A few weeks back I posted on the apparent propensity for conservative partisans to go to the extreme — to cross the line toward threats and, indeed, violence including preparing home-made bombs and drawing up sniper site lines to “take care of” perceived political opponents.
It’s allegedly happening right here at home, too, literally a few miles down the road.
Yesterday the Illinois State Rifle Association sent out an alarmist press release accusing state Sen. Dan Kotowski of infringing on the first amendment rights of Illinois gun owners.
Hardly.
The ISRA’s myopic piece reads in part:
The ISRA is expressing great concern over reports that Illinois State Police (ISP) detectives have been visiting the homes of people who phoned or faxed Sen. Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge) to express opposition to gun control legislation sponsored by the senator. [snip]
“The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right of citizens to petition the government for the redress of grievances,” said ISRA Executive Director, Richard Pearson. “Of course, the manner in which citizens exercise that right must not include any threats of harm against elected officials.”
“When we first heard about the ISP visits to homes of people who had sent faxes to Sen. Kotowski, we were concerned that some folks may have acted inappropriately,” continued Pearson. “However, upon inspection of the faxes in question, we see absolutely no reason for the ISP to visit citizens’ homes — other than to possibly put a damper on the citizen’s desire to participate in the legislative process.” (emphasis added)
…I’ll have more on this as info is made public but suffice it to say that the ISRA’s “thorough investigation” has apparently not been thorough enough and at least one citizen sympathetic to the ISRA has indeed allegedly threatened the Senator’s office.
The Illinois State Police doesn’t typically just randomly start investigating protesters (that’d be the Karl Rove-influenced Dept. of Justice that does that). There must be just cause to launch an investigation, and in this case there allegedly is. Whether or not the alleged threat was a hollow one remains to be seen.
Now Mr. Pearson of course did a little CYA by noting that “threats of harm” are unacceptable. But based on the virulent rhetoric of those who adamantly advocate evermore liberal gun laws and the hyperbole, smears and truth-twisting spread by the big-dollar gun industry and their allies, something like this alleged threat was all too predictable. Indeed, posters at that Illinois Carry thread commented that they needed to step up the attacks and “go on the offense” … you and I know they meant verbal attacks, but not everyone thinks so clearly when they’re all ginned up on talk of revolution and killing ‘agressors’.
(Oh, and PS Illinois State Rifle Association director Mr. Richard Pearson: Police investigators don’t generally announce they’re going to stop by. Doing so might lead to the destruction of potential evidence or allow co-conspirators to, y’know, conspire. The single, unnamed ISRA member that the ISRA “thoroughly investigated” may not have been involved in any alleged wrongdoing — and I’ll take ISRA’s word for it that they were not — but unfortunately it only takes one alleged hooligan to tarnish the reputation of all with whom they are associated; and certainly only one alleged threat, whether idle or not, to launch an investigation so that justice may be pursued.)
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UPDATE 1: Arch-conservative Freepers have gotten a hold of the story… they of course don’t seem to consider there may actually be a cause for concern and instead jump straight to Godwin’s Law. And here we thought conservatives were against Nazi analogies and comparisons, but maybe they think it’s only ok when conservatives compare liberal lawmakers’ policies to Nazis but not when liberals compare our conservative president’s policies to Nazis. Got that?
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UPDATE 2: That ISRA press release is spreading like wildfire throughout the conservative-side blogosphere … as are the comparisons to Nazi Germany and the Soviet regime. And again, no one among the conservatives is bothering to actually ask why the police were called to investigate. Policestateamerica calls the Illinois State Police the “Gestapo” and Illinois Reason’s old friend Kurt “Superman45″ labels Sen. Kotowski “Commisar“.
Earth to liberal gun law activists: it’s not the faxes that the police are investigating, it’s the alleged threats made by others at the same time the faxes were sent.
