Illinois Gubernatorial Candidates on Guns

[vytoland]

Ill. gubernatorial candidates on guns

By The Associated Press
12:24 p.m. CST, December 12, 2009


The Associated Press recently asked candidates for Illinois governor questions about gun-control legislation.

Here are highlights of their answers:

QUESTION: "Would you sign or veto legislation banning the sale and possession of semiautomatic assault-style weapons in Illinois?"

REPUBLICANS

-- Adam Andrzejewski: "Would veto a ban on semiautomatic 'assault weapons' in most circumstances. It comes down (to) law abiding citizens having the right to defend their life, liberty and property."

-- Bill Brady: "I am opposed to any further restrictions to the ownership of firearms as guaranteed in the Bill of Rights and would veto legislation banning the sale and possession of semiautomatic weapons."

-- Kirk Dillard: "Without having more sufficient detail, including the definition of an "assault-style weapon," and for what circumstances the use of these weapons would be approved, this question is difficult to answer."

-- Andy McKenna: "I believe in the Second Amendment and law abiding citizen's right to own firearms to protect their families and for sporting purposes.

-- Dan Proft: "I would veto such legislation. ... I believe arbitrary gun bans are unconstitutional and would oppose such bans."

-- Jim Ryan: "I would sign it provided it was narrowly drawn and did not violate our 2nd Amendment rights."

-- Bob Schillerstrom: "I would sign constitutionally sound legislation banning assault weapons in Illinois."

DEMOCRATS

-- Dan Hynes: "I would sign legislation banning the sale and possession of semiautomatic assault-style weapons in Illinois.

-- Pat Quinn: "I would sign legislation banning the sale and possession of semiautomatic assault-style weapons."

-- William "Dock" Walls: "I would sign such legislation."

GREEN

-- Rich Whitney: "If it truly and accurately defines assault weapons in a manner that does not impair the rights of lawful gun owners to possess firearms for defensive purposes, and respects the rights of legitimate gun collectors, then yes, I would sign it."

---



QUESTION: "Would you sign or veto legislation allowing concealed-carry for handguns?"

REPUBLICANS
-- Adam Andrzejewski: "I would sign it. ... Law abiding citizens have this right."

-- Bill Brady: "Constitutional rights should be afforded to eligible, law-abiding Illinois citizens, and therefore concealed carry should be legalized.

-- Kirk Dillard: "With proper training and thorough background checks, and dependent upon the exact language drafted in the legislation, I could support allowing concealed-carry for handguns as almost every other state in the nation has done."

-- Andy McKenna: "I am opposed to concealed-carry legislation."

-- Dan Proft: "I would sign right to carry legislation."

-- Jim Ryan: "I would veto. I believe reasonable people can differ on this issue but on balance, drawing from my experience as a law enforcement official, I believe we are better off without concealed-carry."

-- Bob Schillerstrom: "I would veto legislation allowing concealed carry for handguns. I am a supporter of the Second Amendment; however, I do not believe that concealed carry is a solution for reducing crime in the State of Illinois."

DEMOCRATS

-- Dan Hynes: Hynes didn't take a position on concealed carry in general but did say he opposes a new law letting people bring concealed guns into someone else's home if they have permission.

-- Pat Quinn: "I would veto legislation allowing concealed-carry for handguns."

-- William "Dock" Walls: "I would veto conceal and carry legislation."

GREEN

-- Rich Whitney: "I would sign legislation allowing concealed-carry or open carry -- although ... I would prefer that any such legislation allow individual counties to opt out if they so chose."

[2000Z-71]

Not much to choose from there. Even some of those showing support worded it with the appropriate amount of weesle factor to get out of signing into law if by some miracle the legislature there ever did pass it.

[vnmous1]

We're hosed.

bj

[Road Rat]

Well, you have a couple of the candidates on your side. But, do they have any chance of getting elected??

Good Luck

[Spotteddog]

Not unless and until, pitch forks and torches are simultaneously seen in large enough numbers at city hall in Chicago and the governors mansion in Springfield. Anyone not from Illinois has little appreciation for the level of Stockholm syndrome that exists there. They've beaten those poor folks down for 25+ years now.

[cmort666]

Originally Posted by Spotteddog

Not unless and until, pitch forks and torches are simultaneously seen in large enough numbers at city hall in Chicago and the governors mansion in Springfield. Anyone not from Illinois has little appreciation for the level of Stockholm syndrome that exists there. They've beaten those poor folks down for 25+ years now.

The truly weird thing about Chicago is that the SAME people who vocally support gun control, including gun BANS, blithely ignore the laws they promote. I know a number of gun control advocates there who illegally own handguns. I think the National Institutes of Mental Health categorize this as "stupidity".

But even though hypocrisy and dishonesty may have reached their pinnacle in Chicago, they weren't invented there. Recall Joe McCarthy's henchman Roy Cohn. He was always accusing people of being gay when he himself was an active homosexual.

[mm6mm6]

Dan Proft: "I would veto such legislation. ... I believe arbitrary gun bans are unconstitutional and would oppose such bans."

Dan Proft: "I would sign right to carry legislation."

Proft has my vote! He doesn't beat around the bush with those two answers. You gotta love his tag line on his website (www.proft2010.com):

"Illinois isn't broke, it's fixed."

The media hates Proft. I think he could win the Illinois Republican primary if ALL of Illinois gun owners vote for him. I think he's very well spoken and I agree with everything he says. He is very controversial because the media wants to paint him as a right wing extremist.

The problem is that I haven't received any NRA or ISRA notices (email or snail mail) informing me who my best candidates are.

I had to figure it out myself.

Great original post though! I sent that out to all the gun owners in my email address book!

[Vegetaman]

I thought Proft was rather to the point, actually. At least half of the Republicans have no chance of a snowball in hell of getting my vote, though.

[johngalt]

I though Jim Ryan was better than that. I guess not. He doesn't have much of a chance if people still associate his name with the former gov George Ryan.

[Vegetaman]

On closer scrutiny, it looks like only Dan Proft and Bill Brady gave straightforward pro-gun answers. The other guys waffled.

[sctman800]

I personally like Dillard, his answers on 2A were rather soft but he has allways voted with gun owners. Dont forget this is Illinois and scaring the "soccer moms is a sure way to lose. Jim.

[OLDGUNMAN]

check the ISRA site for recommendations