Dramatic changes in Illinois gun carry laws were the focus for award presentations at last year’s Gun Rights Policy Conference. Shown, left to right with their awards: Don Moran, president ISRA, with SAF Defender of Liberty Award; Richard Pearson, executive director ISRA, holds CCRKBA Affiliate of the Year Award given to Illinois State Rifle Association, and his personal CCRKBA Gun Rights Activist of the Year Award, and Valinda Rowe and husband, Mike, of Illinois Carry Inc., with CCRKBA Grassroots Organization of the Year Award.
By Dave Workman | Senior Editor
Recent data in Chicago suggests that the crime rate has declined since Illinois adopted a concealed carry licensing system, according to a report published by the Washington Times.
Illinois lawmakers were forced by the courts to adopt a concealed carry law thanks a pair of lawsuits that included the Second Amendment Foundation’s Moore v. Madigan. The other lawsuit was Shepherd v. Madigan, filed by the National Rifle Association and the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruling applied to both cases.
However, it is doubtful that either SAF or the NRA will be credited with forcing the state to adopt a law that appears to be contributing to a decline in Windy City crime.
“The number of robberies that have led to arrests in Chicago has declined 20 percent from last year, according to police department statistics,” the Washington Times reported. “Reports of burglary and motor vehicle theft are down 20 percent and 26 percent, respectively. In the first quarter, the city’s homicide rate was at a 56-year low.”
Meanwhile, Politico quoted anti-gun Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who insisted that the Windy City is not the nation’s “murder capital.” That report cited Chicago Police Department statistics showing homicides down seven percent from last year at this time and 20 percent from the same period in 2010. Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy says the city is the safest it has been in a half-century, Politico said.
Richard Pearson, executive director of the 30,000-member Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA), told TGM that the decline in crime actually started when lawmakers began seriously discussing concealed carry. In the Washington Times piece, he said, “It isn’t any coincidence crime rates started to go down when concealed carry was permitted. Just the idea that the criminals don’t know who’s armed and who isn’t has a deterrence effect.” He stands by that statement.
ISRA partnered with SAF on the landmark McDonald v. City of Chicago case that incorporated the Second Amendment to the states, and with the NRA on the Shepard case.
He also said ISRA just mailed about 22,700 notices to members that the annual Gun Rights Policy Conference will be held in Chicago Sept. 26-28 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Airport. SAF co-sponsors the event with the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