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UPDATE 3: Pure class…
Sounds to me like Sen. Kotowski deserves to be threatened. Why, if he were to commit suicide by shooting himself in the head three times, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit. (emphasis added)
Bill St. Clair
Sr. Member
****
Member #19
Posts: 2643
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UPDATE 4: Illinois political journalist Rich Miller has a premium-content post up under the headline “Kotowski says he received death threats“. Now what could that be about? (Those of you with Capitol Fax subscriptions can enter the password to learn more on what Mr. Miller’s sources have discussed.)
Gee, I wonder if the ISRA is going to send out a revised press release indicating exactly why Sen. Kotowski’s office called the police. I won’t hold my breath.
But, it is fascinating to see how the gun lobbyists’ spin has literally avalanched across the conservative netroots. Lots of copying and pasting going on amongst the cons’ side of the blogosphere as several more posts simply quoting the ISRA release verbatim have popped up today, with not one questioning the ISRA’s spin or wondering what the threats may have been about (though there is a bunch of editorializing about “fascists”, hmmm…).
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UPDATE 5: Frequent Illinois Reason commenter (and convivial critic) C-Rock tells us in comments on this thread…
YOu also forget this is a war. Its a culture war. When I hear things like this, it makes me work even harder on wining this war. Plus our side is now all 4 Generation in its tatics and actions. The Internet caused that.
War analogies certainly help further the cause of rational debate, yeah right. This is the perspective conservatives are coming from on this (and other) matters.
What happens in wars? Death. Destruction.
This is what conservatives are so keen on? Death and destruction? Our nation already fought one “hot” civil war — we don’t need conservatives trying to perpetuate a “cold” civil war. And again, this incident bolsters my earlier point that conservatives seem all too ready to cross the line between democratic debate and rank violence.
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UPDATE 6: Richard Pearson and the Illinois State Rifle Association have posted another carefully parsed press release. This release is ostenibly about another march for reasonable gun oversight by community activist Fr. Michael Pfleger of Chicago’s St. Sabina.
Yet in slamming Fr. Pfeleger the ISRA can’t help but try and poke Sen. Kotowski in the eye again with their histrionics. Spinster ISRA chief Mr. Pearson claims:
Earlier this week, the ISRA released the results of an investigation into the apparent harassment of gun owners by the Illinois State Police [Author's Note: Police investigating an alleged crime is now "harassment"? Sounds like the ISRA is sympathetic to mobsters and other criminals]. In these cases, gun owners were treated to visits to their homes by state police detectives because they had sent faxes to Sen. Dan Kotowski expressing opposition to gun control legislation sponsored by the senator. Based on our investigation, there was not even the slightest hint of a threat conveyed in the content of the subject faxes. Nonetheless, these citizens had to bear the embarrassment of having the police show up at their homes with the additional strain of having to answer humiliating questions about their mental health and personal lives.
Yet again, the ISRA ducks the issue and tries to muddy the waters. It wasn’t the friggin faxes you dolts. The police are investigating phone calls made to the Senator’s office. In the course of their work, the investigators did indeed visit with others who had expressed similar interests (guns) as the one who made the alleged threat. The state police were apparently running a more thorough investigation than the ISRA bothered to conduct.
One wonders if Mr. Pearson is nuts for trying to claim their internal “investigation” was somehow thorough. Oh, wait. I might’ve just humiliated Rick Pearson by wondering if he’s nutty… Oops, my bad. I hope he recovers from the strain of having his hyperbole pointed out to him.
If you have nothing to hide what’s there to be embarrassed about with regards to helping our state’s finest conduct their investigation into a possible crime?
Here I thought conservatives appreciated and respected our first responders… Maybe all that flag-wrapping rhetoric is just for the tv cameras and the reality is that they’re just a bunch of whiney sissies who get embarrassed when Sgt. Friday knocks on the door and shows his badge. All the state police investigators wanted were the facts, not a bunch of ISRA politicking and posturing.
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UPDATE 7: In comments to this post (below), frequent Illinois Reason critic C-Rock claimed that state Sen. Pam Althoff had called into the NRA internet radio show “Cam & Company” saying that 500 homes had been visited by state police.
