Illinois lawmaker uses police to intimidate gun owners.

M

mmafan

Multiply registered, multiply banned troll.
ISRA Press Release:
ISRA Asks Senator Kotowski to Explain State Police Infringements on First Amendment Rights of Illinois Gun Owners

Note to our members:
Please read the following ISRA Press Release, and if any of you have received similar visits from the Illinois State Police after contacting Illinois Legislators (via telephone, USPS mail, email, or fax), then please contact the ISRA office at 815-635-3198.


CHICAGO, June 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA):

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. The ISRA has recently conducted a thorough investigation into one complaint, and is gathering additional information on as many as several dozen other reported incidents of police questioning citizens who have spoken out against gun control legislation.

In the case investigated thus far, the respondent reports that ISP detectives arrived at his home, unannounced, and informed him that their visit was in response to faxes he sent to Sen. Kotowski. The detectives then went on to ask the citizen questions about his mental health and other personal matters. Although the citizen was not arrested, he reports that he feels that the detectives were there to deliver the message that it's not a good idea to criticize Dan Kotowski or the gun control measures Kotowski supports.

"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."

"At this time, we are asking Sen. Kotowski to produce any evidence he may have which illustrates threatening behavior on the part of citizens who have received ISP visits," said Pearson. "If Sen. Kotowski cannot produce any such evidence, then we will be asking Attorney General Madigan to conduct an investigation into the apparent use of the ISP to suppress the First Amendment rights of persons who express opposition to gun control legislation."

The ISRA is the state's leading advocate of safe, lawful and responsible firearms ownership. Since 1903, the ISRA has represented the interests of over 1.5 million law-abiding Illinois firearm owners.

http://www.isra.org/
 
If that's true, shades of the Stasi.

Why people choose to remain in that state is beyond me. I don't even consider it and MA to be part of the US anymore...they're nothing of what the founding fathers intended. And IL has everything dictated by Boss Daley from his Imperial City, with his lickshoe Blago following whatever he wants him to do.

Springfield Armory, Armalite, etc...are likely to pull the eject lever soon.
 
people of illinois,run now before it's too late.just a matter of time before the daley dynasty puts up a wall to keep you in,gloats you even more with taxes to keep his chicago empire afloat.p.s. take some of your deer with you and drop them off here in indiana if you would,thanks.
 
The Chicago Imperium has a long and sordid history of being corrupt to the core. This is to be expected when politicans have no fear of the people and intimidate them with a fear of prosecution for some alleged offense.

A former coworker of mine grew up in Chicago but left soon after being on his own. He said he saw too many cases of abusive cops, city officials and special privileges.
 
Of course we dont know WHAT was the content of the letters sent, do we?
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We know something: the senator seems reluctant to prove threatening nature of the letters. Sending ISP for anything else is abuse of public resources for personal entertainment at best, or for political reasons at worst.

No, we don't know the actual content of the letters. So? Would you provide a scenario where this act is justified? Would you also comment on his failure to explain it to public?

Added: Perhaps you are not playing devil's advocate. Perhaps you just want to know the content of the letters. In this case, ignore the questions.
 
To play the devils advocate...
Why didn't ISRA make public the contents of the FAX message. While you believe that Sen Kowtowski is hiding something, it is as likely that ISRA may be doing the same thing to further a cause.

As to a scenario that warrants a police response? How about transmitting a threat via electronic means? Is it at all possible that the sender did send something that was, or could be construed to be a threat?
If so, notifying the police is proper and prudent. The police response is then proper and prudent. It would not be prudent or proper, in all cirumstances, for the complainant in a crime to make public statements about it. In fact, doing so would be stupid, and against the wishes of the cops and DA's office.

The ISRA is reporting this from the sole source- the respondent- the guy who sent the FAX.
If they are intent on bringing this to the attention of the public, why didn't the alleged respondent or the ISRA make it public. If the communication was benign, it would strenghten their case. If it were in fact something that could be construed to be a threat, then hiding it and obfuscating facts might be better for ISRA.
Some people are taking a giant leap of faith in that all gun owners are good guys, and all (insert group of your choice here) are not.
If there are facts, they need to be confirmed, and the situation will play out in and through the system.
For more, see American Backyard, The Gun Zone. Dean Speir, who has a long history of speaking out against abusers of those who own guns, may see things with greater clarity .
 
