Wilmette IL to consider banning airguns

[ScottD]

Shamelessly stolen from another board.

Wilmette to consider banning airguns

Tuesday, July 20, 2004

By Steve Stanek

WILMETTE -- The Village of Wilmette may ban the sale and possession of airguns, just a few months after receiving national attention for prosecuting a homeowner who used a handgun to stop an alleged home invader who broke into his house twice in less than 24 hours.

The Wilmette Public Safety Committee has scheduled a meeting at 7 p.m. July 22 at Village Hall for public comment on a proposal to ban airguns, including air rifles, air pistols, BB guns and paint ball guns.

Democrat State Senator Jeffrey Schoenberg of nearby Evanston supports the prohibition and distributed a model airgun-ban ordinance to Wilmette and other municipalities in the area. Wilmette Police Chief George Carpenter said village staff reviewed the model ordinance and liked it.

"We took a look at it and kind of said, 'The village has always prohibited the discharge of BB guns.' We are also aware of improper uses of BB guns. The ordinance made a lot of sense to us. We're not aware of any legitimate use of BB guns here."

While such guns may not be used in the village, they may be used at public or private shooting ranges in other communities and in unincorporated areas where hunting or the discharge of firearms is allowed. For that reason, said Carpenter, "We may may carve out an exception -- maybe for (guns that are stored) broken down and inoperable." This depends on the recommendation of the Public Safety Committee and the subsequent vote of the village board, which has final say.

Carpenter said the village police department most commonly encounters airguns in the hands of teenagers who are misusing them.

"When we're meeting with parents to discuss the circumstances, the parents most often say 'My kid pestered me to buy a BB gun, and after all they are legal in Wilmette, so I broke down and bought it.' That's the most common response we receive. Of course, these are kids misusing BB guns. I guess a question is how many are not misusing them?"

For Wilmette resident Ralf Seiffe, who learned of the proposed airgun ban last week and opposes it, a question is why the village repeatedly meddles in the private lives of residents.

"This has nothing to do with guns," Seiffe said. "It has to do with control and marginalizing the conservative side of society. I think the ordinance is designed to get BB guns out of kids' hands because BB guns are usually how you introduce kids to firearms. It's how you teach kids to safely handle a gun and get them interested in shooting sports."

He also said it's an example of village officials imposing their views on others.

"They want to have a thicket of laws on things they don't agree with," Seiffe said. "Wilmette prides itself on being the first place to ban stuff. Their smoking ban is probably the toughest in the nation, and they think it's great. My neighbor, who's a wonderful person, is going to cut down a 250-year-old tree because he knows he won't be able to after they pass their tree ordinance. This isn't about guns, this is about your right to do what you want."

Wilmette received national attention early this year after resident Hale DeMar shot and wounded Morio Billings, 31, a Chicago resident with a lengthy criminal record who allegedly broke into his house last Dec. 28 and again Dec. 29.

During the first break-in no one was home. Billings allegedly stole a set of house keys, car keys and a sport-utility vehicle parked at DeMar's house.

DeMar was at home with his young children the next night, when Billings allegedly broke in again. A burglar alarm went off, DeMar called 911 and then confronted Billings with a handgun -- banned by village ordinance -- and shot and wounded him. Police did not arrive until after the incident was over.

Cook County prosecutors quickly determined the shooting was justified. They did not prosecute DeMar for the shooting or for the misdemeanor of allowing his Illinois Firearm Owner's Identification card to expire while still in possession of a firearm.

However, the Village of Wilmette is going forward with its prosecution of DeMar for violating the local handgun ban ordinance. In January Wilmette charged DeMar with misdemeanors for illegally owning two handguns. He faces a fine of up to $750 if convicted.

Tim Frenzer, Wilmette's corporate counsel, said the case is on hold pending a ruling on DeMar's claim that the handgun ban ordinance is unconstitutional. Frenzer said he expects a ruling next month.

In a counterclaim filed in Cook County Circuit Court, DeMar's attorney, Robert Orman, wrote that the village and its gun-ban ordinance "punish DeMar for protecting himself and his family" and "strip DeMar of his constitutional right to privacy in the home."

The counterclaim asks the Cook County Circuit Court to dismiss the case and order Wilmette to pay DeMar's legal bills.

http://www.illinoisleader.com/news/newsview.asp?c=17798

Steve Mace

[Shaun]

and you would expect anything different from PRI --remember we are talking about a state where a guy defended his family in thier own home and was almost prosecuted for having a gun

[Big Dog]

"I guess a question is how many are not misusing them?"
Oh, horrors! We better outlaw them - they MIGHT be misused!

When the heck are these Liberal wussies gonna grow some 'nads, and act like MEN!?

[Snakebite]

Ridiculous. "no legitimate use for a BB gun" How about target shooting or just plain fun for kids.
I taught my stepson with a BB gun. He hasnt killed anyone.
Might as well ban video games, Frisbees, or anything else that a kid might like.

[ScottD]

What the article led to but never said was what they were being misused for. These "kids" either in a car or on bicycles drive around late at night and shoot out car windows after they scoped out what was on the seats that they wanted. Approx. a year ago a pair of these nit-wits shot about a dozen car windows before being caught. This is where all of this stems from. Willmette is the next suburb north of Evanston, where I am at.