By Jack Burns
As the state promises gun rights activists they’re not coming for their guns, behind the scenes they’re pleading for it to happen. And now the feared gun grab is occurring. Residents in Deerfield, Illinois have 60 days to surrender their “assault weapons” or face fines of $1000 per day per gun.
The gun ban ordinance was passed on April 2nd with residents left with few choices of how to dispose of their valuable “assault weapons.” Upon careful reading of the ordinance, residents will be left with revolvers, .22 caliber “plinking” rifles, and double-barrel shotguns to defend their homes and families from criminals who could care less about the law.
Fines for not disposing of the weapons range from $250 to $1000 per day per gun for those who choose not to comply with the city’s ordinance. While a fine may seem reasonable to some, as TFTP has reported on multiple occasions, failure to pay fines always results in police action. It is not far-fetched to predict major turmoil and arrests in the event of non-compliance.
One example of the so-called “assault weapon” is the Ruger 10/22 which can accept magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. Even though the 10/22 is not listed in the list of guns the village wants to see banned, the gun cannot legally be possessed in the village.
Residents have been instructed to either sell their guns, transfer the ownership to someone who lives outside the village, surrender their guns to Deerfield’s sheriff, or begin paying the fines.
Deerfield mentioned a number of cities where mass shootings took place, including Sutherland Springs, TX where 26 people were killed in the First Baptist Church. That shooting was actually stopped by a man who used the very gun Deerfield voted to ban. No mention was made of that fact in the ordinance.
Also included in the gun ban were semi-automatic pistols which can accept higher than 10-round magazines. That’s virtually all full size semi-automatic pistols.
Even though the village trustees ignored the pleas of residents to leave their guns alone, and passed the ordinance anyway, many residents were encouraged to ignore the gun ban and engage in civil disobedience.
Joel Siegel, a resident of Lincolnwood, warned the village’s residents that governments all across the world have moved to confiscate guns then turned around and ran roughshod over the people. He said, “There’s an ancient and honored American tradition called disobeying an unjust law…I have urged (people) to listen to their conscience and if so moved do not obey this law.”
Deerfield Mayor Harriet Rosenthal implied the students from the local high school helped sway her decision to bring about the ordinance. “Enough is enough,” Rosenthal said adding, “Those students are so articulate just like our students. There is no place here for assault weapons.”
The statement mirrors the knee jerk reaction to ban guns following a nationwide public outcry of students who supposedly feared for their own lives following the recent mass shooting in Florida.
Opponents of the gun grab vow to fight the action in court while others praised the trustees decision to ban semiautomatic rifles, pistols and shotguns. Ariella Kharasch, a Deerfield High School senior said she wants more action to be taken on both a local and national level.
“This is our fight…This is our generation’s fight. We’re going to keep fighting and this is part of it. Change happens gradually step by step. The fight does not end at the borders of our village,” Kharasch said.
Predictably, law enforcement and retired law enforcement members of the community are exempted from the ban. Currently, in the U.S., law enforcement kills around 1,200 citizens per year. Ironically, that number is actually four times higher than those who die from rifles.
As TFTP has reported, cops have killed 450 percent more people than have died in the past forty years of mass shootings.
Jack Burns is an educator, journalist, investigative reporter, and advocate of natural medicine. This article first appeared at The Free Thought Project.
Hmmm
The 2nd Amendment to our Constitution states clearly and unequivocally: “A well regulated militia, being
necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”
Not a single solitary, exception, exemption or limitation to be found in the 2nd Amendment. Much less the power to ban entire classifications of arms. Obviously, this is why the 2nd Amendment is almost never presented to the people in any MSM article, and rarely quoted in its entirety in any “public” debate on the subject.
“The Constitution shall never be construed to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.”
– Samuel Adams, Massachusetts Ratifying Convention, 1788
Let us not forget the other Amendments to which the Town and the Justices have also turned a blind eye
like the 8th Amendment: “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” Up to a thousand dollars a day plus 6 months in jail for each weapon. Such a ridiculously high penalty is the poster child for “excessive”.