Turns out C-Rock got just about everything wrong in that 24-hour-old urban legend.
C-Rock’s fellow gun enthusiast 45superman notes on his own blog that it was not Sen. Althoff but one Mr. Tom Warchol (who had previously contacted Sen. Althoff) who called into the radio program. Furthermore, Mr. Warchol apparently misinterpreted what Sen. Althoff said and relayed the bad info to the radio broadcast. What Sen. Althoff actually told Mr. Warchol was that Sen. Kotowski’s staff had received 500 various contacts from gun supporters, not that the police had visited 500 homes.
Big difference.
The whole issue is a clear indication of just how easily and quickly even an unintentional smear can spread — and kudos to 45superman for having the decency to honestly correct the misinfo.
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Updates to come as details of this ongoing police investigation become available.
20 comments
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June 19, 2007 at 1:53 pm
c-rockjr121
Is this the Spin Zone now? Is your name Bill now?
Your man screwed the pooch on this one. He is just abusing power. Like the rest of them.
June 19, 2007 at 2:03 pm
robnesvacil
C-Rock, If you want spin, re-read that ISRA press release that you posted on this blog earlier in another comment. The myopia in their statements is astounding.
As I understand it as of right now, the faxes are secondary to this investigation. Someone or some people were also calling, allegedly making threats. This is what the cops are investigating.
Wouldn’t you want the police looking into it if someone called you up and made threats?
June 20, 2007 at 8:10 am
c-rockjr121
So dozens of folks made theats? Come on man. Take time away from the kool-aid you been drinking.
To be honest, I have recieved many death threats over the years. Some in person, and on the Internet. I do not call police. I handle my own self defense needs, thank you very much. You might call 911, and pray for them to get there. I rather call Mr Smith and Wesson. Or I get my 50. Or I pull out the belt-fed and mow them down like Rambo.
Whatever is the case, I do not have to depend on the state to protect myself, or my home. Maybe that is why conservatives see things different. We do not have that reaction to call the state everytime things go bad.
Your guy Dan,
he messed up. He hampered freedom. If anything, his JBT actions like this will cause problems. He was doing no better than Stalin, or Mao, or Pol Pot would of done if people were dissenting. He used “Agents of the State”, to quell law-abiding dissent of proposed bills. If citizens are unable to address their politicans, what has our county become? Your guy does not meet with folks in his district. He does not have town halls, like others do around him. Does not make calls back to voters in his district.
For myself, I got my two state politcans on speed dial, and they always call me back.
YOu also forget this is a war. Its a culture war. When I hear things like this, it makes me work even harder on wining this war. Plus our side is now all 4 Generation in its tatics and actions. The Internet caused that.
If one person did do what you said (I doubt it) , he is not part of any other group. So the others are not effected, and keep on moving forward. The movement keeps on changing too. New folks bring new ideas. Your side is all from the top, it cannot adapt to the changes that happen on the grassroots level.
Since 2001, right after 9-11, the Chicago democrats keep on trying to disarm the rest of the state. Plus all of their proposals would of made 100’s of thousands of folks into felons. You all do not get it. Illinois loves its black rifles. It loves its semi-autos, mag fed guns. Every gunowner owns one. Ever since Chicago started up on them back in the 80s, it made alot of folks want one, get one, and share the fun of them. I always allow folks to shoot my guns, and get them hooked on them.
The old Chicago Democrats- They keep on failing. While they are doing this, stuff keeps on failing, and getting worse.
Plus for the past two years, your democrats who push for gun control on law abiding AMERICANS want to give benefits to NON-CITIZENS in IL. Plus this is after 9-11, when all of America came together.
That action alone has gotten more folks involved in the cause. Even non shooting folks. For they get a chill down their backs when they hear that.
If you do not see if, may your chains rest lightly upon thee.
Plus
Eletric is going up, property taxes are going up, sales taxes, maybe income taxes too. Blago is going to get indicted, and they cannot get a budget in place either!!!
