Should the City of Woodstock change its city government to a ward system and allow residents to elect their own representatives to the City Council?
Woodstock government has a mayor plus six residents on its City Council. If you are not happy with someone, it's hard to get rid of him or her.
What if Woodstock switched over to a ward system? If residents in a certain part of town feel they aren't getting the police assistance they need, then they have one Council member to turn to. Or maybe their potholes aren't being filled. Or they need more Code enforcement.
Residents could lean on their elected representative on the Council. If they don't get heard, they could elect someone else at the next election.
What do you think? Do you think you would be better off with a ward system?
How would residents get the question to the public? My guess is that the mayor and current members of the City Council would never go for a ward system. Would the question have to be put to the voters in a referendum?
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
NWH says, "Be ready for concealed weapons law"
Notice how nothing is being done to prepare the public for this law?
How is Susie Q. Public going to act, when she notices someone with a gun? Now, the firearm is supposed to be concealed, but she'll be standing in line at Jewel and notice the "print" of the weapon under a jacket. No doubt I'll hear her screaming a mile away.
And then every police car in the County will run "hot" to Jewel, and deputies and officers will swoop in with their guns drawn (causing far greater threat to the public), while the poor customer is just trying to fish out his Rewards card and pay his bread.
Training should be already taking place in every police and sheriff's department that the officers will be seeing guns and should be expecting to encounter law-abiding, licensed individuals with firearms. They must know how to deal with them respectfully. That is going to be a struggle for some of them.
Gun owners are ready to print off applications and apply. The PDs and the State Police ought to be readying their procedures. Not a big deal; just pushing paperwork from one desk to another.
The legislators, in their infinite wisdom, decided on a 16-hour training requirement. That's more than in any other state. Why 16 hours? I can think of three reasons.
1) Illinois will then prohibit anyone from another state from carrying concealed in Illinois, because that visitor will not pay $300 for a non-resident Illinois concealed carry license;
2) Illinois will not grant reciprocity to non-residents, because anyone from another state will not have 16 hours of training that Illinois will require;
3) Other states will not grant reciprocity to Illinois licensees because their own residents are not welcome to carry in Illinois.
Now the State Police are supposed to come up with the composition of a 16-hour training program. Alone? Without input from the public? Will the NRA, the ISRA, and the Public get a chance to weigh in on the reasonableness of the training requirement?
Who will educate business owners about why they should NOT post their businesses against concealed carry? Let's educate the public about killing zones (also known as Gun-Free Zones). Let's educate the public about ignoring people who step out of their cars with unloaded firearms, heading for the trunks of their cars.
I, for one, will not be shopping at any business that posts against concealed carry, and I shall make sure to so inform the owner or manager.
Maybe this is the readiness that needs to be taking place.
How is Susie Q. Public going to act, when she notices someone with a gun? Now, the firearm is supposed to be concealed, but she'll be standing in line at Jewel and notice the "print" of the weapon under a jacket. No doubt I'll hear her screaming a mile away.
And then every police car in the County will run "hot" to Jewel, and deputies and officers will swoop in with their guns drawn (causing far greater threat to the public), while the poor customer is just trying to fish out his Rewards card and pay his bread.
Training should be already taking place in every police and sheriff's department that the officers will be seeing guns and should be expecting to encounter law-abiding, licensed individuals with firearms. They must know how to deal with them respectfully. That is going to be a struggle for some of them.
Gun owners are ready to print off applications and apply. The PDs and the State Police ought to be readying their procedures. Not a big deal; just pushing paperwork from one desk to another.
The legislators, in their infinite wisdom, decided on a 16-hour training requirement. That's more than in any other state. Why 16 hours? I can think of three reasons.
1) Illinois will then prohibit anyone from another state from carrying concealed in Illinois, because that visitor will not pay $300 for a non-resident Illinois concealed carry license;
2) Illinois will not grant reciprocity to non-residents, because anyone from another state will not have 16 hours of training that Illinois will require;
3) Other states will not grant reciprocity to Illinois licensees because their own residents are not welcome to carry in Illinois.
