My comment (April 4, 2008 07:00 PM):

“Pass common sense gun laws…Every child has to have a license to drive a car. Why is it, when you sell guns, you don’t need a license to sell guns? That is unfair.”

Mayor Daley, you do have to obtain a license to sell guns–it’s called the Federal Firearms License. Not only are you required to undergo a federal background check to obtain one, but your business must submit to annual inspections by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The BATFX demands dealers achieve an error rate far below what they themselves are able to maintain, and routinely deny and revoke FFLs for trivial errors in filling out their onerous forms. But then, what can you expect from an agency that conflates one of the two tools explicitly protected by the Constitution (the other being the printing press) with two of the most addictive and destructive drugs in popular use?

And that is nothing, NOTHING, sir, to the licensing obligation the state of Illinois places on gun owners. While many states issue licenses for concealed carry, IL is one of the few states to require owners to be licensed.

“Reasonable” laws would make it easier for Illinois citizens to arm themselves for defense of themselves and their liberty, and would indeed be an improvement.

I, for one, would be thrilled to see gun owners be licensed like car drivers: easily and ubiquitously, with minimal training offered by public schools, minimal background check, subject to revocation only after due process, and licenses from any state honored by all other states (as demanded by the full faith and credit clause in Article IV section 1 of the Constitution).

But then, you’re perfectly willing to abrogate Article II of the Bill of Rights, and Article I section 22 of the Illinois Constitution, so what’s one more little bit snipped out?

Of course, Illinois is almost as dangerous as Washington D.C., which routinely vies with Chicago for the prestigious “Murder Capitol U.S.A.” award.

[Update: see this Wiki note on Chicago's and Illinois' gun control laws. Excerpts:

Illinois has some of the most restrictive firearm laws in the country.

There is no state preemption of firearm laws, with the result that some localities have outlawed the possession of handguns.

...

Some municipalities, most notably Chicago, require that all firearms be registered with the local police department.^[41] Chicago does not allow the registration of handguns, which has the effect of outlawing their possession, unless they were grandfathered in by being registered before April 16, 1982.^[42][43] Additionally, Cook County has banned assault weapons and magazines that can hold more than ten rounds of ammunition.^[44]

…

Lack of preemption makes it difficult to travel throughout Illinois with a firearm while being sure that no laws are being broken. [My emphasis--djm]

Illinois is one of two remaining states that have no provision for the concealed carry of firearms by citizens. Open carry is also illegal, except when hunting. When a firearm is being transported, it must be unloaded and enclosed in a case.^[46]

Yeah, yeah, “reasonable”. Sure, sure. You betcha.

It’s worth noting that Chicago’s gun-control laws were enacted during the 30s, when Chicago was owned and operated by the mob. Gee, it’s heartwarming, how those wise guys were willing to forbid themselves to own guns, as opposed to rendering their victims defenseless, right? [Ack, I'm unable to confirm that these laws were passed when the Mob was in its ascendancy. Researching.]

And check out this map of Illinois counties that have passed a resolution asking for relaxed concealed carry laws. Too bad Cook County outweighs the entire rest of the state.