ISRA-PVF: Michigan Election Outcome Should Frighten Illinois
Gubernatorial Hopeful Rod Blagojevich
To: Metro Desk
Contact: Jim Vinopal of the ISRA Political Victory Fund,
815-635-3166; http://www.isra-pvf.com/

CHICAGO, Aug. 8 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following was released
today by the Illinois State Rifle Association Political Victory
Fund (ISRA-PVF):

Gun control supporters took it on the chin Tuesday when U.S.
Rep. John Dingell defeated U.S. Rep. Lynn Rivers in the Michigan
Democratic primary race for the newly created 15th Michigan
Congressional District.

Dingell, a long time friend to the law-abiding American gun
owner, garnered 59 percent of the vote versus 41 percent for the
staunchly anti-gun Rivers. In recent weeks, high profile gun
control advocates expressed great optimism that Rivers, and her
extreme views on private firearm ownership, would defeat Dingell
come Election Day. Many observers described a Rivers victory as
the last best hope for reviving the nation's moribund gun control
movement.

Dingell's trouncing of Rivers is proof positive that the gun
control message is falling on deaf ears. Americans are not buying
the gun control movement's assertion that one is safest when he or
she is defenseless. Americans are not voting for candidates who
would ban and confiscate their firearms. Americans are not voting
for candidates willing to leave them completely at the mercy of
murderers and muggers, terrorists and rapists.

America's demonstrated distaste for candidates running on the
gun control platform explains why Illinois Democratic gubernatorial
candidate Rod Blagojevich is trying so hard to run away from his
atrocious record of attacking law-abiding firearm owners.

Blagojevich may try to run, but he cannot hide from a record
that qualifies him as the most ardent "gun grabber" in the U.S.
House.

As a congressman, Blagojevich has been relentless in his attacks
on law abiding firearm owners. A review of Blagojevich's
legislative record shows that a full 50 percent of the bills he
sponsored were gun control bills. Few, if any of those bills
targeted criminal gun use. Rather, they were aimed specifically at
restricting the rights of hunters, sportsmen, and other law-abiding
citizens.

Among the extremist gun control bills introduced by Blagojevich
was a proposal to register ammunition sales. Another proposal
would ban ownership of most of the deer rifles used by Illinois
hunters. Yet another would provide federal tax dollar assistance
to persons or municipalities who wished to drive gun shops and gun
makers out of business by filing federal lawsuits against them.

Blagojevich has stated that he is opposed to passage of a
concealed carry law here in Illinois. In his arrogance,
Blagojevich has attempted to impose his views on concealed carry on
the 40-plus states where concealed carry is permitted. As a member
of the U.S. House, Blagojevich introduced legislation that would
place a federal ban on ownership of all concealable handguns --
effectively overturning state laws that allow citizens to carry
defensive firearms.

As a member of the Illinois House, Blagojevich compiled an
equally distasteful record of attacking law-abiding firearm owners.
The low-point of his career came when he proposed raising the
application fee for the Illinois Firearm Owners Identification card
to a whopping $500.00. His stated reason for proposing the fee
hike was that he wanted to make gun ownership in Illinois so
expensive that people would think twice about wanting to own a gun.

On the campaign trail, candidate Blagojevich has been frantic in
his efforts to paint a pretty face on his dismal gun control
record. Blagojevich has even gone so far as to twist the arms of
prominent, pro-gun downstate Democratic legislators into forming a
bogus "sportsmen's" organization. Known as the "Illinois
Democratic Sportsmen's Alliance," the organization recently
distributed a campaign piece that grossly distorted the Blagojevich
record on private gun ownership.

"Rod Blagojevich may be afraid to explain to the voters his true
stance on private firearm ownership," commented ISRA chairman Jim
Vinopal. "Not to worry, Mr. Blagojevich, we'll do it for you. As
this campaign progresses, our resources will be focused on making
it clear to every Illinois gun owner that Rod Blagojevich in the
governor's mansion would be their worst nightmare."

------
The ISRA-PVF is a political action committee affiliated with the
Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA). Founded in 1903, the ISRA
is the state's oldest firearms owners' organization. A copy of the
ISRA-PVF's report is on file with the Illinois State Board of
Elections.

http://www.usnewswire.com
-0-
/U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/
08/08 11:31

Copyright 2002, U.S. Newswire