Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day - Huge Success! Thousands of Illinois Second Amendment supporters marched to the State Capitol in Springfield last week to demand a Right to Carry law in Illinois. An estimated 7,000 turned out for the largest Second Amendment march in Illinois history. The crowd enthusiastically called for "Concealed Carry, NOW". The huge turnout signals a real surge in public support for a carry law similar to laws in 49 other states. Illinois is the last and only state that still denies its law-abiding citizens the right to carry a firearm for personal protection.
The big event began with a rally at the Prairie Capitol Convention Center. Attendees were treated to a surprise address by Mr. Otis McDonald, key plaintiff in the McDonald vs Chicago lawsuit challenging the Chicago handgun ban. Oral arguments in that case were heard recently in the U.S. Supreme Court. A final ruling by the SCOTUS will have far reaching effects on firearm restrictions all across the nation. Mr. McDonald's soft spoken and heartfelt address to the crowd was met with thunderous applause and numerous standing ovations - a fitting tribute to Mr. Donald's patriotic stand to regain a Constitutional right for us all.
The march to the Capitol, led by the women of IGOLD, was punctuated by choruses of "Hey, Governor, leave our guns along", a response to Gov. Quinn's vow to veto a Right to Carry bill if it made it to his desk. After another brief rally on the Lincoln Steps attendees entered the Capitol Complex to lobby their legislators, Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, and President of the Senate John Cullerton in person.
After the lobbying was over, the huge crowd returned to the PCCC to meet with legislators and a special address by Sen. Bill Brady, gubernatorial candidate and strong Second Amendment supporter . Photos and videos of the event are available at IllinoisCarry.com.
Women of IGOLD Deliver Message to Governor's Office - No Right to Carry - No Vote for Pat Quinn! After entering the Capitol building, the women of IGOLD gathered in the rotunda for an address by Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno and Rep. Brandon Phelps. Both legislators believe it is time for Illinois to join the rest of the nation by passing a Right to Carry law. As has become the annual tradtion at IGOLD, each woman present then delivered a letter to the Governor's office demanding that he support their constitutional right to carry a firearm for personal protection. And once again, in traditional fashion, the Governor was "unavailable" to speak with the women. However, the Governor's Intergovernmental Affairs Liaison did meet with the women and vowed she would relay the women's message and letters to the Governor.
Women all over the state are encouraged to send their own letter to the Governor which states very clearly that if he does not support a woman's right to self-defense then the women of Illinois will not support him with their vote in the fall election. The letter is available for downloading and printing at IllinoisCarry.com. Print a copy for your female friends and family members, urge them to send a clear message to the Governor!
Thank YOU Ms. Lawson
One of the best e-mails we've ever received:
* Hi, SCC. My name is Colleen Lawson, and I am one of the plaintiffs in McDonald v Chicago.
I'm writing you to share an incident that occurred yesterday, and in hope that you might allow me to publicly thank and acknowledge those involved.
Yesterday, two Chicago cops pulled up next to me while I was parked at a gas station. I was standing by my car. They got out of their squad car, walked up to me, and thanked me.
I would like those officers to know that their words, and their handshakes, mean more to me than anyone else's have.
I was deeply, deeply touched by the fact that these officers, who place their lives on the line every day for citizens like me and my fellow plaintiffs and every single Chicagoan and visitor, these officers who never can be quite sure where they'll be at the end of the day ... that they had come over to speak to me, and to voice their support.
I apologize for my quick exit -- I was kind of stunned as they continued speaking and probably just mumbled my thanks back to them, then got back into my car and just cried as I drove home. I completely forgot to go into the store and make my purchases; but then, no one has ever flustered me to that extent before.
Truly. Not high-up, celebrity, mucky-muck or thug. Yesterday's cops trump them all, and that one moment with them is my highest treasure.
I am humbled and intensely grateful. You, all of you, have my thanks.
* It's just occurred to me that this is the only letter i've written publicly since this case began. That's how honored I feel by the words of your officers :)
Well, for our part, we'd just like to add our thanks to those of our fellow officers. Standing up for your fellow citizens and saying, "Enough!" may not seem like a big deal, but in some countries around the world, it lands you a term in prison, a session with the torturers or even death. Inaction is one of the worst sins any civilized society can commit because it makes it that much easier for the next bad act to occur. It is our hope that by your action, you have inspired countless others to step up when necessary.
We and literally million of others are in your debt.