So yes, we need to go on the offense. We need to distrupt their base of operations. If the CTA has cuts, gunowners will be there to exploit it.
If they close more clinics in cook, we will be the to exploit it.
WooHoo!!!
c-rock
June 20, 2007 at 9:25 am
robnesvacil
He hampered freedom? You can still buy and own guns C-Rock. Nobody’s hampering you from doing that. Try a little perspective every now and then.
And where did I say “dozens of people” made threats? I didn’t.
The facts aren’t all out there yet — and you certainly wouldn’t know hardly any of those facts from the blinders-on, spin-cycle ISRA presser. If a threat of any type is made to any elected official or their staff the police are called. Plain and simple.
Your friends who sent in faxes were contacted by the police in the course of their investigation. Doesn’t mean anyone’s threatenting them or trying to intimidate them. It just means the police are conducting a thorough investigation. (What sort of paranoia do you need to possess to think that a routine knock on the door from investigators is some sort of “intimidation”? If you’re honest, and your allies and friends are honest, you have nothing to worry about.)
Inciting threats is one of the things specifically banned in the first amendment (we enjoy a right to “peaceably” assemble, not assemble in order to disturb the peace). And speaking of 1A … you can doubt the truth all you want, that’s your right.
June 20, 2007 at 10:36 am
c-rockjr121
I can buy guns with no help from Dan the Ban. He is the only one that keeps on pressing the issue. Plus with him lying at press conferences, and attacking honest dissent with police actions, only gets folks fires roaring!!!
The dozens of folks are from the ISRA article I mentioned before. Come on,
its a FAX. He got a fax, and it hurt his feelings. So that deserves the police visiting law abding folks? Its a waste of manpower, and it hurts your cause even more.
June 20, 2007 at 11:26 am
robnesvacil
What lie did he tell at a press conference?
He said the Armalite 50-cal was a military style weapon. It is.
The military currently uses other 50-cals and Armalite itself has tried to sell those weapons to the Pentagon.
That’s like calling someone a liar for saying the sky is blue just because there’s a cloud or two. (And you accuse me of “spin”… please.)
And how is calling the police because people are phoning in threats “attacking honest dissent”? What don’t you get that the police are investigating a threat and part of that investigation is going to involve talking to other folks whose sympathies align with those of the person making the threat?
If you think the police asking someone some questions as part of a routine investigation is an “attack” or “intimidation” you’ve got some serious paranoia issues going on upstairs.
The people who faxed were contacted because the person who called in the threat was sympathetic to their cause. Had the faxes been about protecting bunny rabbits (with a threat about bunnies called in by someone else) the faxers still would’ve been contacted. Duh.
Or do you not know how the police do their job?
June 20, 2007 at 10:38 pm
c-rockjr121
Senator Althoff said there were over 500 homes visited on the NRA.org Radio this week.
So your man was using the ISP for dissent. 500 folks is alot of visits.
June 20, 2007 at 11:16 pm
robnesvacil
Did Sen. Pam Althoff happen to mention how many faxes were sent/received? How many phone calls? How many letters?
Funny, she claims there were 500 homes visited (is there a link to her source?)…
Yet the ISRA’s press release proudly trumpeted that Mr. Pearson’s outfit had “thoroughly” investigated only 1 of those faxers with whom the state police had a discussion…
It would seem the ISRA’s “thorough” investigation was just a tad lacking in scope.
(I have searched the NRA News website and can find nothing regarding Sen. Althoff in recent days’ archives. A Google search also turned up empty. If you have a link, C-Rock, please do provide it — the search engines haven’t found it yet.)
June 21, 2007 at 7:23 am
Don Gwinn
You folks are throwing around a lot of references to information you haven’t shared. Where did you find out the whole thing was about phone calls? Where did you find out that the guy the ISRA is referring to was investigated because he had an “interest in guns”?
I’m one of the bloggers posting about this, and I’d like to know more. I saw Rich Miller’s post this morning, but I don’t have $350 to spare today.