Now the State Police are supposed to come up with the composition of a 16-hour training program. Alone? Without input from the public? Will the NRA, the ISRA, and the Public get a chance to weigh in on the reasonableness of the training requirement?
Who will educate business owners about why they should NOT post their businesses against concealed carry? Let's educate the public about killing zones (also known as Gun-Free Zones). Let's educate the public about ignoring people who step out of their cars with unloaded firearms, heading for the trunks of their cars.
I, for one, will not be shopping at any business that posts against concealed carry, and I shall make sure to so inform the owner or manager.
Maybe this is the readiness that needs to be taking place.
MAIG: Boston terrorist = gun violence victim?
Get the latest on NYC Mayor Bloomberg's Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) rally in New Hampshire yesterday. According to Breitbart.com, MAIG named Boston Marathon terrorist Tamerlan Tsarnaev as a gun violence victim.
Can you believe that nonsense? Tsarnaev was killed in gun battle with police. He's a victim?
What do you suppose is wrong with Bloomberg? Has all his money gone to his head? Is the green coloring of the money causing some mental disturbance? Should he be committed for 180 days (or, maybe, 180 years) for observation?
Everybody I know is against gun violence. The mayors I know are against gun violence. Ask Mayor Sager if he is against gun violence. I'm sure he is. Ask Mayor Shepley of Crystal Lake. Is he against gun violence? You bet. I'm against gun violence. All the gun owners I know are against gun violence!
I am also against anyone who attempts to restrict my Second Amendment rights or to confiscate any of my legally-owned guns. And I'll be against anyone who attempts to change laws and make me a criminal. And that makes me against Bloomberg.
Bloomberg's Gang is on a nationwide bus tour. Is there any wonder that protesters of their stupid rhetoric show up? When they get to Chicago, I'll be there; i.e., if I decide to risk my life by going into Chicago. Maybe I won't be there.
Hey, here's an idea. When the MAIG Gang shows up in Chicago, let them hold their rally at 87th & Stony Island, without any police protection.
Can you believe that nonsense? Tsarnaev was killed in gun battle with police. He's a victim?
What do you suppose is wrong with Bloomberg? Has all his money gone to his head? Is the green coloring of the money causing some mental disturbance? Should he be committed for 180 days (or, maybe, 180 years) for observation?
Everybody I know is against gun violence. The mayors I know are against gun violence. Ask Mayor Sager if he is against gun violence. I'm sure he is. Ask Mayor Shepley of Crystal Lake. Is he against gun violence? You bet. I'm against gun violence. All the gun owners I know are against gun violence!
I am also against anyone who attempts to restrict my Second Amendment rights or to confiscate any of my legally-owned guns. And I'll be against anyone who attempts to change laws and make me a criminal. And that makes me against Bloomberg.
Bloomberg's Gang is on a nationwide bus tour. Is there any wonder that protesters of their stupid rhetoric show up? When they get to Chicago, I'll be there; i.e., if I decide to risk my life by going into Chicago. Maybe I won't be there.
Hey, here's an idea. When the MAIG Gang shows up in Chicago, let them hold their rally at 87th & Stony Island, without any police protection.
Medical practice of the future?
Watch this fascinating video with Eric Topol, M.D., and how he uses SmartPhones and apps in his practice of medicine.
His book is The Creative Destruction of Medicine - How the digital Revolution Will Create Better Health Care.
Want to see how you might treat, or become aware of, diabetes or heart disease?
Algonquin tries end-run on gun permit bill
FirstElectricNewspaper.com (FEN) reports on the end-run by the Village of Algonquin, when the popular Crystal Lake municipal-law firm threw its weight around on one of the most-talked-out provisions (now) in the pending bill on concealed carry.
