I received this from John's mailing list at www.concealcarry.org yesterday. The State's Attorney's office number again is 1-618-244-8025. From the reaction when I called, I'm certain they're getting calls from people asking them to prosecute Buttrum. There's some speculation in the email that the local NAACP chapter is leaning on the SA office because Buttrum is white and the "victim" who stole the gas is black. I don't see how that could possibly be a racial issue unless Buttrum allows white people to steal from him.
Before anyone starts, yes, what he did was tactically ill-advised and technically violates Illinois law. But if you don't want to see the man go to jail for it, please make a call.
I believe this would be felony UUW. Jeff can probably tell us more about that, but I don't know how involved he will want to be. This is not very far from his jurisdiction.
Before anyone starts, yes, what he did was tactically ill-advised and technically violates Illinois law. But if you don't want to see the man go to jail for it, please make a call.
It just keeps getting better in Illinois. First it's Hale Demar protecting his home and family in Wilmette prosecuted. Now we have downstater Mr. Bob Buttrum about to get a taste of liberal justice.
Bob owns a convenience store in Jefferson County. This county is so backwards they don't even have a web site. For that very reason some would say that makes Jeff' County an idyllic place . But guess you have to scratch the surface to see what lies below.
Back on May 26th Bob's store was robbed of gasoline. You know, fill the tank and split. But Bob's store is called "Midway Mart" not "Rob and Run."
Bob can't afford to lose profits this way and heck, stealing is just plain wrong. So Bob gave chase in his truck and finally stopped the vehicle and held the perpetrator by brandishing his gun in his general direction (that is pronounced DYE-wreck-SHUN down south.)
The sheriffs came and arrested 18 year old Larry Mitchell for theft of services. Now common sense would tell you that Bob would get a citizen's citation for his work - and that criminals would get the word that it just isn't safe for them to do business in Jefferson County in general and at Bob's Midway Mart in particular.
But this is Illinois, not the real world. Reliable sources inform me that Bob will likely be indicted by the Jefferson County Grand Jury on July 22d probably on felony unlawful use of weapons charges. Our sources tell us the sudden motivation for this move by Jefferson County State's Attorney Gary Duncan is mounting pressure from the local NAACP. You see the perpetrator is black and they feel young Mr. Mitchell was singled out by Bob based on race. Or so the NAACP do say. As if a white guy could drive into Bob's and pump free gas. But this is the NAACP mentality so, like a woman's mind, there is no fathoming it.
We are watching this case closely and will report to you if the indictment is handed down. If it is, well I think the Jefferson County courthouse is going to get a little visit. Probably from both gun owners and NAACP supporters. This could be the next three ring circus to hit the county seat of Mt. Vernon, IL.
But what is important is that as gun owners we have to stick together. When you arrest one gun owner, you arrest all gun owners.
Further, there is a long tradition that what happens north of I-80 gun rights-wise is handled by Concealed Carry, Inc. South of I-80 belongs to the Champaign County Rifle Association. I expect to follow their lead should an indictment be forthcoming. In a perfect world the I$RA would cough up the legal dollars, but I haven't seen them ever put out a dime to help a gun owner. Let's hope this case will be different should it come down to it.
You know I expect crap like this from Cook County and even the collar counties. But when southern Illinois gets this way, you have to wonder if the whole state shouldn't just be renamed "PENAL COLONY 5348B." I really need to go to a re-education camp as I am flumoxed by this situation. I need some liberal to 'splain it to me.
For those itching to make a difference now....you know, those of you who love to make phone calls to make politician uncomfortable, State's Attorney Gary Duncan phone number is 618 244-8025 and his personal cellular phone (We have our sources you see but the phone is only taking messages now....I wonder why?) is 618 214-2157.
I really think we could all save a lot of time and trouble if we gave Bob a citizenship award and not a trial. If you call SA Duncan be polite, short, to the point. He has not pulled the judicial trigger on Bob yet so let's hope the light of reason shines between now and next week.
The original reporting on this appears below.
NOTE TO OUR SUPPORTERS: Balanced the check book today. We have $451 dollars in the old bank and dropping. If anyone has recently won the lottery or still has a job and is feeling generous of spirit feel free to click on the PayPal or Amsoil links above or simply mail huge envelopes stuffed with cash (no questions asked) to:
Concealed Carry, Inc.
PO BOX 4597
Oak Brook IL 60522-4597
I'll be holding a vigil at the PO BOX....
Taking matters into his own hands
May 27 2004 12:00AM By
By MARY KAYE DAVIS
marykaye@register-news.com
http://www.zwire.com/news/newsstory.cfm?newsid=11809256&BRD=987&PAG=461
BLUFORD — Midway Mart owner Bob Buttrum has seen his fair share of shoplifters and people pumping gas, then driving off without paying.
Late Wednesday morning, it happened again.
Around 11:30 a.m., a black Blazer pulled into his gas station/convenience store on Illinois 15 near Markham City Road and a man got out and starting pumping gasoline.
“He started acting really suspicious and nervous,” Buttrum said. “He would look in the windows of the store and then look down. I turned to my friends in the store and said, ‘Boys, I think he’s getting ready to steal some gas.”
No sooner did he get those words out when he saw the man drop the gas hose and speed out of the parking lot, his vehicle spinning gravel into the air, Buttrum said.
Buttrum called the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, but was told it didn’t have a squad car in the area.
While most store owners probably would have just thrown up their hands, Buttrum and his two friends took a different route; they jumped in their vehicles and chased the man down.
Armed with cell phones and, in Buttrum’s case, a 9 mm pistol, the three men also sped out of the parking lot and headed south down Markham City Road.
Buttrum said another friend in town, who was standing outside during the chase, estimated the Blazer was traveling about 70 to 90 mph down the road.
“The people in the Blazer were throwing things out of the vehicle left and right as they were heading down the road,” Buttrum said. Finally, one of Buttrum’s friends was able to pass the Blazer and blocked it in. Buttrum and the other friend caught up and did the same.
“At that point, I got out of my vehicle and let the four guys know I did have a gun,” Buttrum said. “I really didn’t know what I was getting into because I knew one of them also had something in their hand, but I couldn’t tell what it was because the windows were all tinted. I ordered the person to put it down, but they were too busy acting crazy, mouthing off and yelling” profanity, the business owner said. “I called the sheriff’s department back and told them I had a gun and I was holding them at bay until someone could arrive.”
Buttrum told the vehicle’s occupants to show what they had in their hands. It turned out to be a cell phone.
The sheriff’s department arrested Larry Mitchell, 18, of 3805 Robin Drive, Mt. Vernon, at 2:22 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of theft of services, a sheriff’s department spokesman said. His bond was set at $1,000; he posted bond and was released.
The three other occupants in the Blazer have not been charged.
Buttrum said even small thefts can drive a small business into the ground, and he wasn’t going to let it happen again.
“Most owners just blow stuff like this off, but I can’t and I won’t,” Buttrum said.
The store owner said he makes about $30 to $35 profit a day on gas sales, working a 14-hour day, and he wasn’t going to let those profits just drive off.
“I’m just tired of it,” the businessman said. “People are running all over small stores. You read in the paper every day that someone drives off without paying for gasoline, but how many times do you read about them catching the person. We just wanted (the thieves) to know that even though we’re a small store about 10 miles out, we’re not going to put up with this kind of stuff. Hopefully, people will get the point.”
I believe this would be felony UUW. Jeff can probably tell us more about that, but I don't know how involved he will want to be. This is not very far from his jurisdiction.