Novel anti-gun suit based on ‘civil rights’
A group of Chicagoans is suing nearby local governments, claiming Chicago residents have a “civil right” to force the city’s strict gun control laws on other locales, the Associated Press reported last month:
The Rev. Michael Pfleger, a long-time anti-gun activist, announced the lawsuits against Lincolnwood, Lyons and Riverdale. The priest who has led street demonstrations against licensed gun dealers, says many of the guns recovered from Chicago crime scenes came from stores in communities named as in the lawsuit.
Lawyers for the Coalition for Safe Chicago Communities filed the lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court claiming the suburbs’ gun store regulations violate the Illinois Civil Rights Act, a novel new justification conjured up by the anti-gunners.
Pfleger contends violence is a civil rights issue, and by failing to monitor the gun sales adequately, the stores are violating families’ rights by preventing them from doing regular activities such as walking to school and playing in parks.
In other words, the activists are working on the supposition that Chicago’s strict gun control laws are ineffective because guns are available outside the city. Apparently, that argument could extend outside Illinois to the rest of the nation.
The Coalition for Safe Chicago Communities got that idea from a 2014 “study” from the City of Chicago titled “Tracing the Guns: The Impact of Illegal Guns on Violence in Chicago.”
Not surprisingly, the study’s earthshaking revelation was that the majority of firearms used in Chicago crimes aren’t bought within the city limits.
Considering that gun sales are prohibited in Chicago, feel free to file that in the “no kidding” area of your brain.
The plaintiffs in the case are making a pretty bold argument — and an insulting one to Chicago residents — in claiming that gun sales outside the city violate the Illinois Civil Rights Act, which prohibits local governments from using “criteria or methods of administration” that have “the effect of subjecting individuals to discrimination because of that person’s race.”
Minority neighborhoods in Chicago are less desirable places to live because of respect for the 2nd Amendment in nearby areas which, the suit says, encourages minority residents of Chicago neighborhoods “to seek and obtain guns” for crimes….”
TN lawmakers discuss armed military options
The national debate over whether military personnel should be able to defend themselves from attack is not as simple as it might seem.
Gun rights for Tennessee Guard members were discussed in a Senate hearing in mid-August following an attack in Chattanooga that took the lives of five regular service Marines and a Sailor, according to Nashville’s WSMV and Merdith Publishing.
Maj. Gen. Max Haston said his recommendation was approved by Gov. Bill Haslam for Guard members with a current carry permit to bring their weapons on state military facilities.
“Tennessee allows you to carry concealed or open,” said Sen. Mae Beavers, speaking to Haston. “Will they be able to carry open?”
“We’ve got some specific guidance to tell our folks what they can do,” Haston answered. “I do not want people walking around in our armories with 16-inch barrels hanging off their hip. We’re going to let soldiers carry weapons under their blouse.”
Haston said one of his biggest concerns is for accidental discharges.
“I don’t want a risk within a risk of people shooting each other with their weapon, and that’s our greatest concern,” said Haston.
“You would think with our military, they have training, and we should trust them with a weapon,” said Beavers.
Other lawmakers said they didn’t understand why a military ID card couldn’t be used as a carry permit for the state.
“I have to believe our average soldier, all of our soldiers, have a respect for weapons greater than any individual who walks up to get a carry permit,” said Sen. Mark Green.
“I’ve never heard of an accidental discharge by a permit holder killing anyone,” said Sen. Frank S. Nicely. “I think we’re worrying too much, and we’re worrying about the wrong things.”
Obama staffer faces gun charge
A White House staffer was arrested on Aug. 7 after allegedly shooting a gun at her boyfriend, who is an officer with the US Capitol Police, during a heated argument, authorities said.
FoxNews reported that Barvetta Singletary, 37, who is a special assistant to President Obama and also holds the title of house legislative liaison, was charged with domestic violence in the incident, which police say occurred at her home in Upper Marlboro, MD.
Police say she summoned her boyfriend to her home by text message. Later, according to the criminal complaint, Singletary went to the man’s car with him and accused him of dating other women. Inside the car, Singletary allegedly took the man’s cellphones and his service weapon, demanding passwords to unlock messages stored on the phones.
Police say Singletary pointed the gun in the victim’s direction and fired one round.
The man ran away and called police, according to authorities. Singletary was arrested at the scene without incident.
A White House spokesperson said on Aug. 10:
“We are aware of the matter and have temporarily placed the employee in question on unpaid leave and revoked her access to the complex until we have more information. We will take additional actions as needed.”
Singletary came to the White House a year ago from her job as deputy chief of staff and policy director to Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), the third-ranking Democratic in the House who is currently sponsoring legislation that would eliminate the three-day window in the NICS background check system.