June 21, 2007 at 7:31 am
c-rockjr121
I got my info from illinoiscarry, and the quote was from the nra.org radio station. It was a podcast.
I bet the man got thousands of calls, thousands of faxes, and thousands of letters. I know I called him.
So what that many folks wanted to talk to him, or voice what they want? So what you were busy. You brought it upon yourself. What it sounds like is, your man cant handle stress, and lost it. Plus he shot himself in the foot, sending agents of the state, with guns to folks houses. Not just to one or two, but 500. What does that tell you? It tells me, your guy does not like FREEDOM.
You do not seem to understand, FOID folks dont get many cops comming for offical visits. If you live in Cook as a gunowner, you cannot trust cops you do not know personally, or shoot with. You might run into one of those brady types. Getting your FOID revoked is easy, and its a pain to get back. I dont want to be on Ch 5 news for a gunstory.
Plus, when cops are at your home, asking questions about you personally,
Guess what progessive???
he is there trying to arrest you. Bottom line. He is there to find something to charge you with a crime.
This is a war. Since 2001, each year Chicago democrats propose making all gunowners into felons with their bills. Try living with that for so long. After 9-11, the only ones attacking me in my home, is my state government. That gets old.
Plus adding in that those same folks, want to provide BENEFITS to ILLEGALS, while asking for more laws on AMERICANS.
Now you have those in power, like your savior dan the ban, using agents of the state to stop lawful dissent.
So what is a patriot supposed to think in this state? Why arent you mad at the attacks done to your fellow American?
June 21, 2007 at 7:40 am
Don Gwinn
One more thing: as I pointed out at my site, gun owners are skeptical because we’ve been bitten by this sort of thing before. If this followed the usual pattern, it would be that the anti-gun legislator makes an allegation, the allegation is treated as gospel, and by the time it’s discovered that the allegation was totally baseless, the damage has been done and the liar’s objective accomplished.
I cited two cases:
1. J.B. “Jet” Banks, who prevented the passage of a CCW bill in Missouri in the mid-1990’s by preventing debate on the last day of session. Banks, the Senate Majority Leader, claimed that someone had called and threatened to kill him. It turned out that an acquaintance of his had called and left a message that Banks would “kill his credibility” if he killed the bill. But the legislature refused to meet that day, so he won.
2. Several years ago, I was present at the Illinois state capitol when hundreds of gun owners who had gathered to oppose Mayor Daley’s gun control bills in committee were blamed for supposed death threats against the legislator who was acting as figurehead sponsor for one of Daley’s bills. I wish I could remember her name . . . it’s just not coming back. Anyway, we got a lecture on the futility of threatening to kill legislators, and we all felt just sick that someone even associated with us would do such a thing. We weren’t cynical enough back then. It turned out that there’d been no threat of any harm; some weirdo had told her he’d spit at her.
Anyway, we’ve been her before, so if we’re skeptical, there’s a reason.
Ever wonder why 1,000,000 gun owners don’t march on Washington D.C.? This is part of the reason. Every time I’ve been involved in a discussion of such an idea, someone asks what happens if one nut makes a threat–real or imagined. We know we’d get crucified.
June 21, 2007 at 2:14 pm
robnesvacil
Don writes: “If this followed the usual pattern, it would be that the anti-gun legislator makes an allegation, the allegation is treated as gospel, and by the time it’s discovered that the allegation was totally baseless, the damage has been done and the liar’s objective accomplished.”
Well said, Don.
That is why I haven’t written about everything I’ve heard on this matter. I’m waiting until it’s corroborated with other information.
I do know the ISRA’s continued promotion of their internal investigation into “faxes” is laughable since the allegation is that threats were made by phone — and it is those phone calls that are under investigation. As part of their investigation, police are following up on all the leads they have and, given the number of faxes, phone calls and letters that Sen. Kotowski received, there were a lot of people to get in touch with.
Again, intimidation has nothing to do with it — except for those allegedly trying to intimidate Sen. Kotowski. It is the job of the police to investigate such things.
