Robin Kelly and President Obama on same page on issue of reducing gun violence

Robin Kelly and her campaign to fill the vacated seat of Jesse Jackson Jr. has changed the national discussion and has changed the Democratic party, according to a column in MSNBC's First Read published today. This puts her on the same page on the issue of guns with President Barack Obama,

Robin Kelly, however, is not saying or doing anything different these days. She is just being Robin Kelly.

In fact, Robin Kelly's very first bill introduced as a state representative was HB0312, which was to criminalize the straw purchases of guns in Illinois. HB0312 was first introduced in the state house by then state representative David E. Miller on Jan. 23, 2003. The same day, state representative Robin Kelly was named as the "chief sponsor" of the bill.

It was not only the first bill that Robin Kelly introduced as a state representative, but that bill also became law. That bill gained nineteen other state house co-sponsors, but Robin Kelly was the "chief sponsor" of that bill.

Over in the state senate, a young man by the name of Barack Obama was one of five co-sponsors of the "Robin Kelly straw purchase bill." Those sponsors included President Obama, but State Senator Don Harmon, State Senator Antonio Munoz, State Senator Iris Y. Martinez and Robin Kelly's close personal and political friend, State Senator Jacqueline Y. Collins.

The bill passed the Illinois House 112 to 4 and passed the Illinois Senate 37 to 20 became law effective on Aug. 7, 2003.

It didn't stop there with Robin Kelly when it came to the issue of guns. Robin Kelly not only talked the talk, Robin Kelly walked the walk.

On Feb. 4, 2005, she proposed the "Assault Weapons Control Law," HB1060., along with six other "chief co-sponsors." The bill sought to make the manufacture, distribution, transport, sale, import or transfer of an assault weapon a Class 2 Felony.

Fourteen days later, she co-sponsored an amendment to Firearms Owners Identification Card Act, HB0794, of which Robin Kelly was one of sixteen co-sponsors. The Firearms Identification Card Act was to ensure that those who sell firearms first pass a background check before being allowed to sell or transfer a gun.

In March of the same year, 2005, Robin Kelly co-sponsored the Firearms Dealer Licensing Act, HB0990, and was one of twenty-three co-sponsors, making it a felony to sell or transfer firearms without a license. On May 29, 2005, Robin co-sponsored the Firearms Act, HB1333, which strengthened several aspects related to Firearms Owners Identification Cards. The Act passed and became effective July 29, 2005.

Debbie Halvorson, who served in the Illinois State Senate back then, did not co-sponsor any of these bills that Robin Kelly either was either the "chief sponsor" or a "co-sponsor."

So is it any wonder that Robin Kelly would receive a grade of "F" from the ISRA and the NRA.

So is it any wonder that Debbie Halvorson is a darling of the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA), and has earned her "A" rating.

All of these "common sense" gun laws, yet Debbie Halvorson did not in any way promote the passage of these bills.

Once again, in this election, the ISRA is "sponsoring" Debbie Halvorson. The ISRA is sending out a direct mailer to thousands of its members on behalf of Debbie Halvorson to those living in the district, asking them to vote for Ms. Halvorson, according to Richard A. Pearson, the association’s executive director. “We can’t let that go unanswered.”

In spite of this "endorsement," Debbie Halvorson has not raised her voice rejecting their help. That is exactly why the 2nd Illinois Congressional district needs Robin Kelly.

But Robin Kelly is not done yet.

Once again, Robin Kelly is supporting her friend, President Obama on the issue of "common sense gun control." President Obama recently sent a proposal to Congress, that coincidentally, follows the same proposals that Kelly has been putting forth in her campaign.

As a member of Congress, Robin Kelly will support President Obama and vote for all of his measures. It is acknowledged that the vote in Congress will be very close on these "common sense gun control" measures, and President Obama will need all the support he can get. He most certainly needs a person with an "F" rating from the gun associations, and not an "A" rating Congressman.

So when Robin Kelly said on her facebook fan page recently that "I stand with President Obama’s plan to get the dangerous weapons that are killing our neighbors off of the streets," Robin Kelly certainly meant business.

When Robin Kelly reunites in Washington, D.C., with her personal and political friend, President Barack Obama, she will show she means business on the issue of reducing gun violence.

To donate to the Robin Kelly for Congress campaign, click on the contribution page.

Send John Presta an email and your story ideas or suggestions or even to volunteer for Robin Kelly at johnpresta@att.net.

John is the author of an award-winning book, the 2010 Winner of the USA National Best Book award for African-American studies, published by The Elevator Group Mr. and Mrs. Grassroots: How Barack Obama, Two Bookstore Owners, and 300 Volunteers did it. Also available an eBook on Amazon. John is also a member of the Society of Midland Authors and is a book reviewer of political books for the New York Journal of Books. John has volunteered for many political campaigns and is currently an unpaid volunteer for the Robin Kelly for Congress campaign. Robin Kelly also has a facebook fan page.