Man who shot intruder arrested

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | January 9, 2004 | Frank Main

[Holly_P]

First, a Chicago man was charged with burglarizing a Wilmette man's home twice. Now the Wilmette homeowner, who shot the intruder, is charged with firearms violations.

On Thursday, Hale DeMar, 54, was arrested for allegedly violating the North Shore suburb's ordinance banning handgun ownership. DeMar also was charged with failing to renew his Illinois firearm owner's identification card, which expired in 1988.

Both charges are misdemeanors. A law enforcement source said it was unlikely DeMar would receive any jail time.

Wilmette Police Chief George Carpenter defended his decision to enforce the village's handgun ban, which took effect in 1989.

"Wilmette homes are much safer without a handgun, even if this situation on Linden [Avenue] last week was replicated," he said.

But Todd Vandermyde, spokesman for the National Rifle Association, gave Wilmette police a mixed review.

"As far as the FOID card goes, the law is on the books, and you have to comply with it," Vandermyde said. "He was clearly in violation of the law."

Vandermyde criticized the village ban on handguns, yet he acknowledged that Carpenter was required to enforce the ordinance.

"Obviously we think it is ludicrous to charge someone for defending his family, but you have to stand behind the laws, no matter how ridiculous the situation, or take them off the books," he said.

Carpenter said he does not think the law will come off the books any time soon, though. He said e-mails and conversations with residents have reflected their support for the ordinance.

DeMar, a restaurant owner, shot Morio Billings, 31, on Dec. 29 after Billings allegedly used stolen keys to enter the house and set off a security alarm. Billings crashed through a front window to escape.

Billings had previously sneaked into the house through a dog door and stole DeMar's BMW sport-utility vehicle as well as a television and a ring of keys. Billings, a convicted thief, was arrested at a hospital where he parked the BMW, police said.

After the shooting, police seized a .38-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun and a .380-caliber Llama Especiale handgun from DeMar.

The Cook County state's attorney's office determined that DeMar acted in self-defense and decided not to file charges.

[RLK]

"Wilmette homes are much safer without a handgun, even if this situation on Linden [Avenue] last week was replicated," he said.

---------------------

That's a brilliant statement contradicited by empiracal reality.

[Support Free Republic]

Show your true colors!

Reach into that purse and donate to Free Republic!

[DeepDish]

Better to be tried by 12 than carried by six.

[Lurker]

Amazing isn't it.

L

[angkor]

Wasn't Chicago one of the cities recently booted out of court for a predictable and ludicrous suit against firearms manufacturers?

We really need loser-pays provisions in jurisprudence, more than ever these days against wayward municpalities.

[singsong]

He said e-mails and conversations with residents have reflected their support for the ordinance.

What kind of idiots live in this village. I hope their property prices hit the rocky bottom. As they should for any place where the police defends the criminals from the victims.

[Holly_P]

What kind of idiots live in this village

It's an "upscale" very liberal suburb.

[tubebender]

New sign on "Village" water tower. Gun Free Since 1989...yeah, that'll stop those thugs

[Uncle Miltie]

"banning handgun ownership"

Is that constitutional? I understand that the state has been allowed by courts to regulate some extreme forms of weapons (fully automatics), I've heard of arcane licensing restrictions, but I've never heard of an outright handgun ban.

Learn something new (and occassionally bad) every day...

[Capriole]

If this poor man doesn't move out of leftist Wilmette he's insane and deserves whatever befalls him. Wilmette is a very prosperous town, and when burglars know that homeowners don't believe in firearms, why would they not take advantage of that situation?

[Revel]

""As far as the FOID card goes, the law is on the books, and you have to comply with it," Vandermyde said. "He was clearly in violation of the law.""

Ah...I don't know about that. The IMF is not required to toss out illegals and yet that is the law.

[Holly_P]

The IMF is not required to toss out illegals and yet that is the law.

Picky picky. Don'tcha know, There's laws and then there's laws.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

Oh, my gosh, that is one bad picture.

[Chewbacca]

The really sad part of this whole thing is if the guy had shot the intruder with a rifle or shotgun he wouldn't be facing charges.

[sharkhawk]

He still would have been charged with having a firearm without a FOID.

[chicagolady]

With ISRA folks like TODD VANDERMYDE

WE ARE ALL SCREWED!! Read on!!!!!!