June 22, 2007 at 4:02 am
“I have a gun. I’m going to come and kill you.” Part 1 « Illinois Reason
[...] journalist Rich Miller sent me a copy of a press release from Sen. Dan Kotowski’s office. (I posted on the ongoing police investigation into alleged threats against Sen. Kotowski [...]
June 22, 2007 at 9:06 am
Don Gwinn
[quote]It wasn’t the friggin faxes you dolts. The police are investigating phone calls made to the Senator’s office.[/qutoe]
So the subject of the investigation–the guy who contacted the ISRA–is lying when he says that the ISP detectives told him that they wouldn’t tell him why he was being investigated, but that “I should stop sending faxes to Senator Kotowski.”
I think that’s far from settled.
Can you put yourself in his shoes for a minute and see how, if you sent FAXs to a political opponent, then the state police showed up and told you stop sending FAXes, you, too, might conclude that the issue really is the FAXes you sent?
June 22, 2007 at 10:15 am
robnesvacil
Don,
This is the first time anyone has claimed the police said that to “him” that I know of. (You seem to know who the subject of the ISRA internal investigation is.)
Not even the Illinois State Rifle Assocation made that claim.
Do you have anything other than he-said/she-said hearsay?
And, for all we know, some of the faxes may indeed have been under investigation by the police due to their content (tone, language, etc.). But current information indicates that the police were focusing on phone calls, with other peoples’ faxes being a part of the investigation.
As we learned from living through the Whitewater investigation (which led to revelations about marital affairs of all things) and the recent case of the White House’s politically motivated outing of an undercover CIA agent (which led to a perjury and obstruction conviction) criminal investigations can take all manner of twists and turns until, or even if, charges are brought forth.
June 23, 2007 at 3:09 am
“I have a gun. I’m going to come and kill you.” Part 2 « Illinois Reason
[...] 23rd, 2007 in “Grassroots” Conservatives by robnesvacil This is a follow-up to my earlier posts (here and here) regarding the alleged threats made against Sen. Dan Kotowski and the resultant Illinois [...]
November 16, 2007 at 12:48 pm
Tom
Hmmm. Talk about twisting the facts! The Illinois State Police went to Mr. Warchol’s home and, after asking him questions about his personal life including his marriage, financing, etc., made it clear that he better not contact Mr. Kotowsi ever again. I noticed how you skipped over the fact that Mr. Warchol never made any remarks of even a remotely threatening nature. That doesn’t seem to bother you. How strange. The police enter a man’s home and grill the man with personal questions and then warn him to never express his opinion to an elected official again when that man had done absolutely nothing wrong or threatening in the first place. The fact is, Mr. Kotowski clearly abused his power and used the Illinois State Police to intimidate someone for exercising their First Amendment Rights.
I also notice you you seem to suggest that Mr. Kotowski did receive threatening messages even if they weren’t from Mr. Warchol. Apparently you aren’t aware that, when asked, neither Mr. Kotowski or his staff were unable to produce any evidence whatsoever that he was threatened.
What is so ironic about your comments is that, while claiming that others have ignored and distorted the facts involved, you have done precisely that yourself. In fact, no matter what side someone might take on this issue, your comments don’t even make logical sense. But at least we now know that you have no problem at all with politicians having the police intimidate citizens who have done absolutely nothing wrong. Very revealing, to say the least.
November 16, 2007 at 1:58 pm
Tom
Regarding your remark…
“This release is ostenibly [SIC] about another march for reasonable gun oversight by community activist Fr. Michael Pfleger of Chicago’s St. Sabina.”
I find it amazing that after implying (with no proof) that ISRA members and 2nd Amendment supporters have threatened Mr. Kotowski, you simply ignore the fact that Fr. Michael Pfleger actually called for the gun shop owner that he protested to be “rubbed out.” You call his demand that they be “rubbed out” reasonable. Talk about hypocrisy!
