House Bill 2414 [assault weapon ban] is a sham and an effort to laurel despotism here in Illinois.

House Bill 2414 [assault weapon ban] is a sham and an effort to laurel despotism here in Illinois. Our governor is using a tragedy to manipulate the Legislature into an emotional, illogical and destructive law.

lately a child was stabbed to death. Are we calling for removal of knives from each household? Five thousand children die each year from bicycle, skateboard and rollerblade accidents. Are we calling for the elimination of these as assault weapons? Mothers suffocate in water their children in bathtubs. Are we eliminating mothers or bathtubs?

You or I cannot purchase automatic weapons at firearm dealerships or at fire-arm shows, but your individual right to uphold your family, business, state and nation is being assaulted from this administration. The grand silence you hear as you read this is 80 million Americans not discharging firearms. You may hear in the background your governor calling you a criminal for exercising your right to self-defense if it were not that this isn't happening in 47 other states with concealed carry laws.

John H Nickels,

executive director,

State Line Rifle Association

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