Sunday Comic: Will Concealed Carry Be Good for Illinois?

Residents of our state will soon have the right to carry concealed weapons in public, but that doesn't mean safety is guaranteed.

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William

12:15 pm on Sunday, May 12, 2013

Wow...change your name to delusional. So you think the guy on the right should say..."whoa buddy...I'm calling the police...you better be worried" Even the police don't agree with you. I'm calling you out, ignorance is not an excuse despite what the liberals are telling you.   more ›

Lipinski Meets with Local Group, Supports Some Gun-Control Measures

The Congressman (D-3rd District-Western Springs) said he supports universal background checks, restricting magazine sizes and making trafficking a federal crime.

The following is a press release from an currently unnamed local group of mothers, approved by the office of Congressman Lipinski. Twelve citizens of Western Springs and La Grange, all mothers of young children, met with Congressman Dan Lipinski on Friday, Feb. 8. They expressed their concern about gun violence and urged the congressman to support gun violence prevention measures including restricting assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, requiring universal background checks for all gun purchases and making gun trafficking a federal crime. The group also gave Rep. Lipinski petitions with more than 125 signatures of his constituents asking him to support President Obama’s proposals to reduce gun violence. Western Springs …

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Patch on Politics

Guns in Public Places: Where Do You Stand?

On Feb. 19 and Feb. 22, the state will stage public hearings to discuss a new concealed carry handgun law for Illinois.

Gun control hearings will convene before an Illinois House committee later this month, says Speaker Mike Madigan, and there will be much talk about a new concealed carry law. One hearing will take place in Chicago on Feb. 22, at the Michael A. Bilandic Building in Chicago. The other will be in Springfield on Feb. 19 at the Capitol. “In light of events in recent months in Illinois and in other parts of the country, it’s appropriate and necessary that we give a full vetting to proposed state legislation on this matter," reads a statement from Madigan. "These hearings will provide an opportunity for gun-safety advocates, gun-rights supporters and members of the law enforcement community to offer their views and argue their cases to …

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Cook County Passes Gun-Transfer Ordinance Fining Failure to Report

The ordinance targets illegal “straw purchasers” by levying fines on gun owners who do not report a lost, stolen, destroyed or otherwise transferred weapon.

Making good on Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s pledge to crack down on “straw purchasers” who legally purchase and illegally resell firearms, the Board passed an ordinance Tuesday imposing fines up to $2,000 on gun owners who do not report when a firearm is sold, lost, stolen or otherwise leaves their possession.  According to the Associated Press, Chicago law enforcement believes that many of the guns used in crimes in the city are first legally purchased—many in suburban Cook—then resold to persons who could not buy a gun legally themselves.  "The 'burbs are flooding Chicago with guns continuously," Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia told the AP. "This ordinance raises the bar on the responsibility of gun owners as it …

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Western Springs-Area Moms Launch Gun-Control, Violence-Prevention Coalition

The group recently travelled to a rally in downtown Chicago and have scored an audience with Congressman Dan Lipinski to make their case.

Galvanized by the Sandy Hook shooting tragedy, a group of Western Springs and surrounding-area moms are coming together to advocate for “gun-violence prevention:” travelling to a gun-control rally in downtown Chicago and now successfully landing a meeting with fellow Western Springs resident Congressman Dan Lipinski (D-3rd)  Still in its infancy, the currently unnamed coalition of about 25-30 moms (and the occasional dad) was founded by Western Springs resident Nicole Chen shortly after Sandy Hook in mid-December. Chen said her time an intern for former Colorado congresswoman Patricia Schroeder showed her that elected officials generally do listen to organized constituents. “We’re just trying to get active here in Western Springs and La …

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Laurie C

9:34 am on Saturday, April 20, 2013

Yea, calling people "dumb and lazy" is really productive.   more ›

Preckwinkle in Countryside: Touts Sales-Tax Cut, Criticizes Justice System

The Cook County Board President answered questions on annexation, gun-control, health care, business and more at a breakfast hosted by the WSCCI.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle (D) appeared before the West Suburban Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Monday morning, answering a variety of questions posed by local business leaders on topics from taxes, health care and economic development to criminal justice and the annexation of unincorporated areas. One of Preckwinkle’s major policy points has been cutting the 1 percent sales-tax hike added by her predecessor, Todd Stroger, in 2008, which she said saved County residents about $440 million—though while acknowledging that meant $440 million less in the budget, and saying there is little wiggle room for further cuts.  “We felt it was a big mistake to have the highest sales taxes in the country,” Preckwinkle said. “It was…

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Garry Watkins

8:39 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013

“Basically, 5.2 million people subsidize the 100,000 people who live in unincorporated Cook, which has never seemed fair to me,” Preckwinkle said. But it's OK if the 100,000 subsidize the 5.2 million. Can't have it both ways, Toni. Also, Cook County let Wilson, a violent offender, out of jail early - and he killed Kelli O'Laughlin.   more ›

Popular On Patch: Gun-Control Laws Better Than Executive Order; Durbin

While visiting Fox Valley, senator says gun control is only part of the solution to mass violence.

Gun-Control Laws Better Than Executive Order: Durbin

While visiting Fox Valley, senator says gun control is only part of the solution to mass violence.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said Friday that he would rather see Congress arrive at a “sensible solution” on curbing gun violence than see the president issue some kind of executive order attempting to remedy the problem. Still, in light of the power wielded by the NRA and the gun industry, which many congressmen will not stand up to, Durbin said he would support President Barack Obama if he does issue executive orders in an attempt to rein in gun violence. “Whatever it takes to keep our streets and schools safe, I’ll support,” he said. “But I hope that we could do it in the the normal congressional process,” he added. “I know that it’s tough. I know the politics on this issue very, very well, and I know some of my colleagues are not prepared to…

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Worry and Fear Grips Schools and Parents in Wake of Newtown Shooting and Local Threats

Two La Grange-area superintendents also spoke with Patch about their school districts' steps and focus in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook massacre.

The first day of school after the Sandy Hook school massacre brought a wave of fear, worry and outright threats to Chicago-area communities as educators and police sought to reassure people that efforts to protect their children would be redoubled. Patch reached out to La Grange and Western Springs area superintendents to ask about how local school districts were responding, and spoke with both District 95 super Dr. Mark Kuzniewski and District 105 super Dr. Glenn Schlichting. Both superintendents struck similar notes: the schools all have detailed security plans in place that are reviewed and practiced on a regular basis, they have made counselors available for both staff and students in need, and they are trying to maintain a normal …

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