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IL in LOSE-LOSE governors race

Josey1Josey1 Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
edited June 2002 in General Discussion
Bradys sit out race for governor

June 17, 2002

BY STEVE NEAL SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST
Jim and Sarah Brady, whose political endorsements have had major impact in Illinois, aren't taking sides in what is expected to be a very close governor's race.

The Bradys, who have played major roles in the struggle to reduce gun violence, said that Republican Jim Ryan and Democrat Rod Blagojevich have been allies in this effort.

As a member of the U.S. House, Blagojevich has been a staunch supporter of gun control. Sarah Brady favored him in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, while Jim preferred his longtime friend and high school classmate, Roland Burris. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence recently honored Blagojevich for his efforts.

As Illinois attorney general, Jim Ryan has effectively pushed for laws to reduce gun violence and has strengthened existing gun laws. During a recent visit to Chicago, the Bradys conferred with Ryan and thanked him for his leadership in developing strategies to stop gun violence.

It has been 21 years since White House press secretary Jim Brady was shot by John Hinckley when he also fired a bullet that struck President Ronald Reagan. Brady was hit in the head and partially paralyzed.

In their campaign against gun violence, the Bradys gained national admiration. Mayor Daley, who lobbied Congress to enact the Brady Bill, has often referred to the Bradys as his personal heroes for their efforts.

The Bradys' endorsements helped Carol Moseley-Braun in 1992 and Richard J. Durbin in 1996 win election to the U.S. Senate from Illinois. In 1998, when there was a clear-cut difference between the Illinois gubernatorial candidates on gun control, the Bradys endorsed Republican George Ryan over Democrat Glenn Poshard. Ryan said later that the Bradys' endorsement was a key factor in his election.

Until their recent meeting with Jim Ryan, the Bradys had been leaning toward a Blagojevich endorsement. In the House, the Northwest Side Democrat has sponsored laws to require childproof locks on handguns, to ban semiautomatic sniper rifles, and to outlaw semiautomatic handguns known as "pocket rockets." Blagojevich also sponsored legislation to close the gun-show loophole.

Like Blagojevich, Jim Ryan has been active in seeking to reduce gun violence. In contrast with Blagojevich, he has gotten most of his initiatives enacted into law. To combat school violence, Jim Ryan got a law passed that requires school officials to report students caught with guns in schools and makes it possible for juveniles at least 15 years old to be tried as adults if they shoot another person on school property.

Jim Ryan, as the state's chief law-enforcement official, has protected the state's ban on concealed weapons. Blagojevich is also opposed to concealed weapons.

The Bradys were impressed that Jim Ryan has brought charges against dealers for illegal gun sales on the Internet and at gun shows.

In another initiative, Jim Ryan took the lead in asking retailers to quit selling ultra-violent video games to children. A bipartisan coalition of U.S. senators later joined him in this effort. Seven national store chains adopted a new policy to prevent youngster from purchasing the ultraviolent video games.

The Bradys told me that Illinois voters are fortunate to have a choice between gun-control advocates such as Jim Ryan and Blagojevich.

Like the Bradys, both candidates favor common-sense efforts to reduce gun violence but don't want to take guns away from sportsmen and law-abiding citizens.

On another level, the Bradys connected with Jim Ryan. Sarah Brady is battling cancer, which Ryan has fought three times in six years. The Bradys, who have coped with adversity for more than two decades, admire his strength and quiet resolve in fighting back.

During their Chicago visit, the Bradys presented awards to Gov. George Ryan and House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago) for their longtime efforts to reduce gun violence. Among those also cited by the Bradys, though unable to attend because Congress was in session, were Durbin, Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), and Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-Ill.).

Because of their independence, the Bradys are among the few political activists whose endorsements have an impact on ticket-splitting voters. Though Jim Ryan or Blagojevich would love to have their support, they would rather have the Bradys neutral than against them.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/neal/cst-edt-neal17.html







"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878

Comments

  • beantolebeantole Member Posts: 1,086 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Both the Republicans and the Democrats in Illinois are anti-gun communist. We moved from ther a year ago to escape one of the last
    strongholds of communism and fascism in the country. Illinois will never have conceal carry (except for criminals.) Damn, I'm glad to be out of that crap state!
  • KX500KX500 Member Posts: 733 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    As person who still lives in IL, I'll admit that what the state has to offer in the way of politicians is very sad. Not quite as bad as New York, but..........Maybe if Chicago would form its' own state and take these losers with them..........
  • Josey1Josey1 Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Actually IL is worse than NY,at least in NY you can carry concealed(just not in NYC) as well as own any AK,AR,FAL,SKS of your desire.No FOID no BS,NY is much better than most people realize

    "If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
  • VeganhunterVeganhunter Member Posts: 23 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    As A life long resident of illinois,i can tell you i have never seen a state with such lazy turn out for voting!people actually believe there vote does not matter,i am telling everyone here,VOTE !!do your home work and vote,join a gun group in your state and the nra or any other national pro gun group!write your senators and govenors often,meet with your cities mayor and sheriff find out where they stand.Write letters to your local papers(many wont print it)if they dont call and set up an appointment with the editor to discuss this since i did thta, my editor prints every letter i send!THERE IS NOTHING I HATE MORE THEN PEOPLE WHO * ABOUT GUN CONTROL AND DO ABSOLUTLEY NOTHING ABOUT IT!so wake up if your sitting on the side lined bitching about how many times the nra requests money from you
    quit your two pack a day cigarette habit and send in the savings!
    Stop being sheeple people!
  • beantolebeantole Member Posts: 1,086 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    KX500 & Veganhunter: I lived in Illinois until a little over a year ago. I was very active in politics and trying to get
    concealed carry passed. Hell, the Republicans there refused to make carrying a concealed weapon with a FOID card a
    misdeameanor
    they insisted it be a felony!! And legal conceal carry is totally out of the question in Illinois. So my wife
    had a choice of being a felon if she carried for protection, even in her own car on long trips, even though she had a FOID card.
    That was enough for us. Screw the communist Republicans and Democrats in Illinois. We left. Until Chicago is made another
    state and booted out of Illinois you will never be free there. Some of my family is still there (most fled) and I miss them and the good money
    I made but there's more to life than that. "Illinois---where law-abiding citizens are felons if they dare to
    protect themselves.!!"





    Edited by - beantole on 06/18/2002 22:10:08
  • gars320gars320 Member Posts: 471 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Like Beantole & Veganhunter I escaped from that cesspool on the shores of Lake Michigan some time ago. I wouldn't go back there even to see Dickie Boy Daley run out of town on a rail! (Well maybe a short visit for that!)
    But those communist slugs still use the same BS:

    "Like the Bradys, both candidates favor common-sense efforts to reduce gun violence but don't want to take guns away from sportsmen and law-abiding citizens"

    Where do these mental midgets read anything about sports or hunting in the 2nd Ammendment?

    Nil Illegitimus Carborundum

    Edited by - GARS320 on 06/18/2002 22:39:56
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