ISRA Urges Municipalities To Follow Peoria's Lead And Lift Locally Imposed Impediments To Self Defense

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Oct 17, 2014, 12:27 ET

CHICAGO, Oct. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA):

"A smart move to restore the rights of law-abiding citizens," is how ISRA Executive Director Richard Pearson is characterizing the Peoria City Council's recent decision to repeal restrictions on armed self-defense. Pearson's remarks came at the culmination of a several month give and take effort between the ISRA's General Counsel and Peoria's City Attorney.

Until Tuesday's repeal of the Peoria Concealable Deadly Weapons Ordinance, those wishing to lawfully carry defensive firearms in Peoria would have to pay various fees and suffer all sorts of city red tape in addition to acquiring a state concealed carry permit. In the estimation of the ISRA legal staff, the Peoria ordinance flew in the face of the court decisions leading up to the passage of Illinois' landmark 2013 concealed carry law. With that came only two alternatives – sue Peoria to force compliance with the spirit of the state law, or work with the city to find a solution to preserve personal rights and public safety.

"We're happy the Peoria City Council opted for the reasonable solution," said ISRA Executive Director Richard Pearson. "Our General Counsel had a lawsuit waiting in the wings just in case the city decided not to repeal what were, quite frankly, pointless hurdles for law abiding citizens. These are very uncertain times. Folks are worried about domestic unrest, the blossoming public health crisis, international terrorism and economic woes. The last thing standing between uneasiness and peace of mind should be some inane city form with a thumbprint block and a $20 fee. Enactment of the repeal will make life easier for our fellow citizens."

"With Peoria behind us, the ISRA legal staff is turning its attention to about a dozen or so other jurisdictions having gun control ordinances that impede the good citizens' right to self-defense," continued Pearson. "We hope to put what we've learned from our Peoria experience to good use. We hope to be able to convince those jurisdictions to abandon their gun control ordinances to avoid litigation. However, we know there will be a few 'hard cases' out there and we're prepared for those eventualities. As always, the ISRA and its partners stand ready to introduce legislation or to go to court to preserve and protect the rights of law-abiding citizens who are, after all, the backbone of our society."

The ISRA is the state's leading advocate of safe, lawful, and responsible firearms ownership. For more than a century, the ISRA has represented the interests of millions of law-abiding Illinois firearm owners.

WEB SITE: http://www.isra.org

SOURCE Illinois State Rifle Association