Gun lobby says Whitney isn’t really pro-gun
From a press release:
CHICAGO, Nov. 3 /U.S. Newswire/ — The following was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (ISRA-PVF):
The ISRA-PVF is warning Illinois hunters, sportsmen and firearm owners not to be fooled by Green Party candidate Rich Whitney’s claims of being in support of gun owners’ rights.
The ISRA-PVF has carefully evaluated Whitney’s public statements and platform position papers and has concluded that Whitney is an unsuitable candidate for governor of Illinois.
Whitney, who admits that he has never discharged a firearm, claims to support a concept he calls “open carry.” Presumably, Whitney’s “open carry” would allow some class of citizens to carry firearms in public as long as the guns were in plain view. Yet, he has also gone on record supporting “one gun a month” schemes. “One gun a month” rationing is the centerpiece of Mayor Daley’s campaign to abolish private firearm ownership.
“The Whitney campaign has been busily trying to hijack gun owner votes by misrepresenting the candidate’s views on private firearm ownership,” commented ISRA-PVF spokesman Richard Pearson. “His conflicting views on firearm carry laws and gun rationing demonstrate his ignorance of the issues facing law-abiding Illinois firearm owners. Furthermore, I doubt seriously that the pacifist-socialist political agenda of the Green Party would set well with many hunters and sportsmen — even those who have been already duped by the Whitney campaign.”
“The ISRA-PVF has already identified the gubernatorial candidate who is best able to represent the interests of law- abiding hunters, sportsmen, and firearms owners,” continued Pearson. “That candidate is Judy Baar Topinka. Judy’s demonstrated commitment to safe and lawful firearm ownership places her head and shoulders above the rest of the field.”
“I know that a few gun owners feel the need to register some sort of protest by voting for Whitney,” said Pearson. “I ask them to reconsider that stance and keep in mind that voting for Whitney may help ensure that Pat Quinn becomes the next governor of Illinois.
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The ISRA-PVF is a political action committee affiliated with the Illinois State Rifle Association. A copy of their report is available for a fee from the Illinois State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois.
My two cents: This group has picked its horse in the race — Judy Baar Topinka — the candidate who stands to lose the most from a strong showing for Whitney. So I’m taking this press release with a grain of salt. Still, concerns are legitimate that “open carry” will be overly-regulated to the point of being a ban.
Rest assured that if I were really worried that Whitney might actually win, and might try to implement such a plan, and might actually succeed in doing so, then I might consider not voting for him. But since none of this is going to happen, and I consider JBT as nearly as corrupt as Blago himself, I’m still voting for Whitney. I want to see real ballot access and real choices in the voting booth and a vote for Whitney helps make that happen.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