Attorney Brad Stewart of Zukowski, Rogers, Flood & McCardle, identified by FEN as a "gun law expert", apparently gave some incorrect information to the Village Board of Algonquin. FEN reports, "Some parts of the pending law are pretty clear, Stewart said. For instance, the presumption that applicants should be issued a concealed gun carry license but allows police to object 'if there's a very good reason.'"
That is not right. Law enforcement (LE) officials can object to an application for a concealed carry license if LE believes that the applicant is a danger to himself or others. That is a very narrow classification and gives the applicant an opportunity to fight a specific objection.
And there is no "presumption" that applicants "should" be issued ... The bill waiting on the governor's desk says "shall issue".
The legislature wisely (albeit under considerable pressure and close watching) passed a "shall issue" law to avoid exactly the type of situation that Stewart described. How do you ever fight "very good reason"?
Read FEN's article here.
EVERY municipality in McHenry County must now be watched carefully. Zukowski, Rogers et al. represents a fair number of local municipalities. Other law firms share the rest of the pie.
So, maybe Gov. Quinn shouldn't sign HB0183, and Illinois will just go to Constitutional Carry on July 9. Let Chicago slide on down the drain. Stay clear of Cook County. Of course, that's pretty hard on McHenry County residents who have to go there daily for their bread and butter. You guys might try armor-plating your vehicles and buying some Kevlar clothing.
Attorney Brad Stewart of Zukowski, Rogers, Flood & McCardle, identified by FEN as a "gun law expert", apparently gave some incorrect information to the Village Board of Algonquin. FEN reports, "Some parts of the pending law are pretty clear, Stewart said. For instance, the presumption that applicants should be issued a concealed gun carry license but allows police to object 'if there's a very good reason.'"
That is not right. Law enforcement (LE) officials can object to an application for a concealed carry license if LE believes that the applicant is a danger to himself or others. That is a very narrow classification and gives the applicant an opportunity to fight a specific objection.
And there is no "presumption" that applicants "should" be issued ... The bill waiting on the governor's desk says "shall issue".
The legislature wisely (albeit under considerable pressure and close watching) passed a "shall issue" law to avoid exactly the type of situation that Stewart described. How do you ever fight "very good reason"?
Read FEN's article here.
EVERY municipality in McHenry County must now be watched carefully. Zukowski, Rogers et al. represents a fair number of local municipalities. Other law firms share the rest of the pie.
So, maybe Gov. Quinn shouldn't sign HB0183, and Illinois will just go to Constitutional Carry on July 9. Let Chicago slide on down the drain. Stay clear of Cook County. Of course, that's pretty hard on McHenry County residents who have to go there daily for their bread and butter. You guys might try armor-plating your vehicles and buying some Kevlar clothing.
FEN sues Nygren, MCSD
FirstElectricNewspaper.com (FEN) has filed a lawsuit against Sheriff Keith Nygren and the McHenry County Sheriff's Department (MCSD) over Nygren's refusal to respond to a FOIA request.
Pete Gonigam, publisher of FEN, previously filed a FOIA request to get the investigative report by the Sheriff's Office into Undersheriff Andy Zinke's outing of the DEA investigation of drugs headed for RITA Corp. in Cyrstal Lake. MCSD denied the FOIA request. That's the one in which Nygren said there was no wrongdoing by Zinke.
Gonigam appealed the denial to the Public Access Bureau (PAB) of the Office of the Illinois Attorney General, and that Office told Nygren to comply and provide the response.
Unfortunately, a directive from the PAB doesn't have any teeth, and it appears that Nygren & Gang just put their hands over their eyes and over their ears and went on about business as usual (used loosely, of course).
Gonigam's recourse is the McHenry County Circuit Court, and yesterday he filed his case. Case No. 13MR000309 can be inspected at the McHenry County Government Center.