Would you provide a scenario where this act is justified?
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No scenario but actual cases. Done several interviews where legislators received correspondence implying threats and harm to their lives, family, or others. The purpose of the interviews were to determine the person's intent when they sent such correspondence. If a person sends correspondence to a public official either making actual threats or implying threats then follow up investigations are done.
I don't know what was sent in this particular case but I've read some where the threats were pretty obvious and others where if anyone would have received the correspondence they would have been concerned.
A person has to take what some of the ISRA writers say with a huge grain of salt. Some of them write articles which twist and make implications which would embarrass a National Inquirer writer. Some of them take a bit of fact and put a twist to it where it's really not a lie but it's filled with their own speculation which they word to have a person believe is fact.
 
Again - as far as we know, Kotowski is asked to show that the letters were threatening in nature. Thus far he's not doing it. I strongly suspect that they weren't, otherwise ISRA wouldn't go in on this case - knowing upfront that eventually they'd have to eat their words.
Why didn't ISRA make public the contents of the FAX message. While you believe that Sen Kowtowski is hiding something, it is as likely that ISRA may be doing the same thing to further a cause.
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mmmm.. not really. Burden of proof falls on the party that initiates an act of abuse. If you are on the receiving end of such an act, you don't have to prove absence of cause to instigate it; they have to prove existence of such a cause. This is not a legal case, but legal system in US works this way for ordinary folks.

It doesn't matter whether the fax was respectful and tasteful or not. Was it threatening? The ball is in Kotowski's court, and seems to be laying peacefully there.
 
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And your experience in these matters comes from where?
My point here is this a tinfoil hat issue, or do you have some actual experience in this?
He is asked to show this FAX by who? How is he obligated to do so?
Where is the precedent?
How about if on the advice of counsel/ cops/ DA he is told not to respond (i sure wouldn't).

On the other hand, ISRA is making an allegation based on something. It is in their best interest to man up, and they aren't.
How come?
 
"At this time, we are asking Sen. Kotowski to produce any evidence he may have which illustrates threatening behavior on the part of citizens who have received ISP visits," said Pearson. "If Sen. Kotowski cannot produce any such evidence, then we will be asking Attorney General Madigan to conduct an investigation into the apparent use of the ISP to suppress the First Amendment rights of persons who express opposition to gun control legislation."
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Sounds like a very good idea.

Unless we live in a police state, it's the politicians and law enforcement who are required to justify their actions, not We The People. The police have NO business paying anyone an official visit unless there's reason to believe that a crime has been committed or will be committed. But as we all know, many parts of America are already police states where the Bill of Rights is not recognized (e.g., Chicago, CA, MA, NJ, NY, DC).
 
I understand now. We are assuming that it is abuse by one party, and not a criminal act by another. :cool:

The police have NO business paying anyone an official visit unless there's reason to believe that a crime has been committed or will be committed.

Facts people. You need facts. Oversight is necessary at every level.
And that includes you too. How do we know that a crime has not been commited or is intended?
If an allegation of wrongdoing is made, the police are obligated to investigate.
They did.
If ISRA et al have the written documentation (the FAX) producing it will make their case strong.
Only a very stupid cop/ prosecutor (read Nifong here) would make statements / bring evidence into play during an investigation.

Kind of amazing that people believe the media is guilty of misstating, except when it comes to them.
I am in agreement that there should be no action taken against those who disagree with the point of view of elected officials/ cops and so forth.
However, that pendulum swings both ways.
 
How did Kotowski get his own personal BATF?


Err, i think you missed a post above, about the State Police having the responsibility to investiagte certain crimes etc?

Of course, don't let facts get in the way of your theory;)
 
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ISP, let me ask you this, because now that I've asked Kotowski to produce the threats, I've been wondering--is there any reason why he (or the guy who was interviewed) would be prevented from making the FAXes public?
We often hear people say "I cannot comment on an ongoing investigation" or the equivalent. Is that a factor here, legally, for either side?

I've already said that it's possible that Kotowski will bring forward evidence that will make me look stupid--but he's a proven liar, so I'm betting against him again.
 
Don my schtick on this whole thing is that if the troopies are being used improperly as alleged, why arent their either official complaints or lawyers getting involved?

I write a normal letter to some paid legiloser and the cops visit me....o yeah baby! 1983!


WA
 
You make a good point, WA. We'll have to wait and see.

In the meantime, I sent Kotowski a FAX asking him what his comment on the whole issue is and when he will release the contents of the message in question.
And yes, I saved a copy.
:)
 
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