The notion that the government has bestowed upon itself the right to impose taxes and fines upon those that want to exercise what is left of their right to bear arms defies all logic, reason and common sense. Thus, using the exact same logic and legal machinations used by the Major and the town Council with the full support of the 7th Circuit Court and the tacit support of the Supreme Court, the government has effectively granted itself the power to impose taxes and/or fines on the citizenry that wish to exercise any of their constitutional rights.
Obviously, if the government can decide to “ban” even one single weapon, or deny a single citizen for any reason, our Constitutional and god given right to bear arms as expressed above has effectively been revoked. Its replacement is nothing more than a privilege granted at the whims of the State, no different in effect than a driver’s license. To restate the obvious for those who aren’t following along; if the government can ban a single weapon, deny a single citizen, they can and eventually they will, deny all of us. Like the totally idiotic notion of “free speech zones” or citizens labeled “enemy combatants” these tactics all have one common goal; transference of the rights, hence power of the people, to the government. However, it must be noted that they have made it clear that they have no intention of denying all of “them”. Just ask the dozens of anti-gun democrats in Congress that have Federal permits to carry concealed weapons and surround themselves with guards carrying automatic weapons.
My first quote sums up precisely what the “Major” and her cronies are about far more eloquently than anything I have ever come up with in relation to trampling all over the 2nd Amendment.
“Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.”
– William Pitt (the Younger), Speech in the House of Commons, November 18, 1783
I realize that most readers here could care less about my opinions So I offer some additional thoughts on the subject by our founding fathers. Or you could just accept the opinion of “Major” Rosenthal and the local children that somehow “enough is enough”.
“The laws that forbid the carrying of arms are laws of such a nature. They disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes….Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants;they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.”
– Thomas Jefferson, Commonplace Book (quoting
18th century criminologist Cesare Beccaria), 1774-1776
“They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
– Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 175
“To disarm the people…[i]s the most effectual way to enslave them.”
– George Mason, referencing advice given to the British Parliament by Pennsylvania governor Sir William Keith, The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adooption of the Federal Constitution, June 14, 1788
“Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed, as they are in almost every country in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops.”
– Noah Webster, An Examination of the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution, October 10, 1787
etc.,
lmfao….oh come on now. you believe all that sht???
who cares….you americanos with guns won’t do sht. and when you get the balls to use the gun, it’ll be much too late.
so funny this world and its inhabitants
It’s certainly — Looking that way.
Hmmm
Let me by crystal clear here; nothing I have written is in any way shape or form a call to violence, nothing. I do not advocate violence because it is self-defeating. Besides, Us “Americanos” don’t have to “use the gun” because we have a Constitution and Bill of Rights which allow us to challenge and reign in an over reaching government without resorting to violence. Our Founding Fathers specifically included the 2nd Amendment right of
the citizenry to bear arms in the hope that it would ultimately prevent violence, not enable it. A not to subtle point you are intentionally ignoring in your pathetic twisted little diatribe.
My commentary here is an offering of complete support for not only our Constitution and Bill of Rights but our great Republic as well. This support is often demonstrated by exercising the civic and Patriotic duty of every American in expressing their opinions on the political issues of the day. Your comments insult America and Americans and are little more than an open call to violence and anarchy. Obviously violence is the only option available to solve problems in your country. In America, nonviolent solutions to our problems is one of our greatest strengths. Clearly, individual politicians and their actions define your country which in turn changes with each new political regime. Unlike most countries, in America, the Constitution and Bill of Rights stands firm in defining the basic principles and ideals of our great Nation and it is politicians that come and go.
Either you are a paid shill/agent or you really are the person that the warped twisted perspective you present reflects, it doesn’t matter. Your intentions are clearly intended to do harm to me and my country. Go straight back to whatever rock you crawled out from under amigo…..
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ProgreSSives only lust for Power. Debate, facts, and historical references are irrelevant to them. I appreciate them, but if you look you will find that the Founders did not shy away from the use of arms to preserve Liberty for the future generations. They even said it was necessary.
