority.”

IE if the State does pass such laws, they arenÂ’t going to enforce them. IÂ’m sure they will run into problems with the State Police and government over this, if anything comes to head. Until then I hope that other counties and citizens take this example and run with it. Remember Illinois, we are NOT Chicago. What Mayor Daley and Governor Blagojevich want is to control the entire state. They want to make us all like Chicago. You know, big city, big crime, crooked politics and infringed rights. ItÂ’s time to take back our state and tell them in a loud and strong voice, WE ARE NOT CHICAGO!

"What we are trying to do here is protect rights we already have," board member Robert Kenady said.

And

"We have to stand up," said board member Mark Mountain, who proposed the resolution. "We have to voice our opinion. As an individual, it doesn't mean much. As a county, it means more. As three or four counties, it means a lot."

Nothing I could write would put it better then those two quotes. I applaud you Pike County, I applaud you and your citizens for symbolically firing the first shot in what I hope is a revolution to keep our rights. Yes, I know this is mostly symbolic, but itÂ’s a good start. If only it wasn't so far down state, I'd move there.

Posted by: Contagion at 07:45 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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We have yet another example of how the Illinois Government is trying to control its citizens. Yesterday the Illinois House passed a statewide smoking ban. Folks, this is just another freedom taken away from us by the government.

First let me preface this by saying I donÂ’t smokeÂ… anymore. I quit on November 18th cold turkey and I havenÂ’t looked back. Yes I still have the urge to light one up, especially when IÂ’ve been drinking. But I just ignore it, and it goes away. So this ban really doesnÂ’t have that big of an effect on meÂ… or does it?

When I did smoke, and some businesses around here voluntarily went smokeless, I was upset. I liked those establishments, however I wasnÂ’t going to go to a bar or restaurant that I couldnÂ’t smoke in. Thus I stopped frequenting those establishments for other businesses that would allow me to smoke while I had a pint or two. (Okay twelve, whom am I kidding) Now I may have quit, but I have many of friends that do smoke. When we go out, they like to light up while we sit at the bar.

We canÂ’t smoke in the bars here? Well Wisconsin is only 30 minutes north of here, oh and they have a lower sales tax rateÂ… LETS GO THERE! So no, itÂ’s not going to have an affect on my smoking habits, just where I am going to go drinking on the weekends when I hang out with my friends that do. Trust me, smokers are a resilient group. My company banned smoking on the grounds last November. Even on the coldest days of the winter our employees that didnÂ’t want to quit smoking could be seen standing out in the street braving the wind and the cold just to light up. Do you really think by banning smoking is going to stop them?

Now someone will tell me that they arenÂ’t doing this to stop people from smoking, just protect non-smokers from second hand smoke. I say bullshite. First off, you are protecting no one. Anybody that claims that they donÂ’t know smoking is bad for them has either had a full lobotomy or is just plain dealing with a single digit IQ. Ever since I can remember they government and every medical professional I know has been harping on the fact that smoking is bad for you. Now, I know the arguments for whether or not second hand smoke is bad for you. Folks, IÂ’ll be honest I donÂ’t know which side to believe. Mainly because I have spent absolutely NO time looking into it or doing any of my own research. I just donÂ’t care, but for the sake of this argument I will acquiesce that it is harmful.

So if itÂ’s harmful, and people are aware that it is harmful, why do they just not avoid it? There are plenty of bars, restaurants and pubs that the OWNERS chose to be smoke free. Why not just go there? If you go to an establishment that you know allows smoking, then you are choosing to expose yourself to it. If you canÂ’t control your own actions, then maybe you should not leave your house with out proper supervision. If you take your kids to one of these places, itÂ’s your own damned fault for doing so. But NOOOOoooo, instead these whiney self-centered jerks went off and got the government to inconvenience everyone else just so THEY could go to places they wanted.

Personally, I think the whole smoking issue should be up the individual that smokes and the establishment owner. If a person wants to smoke, that is there right. If a proprietor wants to allow smoking at their place of business, that should be their decision. The government needs to keep to running the country and not our lives. They need to look after the war, the illegal immigrants and enforcing the laws that exist.

ItÂ’s time to start voting these jokers out of office.

Posted by: Contagion at 06:10 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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