March 2008

Update - Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day! ........


Just when we thought it couldn't get any worse for firearm owners in Illinois, legislators are introducing a new "assault weapons ban", ammunition encoding and serialization bills, and doubling their efforts to limit our right to own and purchase firearms.

If ever your presence was needed at the State Capitol in Springfield NOW is the time. I urge you to do whatever you must do to attend Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day, Tuesday, March 11th. This event, sponsored by the Illinois State Rifle Association, is an unprecedented opportunity to show legislators in Springfield that the law abiding citizens of Illinois have had enough! Not only do we not need more restrictions and infringements on our rights - we need a conceal carry law in this state like 48 other states now have!

Charter bus seats are still available from some locations - go to www.IGOLD.isra.org for bus information, to reserve a seat, and for other important information.
Departure points: Aurora, Barry, Champaign, Chatsworth, Decatur, Dundee, Effingham, Fairview Hts., Galesburg, Jacksonville, Joliet, Litchfield, Marion, Mendota, Mt.Vernon, Moline, Normal/Bloomington, Peoria, Quincy, Rockford, North Chicago, South Chicago, Vandalia

The agenda for the day is as follows:

Noon - Legislative Briefing:
Hilton Grand ballroom at 7th and Adams St. Each attendee will receive a packet with lobby cards to present to their legislators AND the four legislative leaders of the House and Senate. Also in the packets will be a list of legislators complete with office numbers and phone numbers, IGOLD registration form, IGOLD button. Please fill out the registration form and drop in the box as you leave the Hilton ballroom.

1:00 pm - March to the Capitol -
Leave the Hilton and march down Capitol Ave. to the Capitol building. The women attending IGOLD are urged to take the lead at the head of the parade! (there will be bus transportation for those that can not make the walk or in case we have bad weather)

1:45 pm Rally on the Capitol steps (providing we have good weather)
The women will proceed on into the Capitol for a press conference scheduled in the Capitol press room also called the "Blue Room". All the women are urged to attend and fill the press room. If the room is filled to overflowing we are asking those women who remain outside to wait around the balcony and then join us immediately after the press conference when the women will deliver a statement to the Governor's office.

2:15 pm Enter the Capitol/fill the Senate and House galleries -
To facilitate getting through the metal detectors please do not bring pocket knives, ammo key chains or ammo belt buckles- cameras are allowed. We will split into 5 groups with 3 groups using the 3 entrances into the Capitol itself, 1 group will enter through the Howlett Building and 1 group will enter through the Stratton Building - those entering through the Stratton building should deliver their Lobby Cards to their Representatives before proceeding over to the Capitol building. Those entering directly into the Capitol will proceed directly up to the 4th floor and fill both the House and Senate galleries. If the General Assembly is in session it will be very important that we remain quiet and not disrupt proceedings - no signs, chants, disruptive behavior or noise is allowed. We will quietly fill the galleries - we will be recognized by a legislator from the floor and then we will quietly file out. If the GA is not in session we will photograph the group for a photo to be presented to legislators.

2:45 pm Deliver Lobby Cards to legislators - There will be IGOLD guides - people wearing black caps with gold lettering stationed around the rotunda on each floor, over at the Stratton bldg. and in the tunnels to help direct folks to the offices.
This year we have lobby cards to sign and deliver to our Sen. and Reps. offices but we will also have lobby cards to sign and deliver to
Senate President Emil Jones' office and Speaker of the House Michael Madigan's office as well as the Republican leader of the House Tom Cross and Republican leader of the Senate Frank Watson - if everyone does this then those four leaders will hear from all of us which could be well over 1500
people!!! What a tremendous message this will be from IL gun owners. You are also welcome to write you own letters and deliver them at the same
time. You are representing gun owners from all over the state, please remember to be courteous and friendly when speaking to legislators and their staff. It is important to refrain from arguing with legislators, staff, or other members of the public that may be present. It is not beyond our opposition to stage confrontations to make us look bad - avoid any such situations. All eyes will be on us and our behavior must be above reproach.

The Senators offices are for the most part in North end of Capitol Building and House of Representative leadership offices are in the Capitol building too. Most Representative offices are on the second floor of the Stratton bldg next door - use the tunnel to avoid having to go through security again.

3:45 pm Make presence known in Committee Hearings:
If there are any committees in session - there is not a lot of advance notice about what committees are meeting and where but if we have that information we will make that known - folks can quietly wander in and out - you don't have to sit through a whole committee session- it's mainly for legislators "see" how many gun people are there that day. Do not worry if you find you do not have time to do this.

If you have time you can get a soft drink or cup of coffee and a sandwich in the cafe down in the tunnel under the Capitol or at the one over in the Howlett building - it's located in the hallway to the left of the auditorium - you can get to the Howlett building by using the tunnels and you won't have to go through security again. Or feel free to stop in one of the many eateries on the streets near the State Capitol Complex.

4:30 pm Reception at State Library - time to head across the street to the State Library for the Reception. All the legislators are invited to this event - It is an important time for you to meet with legislators who may not have been available earlier in the day. Drinks and snacks will be available.

6:30 pm Buses will start loading up at the State Library 6:30-7pm to head home.