Handgun Giveaway Angering Chicago Law Enforcement

Doglips · 05-28-2002, 06:35 PM

Handgun Giveaway Angering Chicago Law Enforcement
AP
Sunday, May 26, 2002
By Jeff Goldblatt

CHICAGO — The nation's murder capital has a Second Amendment vigilante in its midst and he's got the city of Chicago up in arms over handgun control.

John Birch heads Concealed Carry, Inc., a gun rights group that is awarding one handgun per month to a resident of Chicago, a city that bans handguns.

"I would feel terrible if someone needed a gun and I didn't give him one, and they ended up dead," Birch said.

The "winner" of the handgun lottery must make a compelling case in a written essay. Awards only go to people who are at least 21-years-old, have had a background check, and have completed a firearms training course.

Birch — no relation to the namesake of the anti-Communist organization — considers his campaign a lifesaving fight against what he calls an unconstitutional law.

"This is a moral battle, and I am willing to use every tool available," he said.

City of Chicago Attorney Mara Georges said this is not the first time Birch has flouted Chicago's handgun ban and the city is considering civil and criminal action against him.

"The laws are stated very clearly and so, if he's going to violate the law, we are going to have to very, very fiercely protect our laws," Georges said.

A ban on handguns in Chicago has been in place since 1982. Last year, Chicago suffered 676 homicides, three-quarters of which were gun-related. Georges said the numbers of murders would go down if the number of people with arms decreased, a goal Birch is working against.

"I think he is encouraging violence. I think he is encouraging civil disobedience. I think he's encouraging people to break the law," she said.

But Birch says Chicagoans are dying because they are not armed, and a recent recipient of the Concealed Carry, Inc. giveaway said he's willing to risk arrest in order to be safe.

"I'm entitled to defend myself. I think this law is a life or death matter," said the man, who asked not to be identified.

Penalties for breaking Chicago's handgun ban are severe, with offenders facing up to six months in jail. But the man with the new gift from Birch said that risk is a price worth paying.

"I would rather survive and have to go up against a court case than be buried and not have any chance whatsoever."

Klaus · 05-28-2002, 06:38 PM

He is storing the guns outside of city limits and giving them away outside of city limits. He is not violating any law or ordinance.

SPOCAHP ANAR · 05-28-2002, 07:47 PM

Reap What You SOW

HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

I love to see a liberal whine makes my cheese taste so much better.

NRAJOE · 05-28-2002, 08:03 PM

GOOD FOR HIM ,TO BAD BILL GATES ISN'T PRO GUN, IMAGINE HAVING ALL THAT MONEY AND GIVING AWAY GUNS PLUS THE NRA WOULD NEVER WANT FOR ANYTHING AGAIN IF I HAD THAT BANKROLL.

colt45 · 05-28-2002, 10:48 PM

If I had that kind of bank roll eveyone who took my safety class would leave with a new colt.

I hope the NRA is paying attention and comes to his rescue when those liberals find some way to jail this New American Hero.

Shaun · 05-29-2002, 10:06 AM

I hope he keeps it up at least he believes in the 2nd up there

05-28-2002, 06:35 PM	#1
Doglips Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cocoa Florida Posts: 9,088	Handgun Giveaway Angering Chicago Law Enforcement Handgun Giveaway Angering Chicago Law Enforcement AP Sunday, May 26, 2002 By Jeff Goldblatt CHICAGO — The nation's murder capital has a Second Amendment vigilante in its midst and he's got the city of Chicago up in arms over handgun control. John Birch heads Concealed Carry, Inc., a gun rights group that is awarding one handgun per month to a resident of Chicago, a city that bans handguns. "I would feel terrible if someone needed a gun and I didn't give him one, and they ended up dead," Birch said. The "winner" of the handgun lottery must make a compelling case in a written essay. Awards only go to people who are at least 21-years-old, have had a background check, and have completed a firearms training course. Birch — no relation to the namesake of the anti-Communist organization — considers his campaign a lifesaving fight against what he calls an unconstitutional law. "This is a moral battle, and I am willing to use every tool available," he said. City of Chicago Attorney Mara Georges said this is not the first time Birch has flouted Chicago's handgun ban and the city is considering civil and criminal action against him. "The laws are stated very clearly and so, if he's going to violate the law, we are going to have to very, very fiercely protect our laws," Georges said. A ban on handguns in Chicago has been in place since 1982. Last year, Chicago suffered 676 homicides, three-quarters of which were gun-related. Georges said the numbers of murders would go down if the number of people with arms decreased, a goal Birch is working against. "I think he is encouraging violence. I think he is encouraging civil disobedience. I think he's encouraging people to break the law," she said. But Birch says Chicagoans are dying because they are not armed, and a recent recipient of the Concealed Carry, Inc. giveaway said he's willing to risk arrest in order to be safe. "I'm entitled to defend myself. I think this law is a life or death matter," said the man, who asked not to be identified. Penalties for breaking Chicago's handgun ban are severe, with offenders facing up to six months in jail. But the man with the new gift from Birch said that risk is a price worth paying. "I would rather survive and have to go up against a court case than be buried and not have any chance whatsoever."

05-28-2002, 06:38 PM	#2
Klaus Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cypress, Texas Posts: 2,382	He is storing the guns outside of city limits and giving them away outside of city limits. He is not violating any law or ordinance. __________________ "Gee, Wally, Eddie Haskel's mom puts out!"

05-28-2002, 07:47 PM	#3
SPOCAHP ANAR Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: SC-upstate Posts: 4,192 Images: 1 Blog Entries: 6	Oh Really Reap What You SOW HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HE HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! I love to see a liberal whine makes my cheese taste so much better. __________________ Spocrest Out!..........

05-28-2002, 08:03 PM	#4
NRAJOE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Toledo,OH Posts: 19,252 Images: 3	GOOD FOR HIM ,TO BAD BILL GATES ISN'T PRO GUN, IMAGINE HAVING ALL THAT MONEY AND GIVING AWAY GUNS PLUS THE NRA WOULD NEVER WANT FOR ANYTHING AGAIN IF I HAD THAT BANKROLL. __________________ U.S. Army 1976-1979 237th Combat Engineers Heilbronn, Germany

05-28-2002, 10:48 PM	#5
colt45 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Occupied Territories of New York (Buffalo) Posts: 2,898	If I had that kind of bank roll eveyone who took my safety class would leave with a new colt. I hope the NRA is paying attention and comes to his rescue when those liberals find some way to jail this New American Hero. __________________ "A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity" -Sigmund Freud, General Introduction to Psychoanalysis "If guns cause crime, all of mine are defective." - Ted Nugent "Self-defense is Nature's eldest law." -John Dryden

05-29-2002, 10:06 AM	#6
Shaun Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 8,619 Images: 1	I hope he keeps it up at least he believes in the 2nd up there __________________ "Homeland Security is the responsibility of an armed citizen" ME http://webpages.charter.net/s.s.v/