Background: We've been discussing Illinois' 2010 U.S. Senate race. As we've seen, while posturing themselves away from the issue, Democrat candidates are on record as supporting various "gun control" edicts. Likewise, Republican party front runner Mark Kirk has an anti-gun track record that's as bad as it gets, including sponsoring a federal ban on semiautomatic firearms.
Still, we're told there is hope from the GOP:
Kathleen Thomas, a historical researcher in Springfield, opposes any restrictions...GOP candidates Patrick Hughes, Hinsdale developer, and Andy Martin, a lawyer and talk-show host, also oppose a federal ban on assault weapons and emphasize their support of the right to keep and bear arms.
With that in mind, and noting the Martin and Thomas campaigns both have strong statements of support for the Second Amendment on their websites, I sent the three campaigns my Gun Rights Questionnaire. To date, Martin and Thomas have responded.
Here are Andy Martin's responses:
Sorry for the brief answers but we are swamped.
1. Do you believe that the Constitution is the "supreme law of the land" and that the Bill of Rights acknowledges our birthrights?
Yes
2. If so, should these rights be proactively protected from infringement by all levels of government, including city, county and state?
Yes
3. Please give some examples of gun laws you consider constitutional.
Federal laws have been upheld as Constitutional.
4. Please give some examples of gun laws you consider unconstitutional.
I am not aware of any.
5. Does the right to bear arms include the right for any peaceable citizen to carry them concealed without a permit, as in Vermont?
Good question. It may.
6. Do you believe that Americans have a right to own, use and carry weapons of military pattern, and will you use the prestige of elected office to publicly promote that right?
This question is too vague. "Military pattern" could mean anything.
7. Do you support or oppose registration of weapons? Why?
Oppose registration.
8. Do you support or oppose licensing requirements to own or carry firearms?
Oppose.
Why?
9. What specific gun laws will you work to get repealed?
I'll see what's on the books when I take office.
10. If elected, will you back your words of support for firearms rights up with consistent actions? How?
I have forty years of credibility and consistency as a conservative.
For more information: Click here to visit Andy Martin's campaign website.
Tomorrow I'll present the response from Kathleen Thomas.
Comments
He gets an F.
Indeed, zach. If he is too "swamped" to give even a few minutes to these important questions, it makes me wonder just what he's so busy doing. Fundraising and brown nosing come to mind...
Just as well. He's well known as an anti-semitic crank in west central Illinois. He filed so many lawsuits that his legal circuit actually issued an order barring him from filing any legal action without prior judicial approval. I don't know if that's ever happened in Illinois before, but it's awfully rare.
He has been known to file a lawsuit, lose it, then sue his lawyer, the lawyers on the other side, along with the judge who decided the case. This guy deserves zero support and zero attention.
OK, so when you say "there's hope from the GOP," whom are you talking about? Certainly not this clown. "Elect me, and then I'll do my homework/let you know what I think?" No thanks.
Ditto's to the posts below. If he's to busy to respond to a constituant request now, when will he have time for them later? Never liked being asked to choose between a confirmed F and a possible F. Next candidate please!
Very well presented and I love these David thank you!
He can't think of any laws that are un-Constitutional? He get's an "F." And that friends, is without even mentioning the other problems noted in prior comments.
This guy may be a better weasel than the other weasels but he's still a weasel. 'F'
III
Big F'ng F. "Federal laws have been upheld as constitutional." Yup, by corrupt, activist judges who violated the Constitution and their oaths of office.
FYI, the SCOTUS and courts are NOT the final arbiters of what's constitutional. We the People are. Note that Scalia never addressed the "shall not be infringed" portion of the 2nd Amend. in his ruling in Heller but indicated the right was not absolute. Uh, excuse me? He's as corrupt as the rest.
Most judges should be hung, er, uh, tarred and feathered along with most Congress critters!
I just came from an event where Patrick Hughes and representatives of Judge Lowery and Kathleen Thomas spoke to a room full of gun owners. I can't speak for everyone else, but Hughes impresses me the most. The others are both pro-gun, but they seem to be running to make a statement. Hughes has an experienced campaign manager who has won some tough primaries in the past, plus he claims to have an organization with 18 area organizations across the entire state, each with its own coordinator.
When asked about hunting, Hughes stated that the 2nd Amendment was not written to protect hunting but as a last-ditch defense against tyranny.
So--Don--can you get the Hughes campaign to give the courtesy of a reply? Because that "experienced campaign manager" has not responded to two emails now, and I suspect it's for the same reason the Hughes campaign is silent on RKBA on their website--they don't want to be too closely tied to "those people." I'd love to be proven wrong, but I have absolutely no trust in someone who utters platitudes and then avoids specifics. We've seen that far too many times, and I submit it's a good part of the reason we're in the mess we are. What's so tough about telling voters exactly where you stand?
Exactly! We have plenty of weasels who can "talk the talk". What's needed are people who will "walk the walk". No more support for pols who will not support us in return.
I give less than da-- what Martin says now as he's only telling the voters what they want to hear. Wake up people, go to your tea party affiliates and ask them what's going on. Seems only Tea Party movers are in the loop in candidate ideas. Disclaimer: I'm not a tea party member - I'm a Conservative.
The only Republican candidate showing a record of pro-gun record is Bill Brady. Good man, business man, knows how to take care of things. Proft is my second choice in this area. All others are RINO's and need to be sent packing.
Illinoisan's will never get our heads out of the sand if we keep electing northern Democrats and Republicans. Anyone living above I-80 for more than 5 years needs to be expelled/disqualified immediately. There's too much Chicago influence that high above the Illinois Mason-Dixon line.
The proof is in their own words. Look at the following and ask yourself which acndidaet was CLEAR about the issue of assault weapon bans and conceal carry in IL. I can only find one - let's say you?
Google search WANDTV.COM and conceal carry. It's usually the first link that will take you to the candidates' interview question/answer session.
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