Tyrants aren’t persuaded by flowery language. Mao explained their evil view in that Power ultimately comes from the barrel of a gun…….. So does Liberty.
You won’t be laughing for long. You’re going down with everybody else. Your life is forfeit also. Self-affection will not save you. Sneering will not save you. God will not save you and neither will his Devil.
There is the distinct possibility that government may have already succeeded in dumbing the American people down to the point where they peacefully submit to being governed openly, as has in fact been the case since February 23, 1871. In one of George W. Bush’s rare moments of candor he clearly stated, “The constitution is just a damned piece of paper.” Actually, it is written on parchment, but I doubt that he would know or care. But he was correct, and if the government now feels confident in its ability to maintain control, they may be ready to announce the end of the pretense of being a republic that has been carried on since March 27, 1861 when the constitutional government of the united states of America ceased to exist. There is NOTHING in the way that our governments operate NOW that even resembles that which the constitution requires or allows it to do; nothing! We are, in our own circumstances and time, in the exact same position that the German people were in when Adolph Hitler took control of Germany. He was able to take power in less time than it has taken here because there was no real tradition of liberty there to overcome. Now, we’ve pretty much gotten used to being told what we can and can’t do and how to obey orders. We pretty much have an established police state here and now.
The Mayor said “the students in her community swayed her opinion” – since when does the government listen to students – except to steal your guns ! The Supreme court has already rulled on this – Now its the Peoples turn – to rule on it !
The first person, or persons charged with violating this clearly unconstitutional act should first file criminal charges for malicious prosecution, wrongful imprisonment, (they can’t enforce the fines without arresting their victims) and demand a jury trial. Then file separate civil rights violation suits in federal court against each council member that voted for the ordinance personally; for knowingly and intentionally acting in their official capacity outside of their scope of authority. (their oaths of office) If they attempt to use tax money to defend themselves, file a class action suit on behalf of as many taxpayers as can be signed up on the same basis.
Of course a “tarring and feathering” party would be much more effective! lol
Hmmm
The fact that this issue has garnered so little participation by the “progressives” that seem to hang out on activistpost concerns me greatly. I implore anyone who has the slightest interest in this issue to take the time to review the history and fate of other countries that have lost their right to bear arms over the last 200+ years, as well as those that never had the right at all. Specifically, take a long hard look at the negative impact this loss had/has on the individual liberties, rights and freedoms of the citizens.
But, if you remain convinced that the right to bear arms should be abolished, then exercise your Constitutional duty to legally change the 2nd Amendment by way of a Constitutional convention. Why? Because every State and thus all the citizenry get to weigh in on the matter. Do not allow yourself to be seduced by what you see as a quick and easy fix by way of governmental fiat. The easiest/quickest road isn’t always the right one, let alone what is best for the Republic. If it were, then our founding fathers would not have made it so difficult to change the Constitution……………
Gun owners are a bunch of whiners.
AND YOU ARE A TREASONER !!!
And so are the village council members who violated their oaths of office; all of which contain language swearing to uphold the constitution of their state and that of the United States as well. At the very least, they have perjured themselves, and the people of the community should assemble and demand that these council members be criminally indicted and tried in federal court.
Keyboard gangsta ??
You do realize cops own guns. So do secret service details. As in those that protect jackass politicians.
Deerfield is just north of Chicago, in the middle of the DNC Mob’s territory. So we see whose hand is at work: the hand Rahm Emmanuel kisses. They hope to polarize the entire population. For that alone, their lives are forfeit.
These people need to study the history of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. Maybe if the City Counsel was hauled into the streets and hung from the closest light pole the rest would learn from the event.
“…..SHALL N O T BE INFRINGED…” Got it dorks ???
And because the criminals in Deerfield will hand them over.
Humanity has no hope with liberal policies.
When challenged in court this should be easily defeated. If not you can mark this as the beginning of the end of this country. The brainwashed useful idiots don’t see how they are giving away their own freedom. The time will soon come when we all need to make a decision.