Gun advocates snare rival group's name

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES ^ | May 23, 2002 | PAT MILHIZER

[archy]

Gun advocates snare rival group's name

May 23, 2002

BY PAT MILHIZER SUN-TIMES SPRINGFIELD BUREAU

It was a bit bizarre when a recent statement from the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence called for more gun rights, especially since the group has rallied for 30 years against concealed weapons and wants stiffer background checks on gun sales.

But after failing to file its annual business report with the state, the Chicago-based council lost its registration to operate under that title. The name was then swiped last week by the head lobbyist for the Illinois State Rifle Association, or ISRA. The former Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence is accusing the lobbyist of retaliation because the council blocked legislation for more gun owner's rights.

The problem started with a mailing snafu after the council moved a block down Jackson Street almost two years ago and didn't update its address with the secretary of state's business service department because it had already updated its information with another secretary of state department.

So, the council never got letters from the secretary of state reminding it to file its annual business report, necessary for businesses to remain registered. In the end, the lost mailings cost the former Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence its name.

"They have resorted to grammar school pranks . . . the ISRA is behaving like a 9-year-old child who throws a tantrum when they cannot get their way," said Beth Coolidge, chairwoman of the gun-control council. "This despicable and unethical stunt is one of many that only highlights the depth to which they will stoop to ram their agenda down the throats of the people of Illinois."

The new Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence denies wrongdoing even though the rifle association lobbyist, Todd Vandermyde, registered the new group with the secretary of state's office last week under the old name.

Vandermyde refused to respond to accusations that he used a sneaky tactic to bully the citizens group. Alison Barkley, attorney for the new council, said the move was perfectly legal and the name accurately suits the mission of the new group to increase "accessibility of firearms for self-defense."

"The new organization is not interested in the donors or the members of the old group. Just the name. The name represents it very well," Barkley said.

Lawyers for the former council are looking into legal action, but the lost name will not affect the group's fund-raising or spreading its message against gun violence.

"Even if we do get a new name it's not going to be terribly different," said Kirsten Curley, a spokeswoman for the old group. "Our membership knows who we are. The money is still going to us, not the ISRA or whatever the hell they're calling themselves these days."

[archy]

There was some question last week as to whether the press release from the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence was a hoax or forgery- this shows that it likely was not, but explains the circumstances behind that announcement.

[gitmo]

Cool.

[archy]

Ping!

[friendly]

LOL These folks are not without a sense of humor.

[usconservative]

Thanks for the ping! The original press release from the Council Against Handgun Violence earlier this week surprised me in its call to repeal Chicago's handgun ban, and endorsing legislation for CCW. now I know why! LOL!

gotta love it when the tables get turned on the hand-wringing liberal leftist bedwetters! LMFAO

[Pistolshot]

"They have resorted to grammar school pranks . . . the ISRA is behaving like a 9-year-old child who throws a tantrum when they cannot get their way," said Beth Coolidge, chairwoman of the gun-control council. "This despicable and unethical stunt is one of many that only highlights the depth to which they will stoop to ram their agenda down the throats of the people of Illinois."

Like the anti-gunners would NEVER resort to tactics like this.< /sarcasm>

[PropheticZero]

So, the council never got letters from the secretary of state reminding it to file its annual business report, necessary for businesses to remain registered. In the end, the lost mailings cost the former Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence its name.

Ha..that doesn't work with bill collectors and it doesn't work here. How many years had they been mailing their yearly business report before the moved?

[PropheticZero]

Vandermyde refused to respond to accusations that he used a sneaky tactic to bully the citizens group. Alison Barkley, attorney for the new council, said the move was perfectly legal and the name accurately suits the mission of the new group to increase "accessibility of firearms for self-defense." Maybe if they approached the whole interesting development from a neutral angle he may have commented, but instead they call him a bully and berrate him for picking on the little guy on the playground. Besides the fact that the original council more than likely had more funding the the rifle association, and the ability to hire someone to not screw up stuff. Write unbiased articles and you'll get an unbiased amount of quotes from both sides

[Siegfried]

Like the anti-gunners would NEVER resort to tactics like this.< /sarcasm>

Yeah, the group name that really gets me is "People for the American Way"

There oughta be a law!... What? I didn't say that.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

"They have resorted to grammar school pranks . . . the ISRA is behaving like a 9-year-old child who throws a tantrum when they cannot get their way," said Beth Coolidge, chairwoman of the gun-control council. "This despicable and unethical stunt is one of many that only highlights the depth to which they will stoop to ram their agenda down the throats of the people of Illinois."

Sounds just like the Democrats. Golly, how can they complain about that?

I am reminded of when the Dallas Cowboys football team was first founded and the owner of the Washington Redskins, J. Bennett Williams, was refusing to approve their entry into the NFL. The owner of the Cowboys, Clint Murchisen, quietly bought the rights to the Redskins fight song, "Hail to the Redskins", and refused to let them use it unless they voted for the Cowboys to be in the NFL. It worked.

[Ohioan]

Very funny. But the persistent campaign against basic American freedom is not.

I can remember, not so very long ago, when Illinois was still a Conservative State. In those days, one suspects that a Council against handgun violence, would have been no more likely to want to deny people the right to their hand guns, than would a Council for auto safety be likely to seek to ban automobiles. But the combination of duplicitous Fabians and fawning toads on the Left have been very busy since then.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[moodyskeptic]

Love yr screen name. I agree. I suggest that all Freepers be on the lookout for available names, they pop up constantly. Domains are now available by the hordes, because many registered owners are not paying attention to notices from their ISP. Company and non profit names are also available, as their administrators ignore deadlines and filings. In the Culture War, this is fair game.

The left has the TV networks and the big newspapers, we need to fight clever.

[facedown]

ping

[X918]

ROCK AND ROLL ! In your face socialists! YEEEEEEEESSSSSSS!

[Skibane]

Badda-Bang!

[stands2reason]

There was some question last week

Do you have the source? I'd like to read it, since I heard about this name-grabbing when they first did it.

[Libertina]

But after failing to file its annual business report with the state, the Chicago-based council lost its registration to operate under that title. The name was then swiped last week by the head lobbyist for the Illinois State Rifle Association, or ISRA.
LOL! If our politicians could be this on the job!
Funny, I wonder why the ISRA was waiting for this? Perhaps the gun-grabbers often were late in filing and these people knew and took advantage of it. ROTHLOL Now let the whinging and whinging begin...

[archy]

Do you have the source? I'd like to read it, since I heard about this name-grabbing when they first did it.

Here's the original FReep post from 21 May. -archy-/-

[muir_redwoods]

Perfect!! It's justice in the extreme.

[hoosierham]

Todd V for NRA president!!!!!!!!!