You also seem to forget that Fr. Pfleger and the Rev. Jesse Jackson engaged in unlawful activities at that gun shop and were charged for doing so. But you consider that to be “reasonable” as well. Clearly, threats against someone’s life and illegal actions made against their lawful business activity is fine with you as long as it suits your politics but you are outraged when someone “possibly” made a threat against someone who thinks as you do. The only person who we know for an absolute fact received threats against their life was the owner of that gun shop and that was made by your “reasonable” Fr. Phleger. BTW, the church agreed that his remarks were outrageous and they publicly chastised him for it. But you simply ignore it! How convenient!
As for Mr. Jackson, his total lack of credibility was exemplified when he marched in protest against DS Arms of Barrington, Illinois and announced to the press that DS Arms firearms were used in both the assassination of JFK and Martin Luther King. That’s a neat trick since DS Arms didn’t even exist until 20 years ago, long after both assassinations and it is widely known that JFK was shot with an old foreign-made surplus Mannlicher-Carcano rifle and King was killed with a Remington 760 rifle. Virtually every time Jackson opens his mouth to rave against the 2nd. Amendment, he lies. It’s a simple as that. I notice you don’t mention that either. I guess the truth is not a big issue for you.
And why do you claim that Mr. Kotowski’s life was threatened when neither Kotowski or any of his staff could produce any proof at all that he had been threatened?
There are nut-cases on both ends of the political spectrum. Unfortunately, you point an accusing finger at SUPPOSED threats made by 2nd Amendment supporters while ignoring known, documented threats made against the lives of others by those who’s views you share.
You also simply sweep under the rug the fact that Mr. Warchol never threatened Mr. Kotowski in any way whatsoever. You even seem to acknowledge that Mr. Warchol did absolutely nothing wrong. Yet you casually justify the state police’s visit to his home and their warnings to him that he refrain from exercising his lawful 1st Amendment rights because SOMEONE ELSE may have made a threat against Mr. Kotowski(???). Utter nonsense! I have to wonder if you will say the same thing when the police come knocking on your door.
November 16, 2007 at 2:41 pm
robnesvacil
Wow Tom, were you on vacation the past few months?
Where is your information about Mr. Warchol coming from?
Unlike myself, you’ve provided absolutely no links or citations. Hearsay isn’t admissable in a court of law, and it shouldn’t be accepted in a reasonable debate either.
As I pointed out in Update 7 to this post, Mr. Warchol is apparently not a very reliable commenter on this situation. He clearly confused what his own St. Sen. said to him in a big way.
Why has the Senator’s staff not given random folks all the evidence they gave the police? Because it’s an ongoing investigation. Duh. They did release some of the info they could, including the phone call in which the caller allegedly threatened, “I have a gun. I’m going to come and kill you.”
Sen. Kotowski was not the one trying to gain publicity in all this. He was simply protecting the staff he is responsible for (heck, his own mom volunteers at his office from time to time) and so he did what any reasonable person would do and called the police to start an investigation. It wasn’t until the ISRA began pumping out press release after press release about it that anyone even knew this was happening to the Senator’s staff and volunteers.
Finally, you’re clipping words together in order to fabricate an “issue” where none exists.
I said Fr. Pfleger was part of a march calling for reasonable gun oversight. I did NOT say Fr. Pfleger’s remarks were reasonable.
That said, he used the phrase “snuffed out” not “rubbed out”. Get your facts straight. You may also want to get your context straight. Absolutely every rational person understands that even while his rhetoric was overheated, Fr. Pfleger was calling for the gun shop to be shuttered not for the shop’s owner to be killed — unlike the caller to Kotowski’s office allegedly did.
I understand you feel violated by calls for reasonable gun supervision, but there’s no need for you to lie and misquote me or anyone else.
November 19, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Rich Pearson, Kotowski hating paranoia or kooky pariah? « Illinois Reason
[...] supervision. For those unfamiliar with Mr. Pearson’s shrill paranoia about Sen. Kotowski, Mr. Pearson sent out press release after press release over the past year, including statements about the Illinois State Police’s investigation into [...]