A date to hear a motion is set for July 10, 9:00AM, in Judge Meyer's courtroom, 201. The next date after that is September 17, 9:00AM, same judge, same place.
The way things go in McHenry County, Nygren will be out of office by the time this case gets resolved. Thirty-day-period after 30-day-period will come and go; there will be delaying tactics designed to drive up Gonigam's costs. Your tax dollars will be hard at work to keep this report, if there even is a report, out-of-sight.
What could happen, of course, is that Judge Meyer could aside one hour on Friday and tell both sides, "You each get 20 minutes, and I get 20 minutes. And then the Sheriff's office will comply, or Sheriff Nygren goes to jail."
Read the whole story on FirstElectricNewspaper.com
Pete Gonigam, publisher of FEN, previously filed a FOIA request to get the investigative report by the Sheriff's Office into Undersheriff Andy Zinke's outing of the DEA investigation of drugs headed for RITA Corp. in Cyrstal Lake. MCSD denied the FOIA request. That's the one in which Nygren said there was no wrongdoing by Zinke.
Gonigam appealed the denial to the Public Access Bureau (PAB) of the Office of the Illinois Attorney General, and that Office told Nygren to comply and provide the response.
Unfortunately, a directive from the PAB doesn't have any teeth, and it appears that Nygren & Gang just put their hands over their eyes and over their ears and went on about business as usual (used loosely, of course).
Gonigam's recourse is the McHenry County Circuit Court, and yesterday he filed his case. Case No. 13MR000309 can be inspected at the McHenry County Government Center.
A date to hear a motion is set for July 10, 9:00AM, in Judge Meyer's courtroom, 201. The next date after that is September 17, 9:00AM, same judge, same place.
The way things go in McHenry County, Nygren will be out of office by the time this case gets resolved. Thirty-day-period after 30-day-period will come and go; there will be delaying tactics designed to drive up Gonigam's costs. Your tax dollars will be hard at work to keep this report, if there even is a report, out-of-sight.
What could happen, of course, is that Judge Meyer could aside one hour on Friday and tell both sides, "You each get 20 minutes, and I get 20 minutes. And then the Sheriff's office will comply, or Sheriff Nygren goes to jail."
Read the whole story on FirstElectricNewspaper.com
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
McHenry County - concealed carry OK?
Will McHenry County be the first county in northern Illinois to join southern Illinois counties in recognizing concealed carry?
Macon County officials are crafting regulations to allow concealed carry in the county, State’s Attorney Jay Scott said.
What would it take for us to join Tazewell, Madison, Randolph and other counties where the State's Attorneys are saying that they "would not prosecute people who carry a firearm outside their home if that person is legally allowed to possess a weapon."
Will Lou Bianchi jump on this bandwagon?
Such statements do not change Illinois law. Police, deputies and troopers might still write tickets. The scope is probably very narrow. But the State's Attorneys are saying they won't prosecute in certain cases. It's not a guarantee or a get-out-of-jail-free card.
Contact the office of Lou Bianchi and tell him that you'd like him to join these down-state colleagues and give us the privilege of defending ourselves outside our homes. Email him now at statesattorney@co.mchenry.il.us
Macon County officials are crafting regulations to allow concealed carry in the county, State’s Attorney Jay Scott said.
What would it take for us to join Tazewell, Madison, Randolph and other counties where the State's Attorneys are saying that they "would not prosecute people who carry a firearm outside their home if that person is legally allowed to possess a weapon."
Will Lou Bianchi jump on this bandwagon?
Such statements do not change Illinois law. Police, deputies and troopers might still write tickets. The scope is probably very narrow. But the State's Attorneys are saying they won't prosecute in certain cases. It's not a guarantee or a get-out-of-jail-free card.
Contact the office of Lou Bianchi and tell him that you'd like him to join these down-state colleagues and give us the privilege of defending ourselves outside our homes. Email him now at statesattorney@co.mchenry.il.us
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