ZAHM: Friend or Foe of Gun Owner Rights?

Wednesday, June 04, 2003

By Jon Zahm (jon@goliathslayers.com)

State Rep. Patricia Lindner (R-Sugar Grove) was endorsed by the Illinois Rifle Association, but voted to close gun show loopholes last week.


State Rep Harry Osterman (D-Chicago) is a staunch supporter of gun control.


Freshman State Rep. Linda Chapa Lavia (D-Aurora) is sending mixed messages on gun rights to her constitutents.
OPINION -- Senate Bill 947 passed the Illinois House with the bare minimum of 60 "yea" votes on May 28 to move the legislation on to the Illinois Senate. Fortunately, the Senate did not take up consideration of the bill, as amended. A shell bill, however, of SB 947 passed on March 27 by a 32-16-2-9 vote, with all Democrats, plus Rev. Meeks, voting in the affirmative.


What would SB 947 do if it became law? Proponents, like sponsor Rep. Harry Osterman (D-Chicago), call it "the closing of the gun show loophole."


Under this bill, two private individuals who meet at a gun show, even in the parking lot, would have to submit to Illinois State Police background checks on one another to sell, or even trade, firearms. This is an onerous and unnecessary burden on the United States' and Illinois' Constitution's guarantee to keep and bear arms.


The stated purpose of this legislation is to keep guns from the hands of people who would use them for criminal purposes. Gangbangers and felons do not shop at gun shows. Even if they did, they could make their connection at a show with an individual (presuming one would comply, which I doubt) and take the transaction off of the property to circumvent the law.


When I reviewed the roll call I found two names particularly troubling. First, my former State Representative Patricia Reid Lindner (R-Sugar Grove) voted for this bill. I remember telling ISRA (Illinois State Rifle Association) lobbyist Todd Vandermyde and ISRA PAC Chairman Jim Vinopal that the only pro-gun owner rights candidate in the 2002 Republican Primary for Lindner's seat was Wade Joyner (R-Plano).


Having served as Wade's campaign manager, I knew the sincerity of his position and he expressed it publicly at an Aurora Sportsman's Club meeting where opponents Lindner and Edward Sleezer (R-Millbrook) refused to endorse personal protection (a.k.a.conceal and carry) legislation.


Vandermyde, present at this Sportsman's meeting, still insisted on manipulating an endorsement of Lindner by the ISRA and parent NRA, backed up by a post card and automated telephone call campaign to identified gun rights supporters. He justified this by saying to those who questioned the wisdom of the endorsement that Lindner is "there when we need her."


Todd, where was she on May 28? She was casting the 60th vote for passage of the bill.


Another politician who let down her constituents on SB 947 is State Representative Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora). She insisted to several of my conservative Republican friends in Aurora that she would be an advocate of Second Amendment rights, more so than RINO Republican Robert O'Connor (R-Aurora). With that information in tow, and similar promises of moderation with regards to immigration and abortion issues, they rallied support behind the scenes for Chapa LaVia, as she pulled out a close race. Her record on the other issues has been shaky as well.


With lobbyists who don't serve the cause well, and flip-flopping politicians, freedom for gun owner rights is under threat. We, as conservatives, need to be very careful where we place our memberships and funding. The future of gun owner rights is at stake.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

On Thursday, Hale DeMar, 54, was arrested for allegedly violating the North Shore suburb's ordinance banning handgun ownership. DeMar also was charged with failing to renew his Illinois firearm owner's identification card, which expired in 1988.

Is this from an alternate universe? It's illegal to own a gun,but you can be charged for not renewing gun permit! It's bad enough that the second amendment is ignored, but do we have to completely abandon all reason.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

On Thursday, Hale DeMar, 54, was arrested for allegedly violating the North Shore suburb's ordinance banning handgun ownership. DeMar also was charged with failing to renew his Illinois firearm owner's identification card, which expired in 1988.

Is this from an alternate universe? It's illegal to own a gun,but you can be charged for not renewing gun permit! It's bad enough that the second amendment is ignored, but do we have to completely abandon all reason.

[Chewbacca]

The article says "arrested for allegedly violating the North Shore suburb's ordinance banning handgun ownership."

I take this to mean that only pistols and revolvers are banned, not rifles and shotguns. If I am wrong in my reading of the article, then please point me to the law where the FOID card is required for all forms of firearms.