Oak Park Newspaper

"A Wonderful Album"
Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.

Free Readers Ensemble

Wm. B. Sullivan Realty & Co.

RAVINIA
"A Great time in a
Wonderful Place" SJC

Adopt a Pet, Come for a Visit

CAGIS Archaeological
Consulting Services

June 27, 2008

© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo

Statement by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on
Supreme Court Ruling of D.C. v Heller

"Today the Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects the individual right of law-abiding citizens of the District of Colombia to protect themselves in their own homes. This landmark ruling will ensure that regardless
of where citizens reside, the government will respect their rights that are
guaranteed by the Second Amendment."

commentary by Ed Vincent

Oak Park is currently being sued by groups that want the ban on handguns in Oak Park removed, so they can keep handguns to protect themselves in their homes. In the past number of years several local communities at different times have outlawed the private ownship of handguns in their towns (Evanston, Oak Park, Winnetka and Wilmette along with Chicago).

Oak Park Village President David Pope, is quoted by papers as having been upset by the Supreme Court ruling on the 2nd Amendment. Mr. Pope had stated that he felt the vote by the majority of the court would somehow threaten regular citizens in Oak Park. Mr. Pope is also reported to have said that
"The ruling puts [Justice Antonin] Scalia and the four other
conservative justices squarely on the side of the gang-bangers
who terrorize far too many of urban American neighborhoods
today," The Mayor of Morton Grove, which had a ban on handguns longer than Oak Park noted that they would follow the new ruling by the Supreme Court. Morton Grove Mayor Richard Krier is apparently not planning to spend tens of thousands of his taxpayers dollars on fighting a national ruling
(even though the NRA and other groups have filed suit to make sure there is no fight). Oak Park and Chicago have given the view that they will fight at all costs honoring the Supreme Court's ruling on the 2nd Amendment

Chicago's Mayor Daley went on a long vocal diatribe covering issues totally unrelated to the Supreme Court's ruling. The
court's ruling has nothing to do with people carrying handguns into buildings and schools, or even leaving the house with them.
The Mayor, who has a law degree and was a practicing prosecutor before taking the office of Mayor, plans to ignore the court's ruling and fight its decision.

The presumed Democratic Presidential candidate Senator Obama is quoted as saying the he has "always believed that
the 2nd Amendment protects the right of individuals to bear arms, but I also identify with the need for crime-ravaged communities to save their children from the violence that plagues our streets through common-sense, effective safety measures." Some Republicans have felt Obama's views
were trying to appeal to two side of the same issue, and more
vocal opponents put the terms less kindly.

This is said to be the first direct court ruling on the 2nd Amendment as it pertains to an individual's right to own
a firearm. Some advocates of civil liberties believe that along
with a separation of Church from State, Gay rights, books not
being banned, gun ownership is also a free choice that persons should have--and then there's the 2nd Amendment.

When a Mr. Hale DeMar of Wilmette shot at an intruder who had broken into his home for the second time while he was home with his family the town of Wilmette charged him with having an illegal handgun in his home. Later the Illinois State
Legislature voted on a bill that permitted local courts to
ignore all local gun ordinances where the weapon was used
for self defense. There is still plenty of options for the local courts to take, even though they now may pick and choose which cases to charge. The latest United States Supreme Court ruling should remove the ambiguity of the views of local courts.

Mr. David Sigale is one of several attorneys who have brought lawsuits against the handgun ban in Chicago. The National Rifle Association, has also filed suit in the courts to overturn similar laws against an individual's right to own a handgun and
protect themselves within their home, these towns are Chicago,
Morton Grove, Evanston and Oak Park (and others not yet noted..)

To get a better idea of what happened at the United States
Supreme Court you should read the pdf file below coming
from the court.

United States Supreme Court District of Columbia Gun Ban in Pdf Format