Chi-Town’s Pell-Mell Gun Laws

Not surprisingly, when you consider the Chicago political establishment, anti-gun Mayor Richard Daley, who never saw a private citizen’s gun he didn’t want to ban, supports Mell’s proposal. Apparently Mr. Daley’s theory is, the only ones who can be trusted with firearms in Chicago are members of law enforcement, his personal security detail, and fellow politicians — at least ones he’s allied with.

We've talked about Alderman Mell before. "Chicago's Pell-Mell Gun Laws," my Rights Watch column for the October 2008 issue of GUNS Magazine, is now online.

Shameless Plug: Chi-Town’s Pell-Mell Gun Laws

Not surprisingly, when you consider the Chicago political establishment, anti-gun Mayor Richard Daley, who never saw a private citizen’s gun he didn’t want to ban, supports Mell’s proposal. Apparently Mr. Daley’s theory is, the only ones who can be trusted with firearms in Chicago are members of law enforcement, his personal security detail, and fellow politicians — at least ones he’s allied with.

"Chi-Town’s Pell-Mell Gun Laws" is my Rights Watch column for the November 2008 issue of GUNS Magazine, on sale now at helter-skelter newstands throughout the Republic.

Also in this issue is my review of David E. Young's "The Founders' View of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms."

We Just Don't Understand It

Mell argued that reopening gun registration wasn't just a personal favor. He insisted that there were hundreds, if not thousands, of otherwise law-abiding Chicago gun owners just like him who had inadvertently allowed their gun registration to lapse.

On Friday, Chicago Police Department spokeswoman Monique Bond was hard-pressed to explain the slow response to the city's one-time offer.

"Either the public is unaware or they just haven't had an opportunity to come in and register," she said.

Or it could just be that Mell was, you know, lying, and this was naked abuse of political office for personal advantage, and no amount of lame excuses spokesprevaricators regurgitate will cover that up.

Not that they need to.

Forget it Jake. It's Chi-Town.

A Chicago Democrat

Chicago Police have arrested Illinois State Rep. Curtis Tarver II after finding a gun in his car they say he was not licensed to carry. [More]

Clerical errors, you see.

Who does this guy think he is? Richard Mell?

Kind'a makes you wonder if a lawyer/legislator can get tripped up in them, what chance does his average constituent have?

Forget it Jake, it's Chi-Town.

[Via bondmen]

UPDATE: Bear calls BS on "clerical errors."

I'm Melting! MELL-TIIING!!

I love watching these creatures turn on each other. [Read]

[Via Florida Guy]

It's a Big Club and You Ain't In It

A misdemeanor gun charge against a South Side state representative has been dropped because prosecutors did not have enough evidence to continue with the case. [More]

Who does this guy think he is? Richard Mell?

Forget it, Jake. It's Chi-Town.

A Modest Increase

Buried among the articles and budget legalese is this tiny gem spotted by a reader:

Increase gun registration fee from $20 to $60 per firearm

Don't worry, though. Richard Mell can afford it.

[Via DJK]

The Chicago Alderman Loophole

Mayor Daley said today he's all for the idea of temporarily re-opening gun registration in Chicago -- not as a favor to Ald. Richard Mell (33rd), but to get a realistic handle on the number of guns in Chicago.

Yeah, OK, I'll buy that. And how much for the bridge?

Hey, this is Chicago. What's a little "L'État, c'est moi" among cronies?

Many of you sent me links to various accounts of this in-your-face hypocrisy, and it's being covered like crazy everywhere else in the gun blog universe, so I'm probably going to reserve most of what I have to say for a magazine article--this one is a natural.

I do wonder why Snuffy hasn't made an apearance, though...

Perfectly Cast for the Role

[I]f you wanted to go to central casting and say, 'Give me one alderman that represents the culture and the history and the kind of spirit of Chicago,' Dick Mell would pop up and he would win the casting call without a doubt. [More]

And doesn't that just say it all?

As does the "Authorized Journalist" who  penned this retrospective attributing such corrupt and hypocritical abuse of power to his being "a colorful scamp."

Forget it Jake, it's Chi-Town.

The Alderman Loophole

Armed and Safe has the latest, including a copy of the ordinance.

If writing the law to suit yourself isn't naked tyranny, I don't know what is.

I hesitate to say any more, because I just submitted a column on this to GUNS Magazine, so go read what 45superman has to say--he covers it well and then some, including alerting us to another "Only Ones" exemption proposal.

If I were an Illinois gun owner, I would be pressing organizations claiming to represent me to file a freedom of information demand for copies of all correspondence from Chicago gun owners who told the city they were in the same predicament as Richard Mell. Conveniently I notice he mentioned he was called, so perhaps phone logs could be included at as well. You could do it in a way to protect their identities, and use it to validate that the city has been "inundated" and the new law will benefit "thousands."

Hell, I'd think a quick audit of police records for how many have not renewed during the designated time period ought to give a good quick 'n dirty snapshot, once you factor in people who moved or died--but then again, maybe not, because who in their right mind would play along with this evil game?