Aldermen can carry guns? (Chicago, Bridgeport: crime, house, buying)

[lenniel]

Read in the Trib yesterday that Aldermen and other government officials (whom have nothing to do with police work or crime fighting) can legally own and carry guns in Chicago but it's 'illegal' for John Q Public to do so.

Is this true? What a joke!

[deechee]

So not fair.

Does this mean that Jane Doe who lives in Bridgeport cannot protect herself as an ordinary citizen? Wtf...

[chirack]

I am a anti-gun person and I have no problem with it. Our alderman once got death threats(I know because he was a friend of the family).

I have a lot more trouble with John Q public carring guns for no good reason. Self defense?(ha ha ha live on the west side and hear as many gun shots as I have and you will fear getting caught in gang crossfire more than getting robbed). There are very limited situations where a gun can be handy.

[WhaThe]

Originally Posted by chirack

I am a anti-gun person and I have no problem with it. Our alderman once got death threats(I know because he was a friend of the family).

So only if your friends get death threats they are allowed to carry?

[chirack]

No I think that people need to have a good reason and fear of crime in general is not a good reason. I would carry one if:

a. There were a specific threat to my life(in the army, death threat, crazy ex)
b. I liked hunting
c. I lived in a rural area where both crime and wild animal are a threat.
d. I owned a store (they get robbed often and can be the target of a riot...although again the one time my family did get robed it would have been useless)
e. My job exposed me to unusual threat from a ticked off person(famous person, politician, police officer, judge)

What worries me most are gun nuts who go out buying a gun thinking that they are going to defend their homes. The truth is a burglar is most likely to strike when you are not at home and they can be armed too. The other one is if the could carry a gun they could defend themselves from being robbed(sure if the robber is stupid enough not to carry a gun or you can get to the gun before they hit or stab you).

I think for every one case where a citizen pulled out a gun in self defense, five guns were stolen and wound up on the black market.

[Attrill]

If you want a handgun you do need to be a cop or have lived in the city since the 80's. From what I've read he had owned his gun since the 80's and was grandfathered in.

If you want a gun you need to jump through some minor hoops, but it is not a big hassle. I own a number of shotguns and rifles (all of which are registered to my house in the city) but I keep them at a friend's farm where I actually shoot them. If you want something for home protection a .410 will do you just fine (and it is legal in the city), if you want to walk around with a hand gun then become a cop or get yourself elected.

[rhawkins74]

Originally Posted by Attrill

If you want a handgun you do need to be a cop or have lived in the city since the 80's. From what I've read he had owned his gun since the 80's and was grandfathered in.

If you want a gun you need to jump through some minor hoops, but it is not a big hassle. I own a number of shotguns and rifles (all of which are registered to my house in the city) but I keep them at a friend's farm where I actually shoot them. If you want something for home protection a .410 will do you just fine (and it is legal in the city), if you want to walk around with a hand gun then become a cop or get yourself elected.

Just pointing out that other then just being a cop, one can also become a security guard and have a hand gun in the city. And guess what if you are security and have a handgun, you don't even have to register it with the city.

[tad73]

Good citizen...here boy!(whistle)vote Democrat....thats a good boy...fetch!!!

[tad73]

Or just do what every criminal scumbag does and buy a gun stolen from the police property room by a crooked cop.

[tad73]

A hot military select fire weapon with grenade launcher and grenades will cost less than 20,000 dollars.That is a small investment to protect a criminal enterprise.
Your average landscape crew has that much invested in equipment with way less earning potential.No gun control law has ever disarmed a single criminal...period.