Posted on 02/29/2012 6:51:54 AM PST by marktwain
Chester, Ill. —
State. Rep. Jerry Costello II (D-Smithton) issued the following statement regarding a myriad of anti-gun proposals recently introduced by Chicago politicians, including House Bill 5167, a bill that would add two percent surcharge on the sale of ammunition:
“As we make more and more progress towards the passage of a conceal and carry law in Illinois, anti-gun politicians from Chicago are desperately throwing up radical bills that deny the constitutionally-protected rights of law-abiding Illinoisans. These include proposals to require a $65 registration fee per handgun and to add an additional tax on ammunition. Making gun owners register is an attempt to put us in the same class as sex offenders, and I won’t stand for it. Ammunition and firearms are used extensively by people all over Illinois to put food on the table and as recreation. To impose a new tax on ammunition would be to punish this way of life.
“These nonsensical proposals directly violate the Constitution and target lawful gun owners, rather than criminals. It is equally my job to support practical legislation as it is to vocally oppose bills that are not good for the district.
“Chicagoans desperate to seem ‘tough on crime’ ought to come on board and support conceal and carry as it will surely result in gangbangers thinking twice before victimizing an armed citizen. Conceal and carry is a realistic solution, but it seems like these anti-gun crusaders are more interested in punishing law-abiding gun owners in my district than anything else.
“I will always stand up for our Second Amendment rights, and I urge all of my like-minded constituents to join me in this fight by having their friends and family throughout the state call their own legislators and relay the message that our gun rights will not be compromised.”
and as recreation...Saturday night drive-by contests on Torrence.
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