'Poster Mom' for Gun Control Arrested on Gun Charges
 

Ah irony, that bittersweet confection...

http://www.cnsnews.com//ViewCulture....20050302a.html

By Susan Jones
CNSNews.com Morning Editor
March 02, 2005

(CNSNews.com) - The president of the Springfield, Ill., chapter of the Million Mom March faces charges of having drugs and an illegal handgun in her home. Press reports said the gun's serial number had been scratched off.

Annette Stevens became a gun control activist after her son was shot to death several years ago. She told a newspaper the gun belonged to her late son, and when she found it, she didn't know what to do with it, so she put it in a drawer.

Police reportedly found the gun and illegal drugs while executing a search warrant at Stevens' home in connection with a spate of drive-by shootings in the area. Stevens insists the search was illegal.

Second Amendment groups were quick to note the irony of a gun control activist being arrested on gun charges.

The Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) called it a classic case of "liberal elitists" who "cannot walk their own talk."

"I find it incredible that someone representing an organization that pushes legislation that only punishes law-abiding gun owners would possess such an illegal weapon," said Richard Pearson, ISRA's executive director.

"Surely she must be familiar with US gun laws and those in Illinois, considering the position she holds. Does she think the law does not apply to her due to anti-gun affiliation? It's the height of hypocrisy!"

Press reports said Stevens did not have the ID card required of Illinois firearms owners.

The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms called it ironic that "this poster mom for gun control" has admitted keeping an illegally altered handgun in her home while she's campaigned to deprive other citizens of their firearms.

"If Stevens is so convinced guns don't belong in society, then why didn't she immediately turn that gun over to the police when she found it more than two years ago?" asked CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb.

"Why did she keep it? What's wrong with this picture? Ms. Stevens is about to learn that supporting gun control is like keeping a vicious dog. They sometimes bite the hands that feed them."

"In the kind of Draconian anti-gun society Stevens and her cohorts are trying to create," Gottlieb continued, "it wouldn't matter if she were innocent as she claims. Under the laws her group supports, gun owners are essentially considered guilty until they prove themselves otherwise."

CCRKBA said gun laws supported by activists such as Stevens do nothing to prevent crime - but go a long way in eroding the rights of law-abiding citizens.

Lovely. Not just a handgun, but one with the serial number obliterated.

Hopefully this will involve jail time, and underline the importance of enforcing existing firearms laws, rather then attempting to enact new and more ineffective ones.

Why didn't the stupid bitch call the cops , explain the situation and have them come and pick up said illegal handgun ???? Stupidity is no escuse , she deserves what ever sentance she gets !!!!!

So they already suspected the mom for drive-by shootings? I'm curious as to how they got that warrant.

Her son was killed in a gang war. Publicly she's been doing the woe is me, guns are bad, Million Mom thing. Police suspect that privately she's been working with her son's gang against the other gang as her name keeps coming up in interogations. :eyebrow:

Damn, Bruce! You get around. So what was the serial number on that gun again? :D

There isn't one ON the gun, it's in a file somewhere. Probably a half round second cut file or flat hand bastard file. ;)

Ah yes!
"I believe it is filed away somewhere..."

Press reports said Stevens did not have the ID card required of Illinois firearms owners.

You have to have a license to own a gun in Illinois? Is anyone familiar with this? What do you have to do to get the card?

I think you need to check the box for "NO" next to the question:
"Is you is, or is you ain't a gangsta?" ;)

I've got an illinois firearm's license. you have to apply, pay a very small licensing fee, pass the background check, and that is pretty much it. if you want to buy guns and or ammo, you have to produce the license.

it freaked me out when i moved to arizona and dutifully called the LE officials to declare my weapon and ask where to request my license. the response from Mr. P. Officer was, "why they hell do i care if you have a gun if you haven't used it in a crime?"

Ain't it great livin' in the South? :)

Ain't it great livin' in the South?

This is why the whole "need a license to own a gun" thing is alien to me. In most Southern state constitutions, that kind of thing is strictly forbidden.

As to how little law enforcement officers here care about firearm ownership, I'd have to note my car getting broken in to as the strangest experience in that regard. The officer wanted to see the manual for my radio to get a model number on it and I had him open the glovebox since there happened to be a gun inside. He unloaded it, placed it on the floor, never asked for my carry permit. A detective shows up to dust for prints and points to the gun, asking the officer, "Is that your piece?"

"Nope, its his."
"Okay."

They act as if nearly everyone carries a gun. Perhaps, well, because everyone does!

Isn't there some group who makes a show of carrying regularly in one of the southern states?

there are still places in colorado and wyoming where openly carrying a weapon won't even get you a second glance from the police, unless you're from out of town. Just can't carry them in bars or liquor stores. Unless the liquor store is also the only place to buy bait and Doritos.

i miss small mountain towns. not the hippie ones, the oldskool western ones. the hippie ones are cool too, but they've been co-opted by rich hollywood types. Have you seen Telluride lately? good lord.

open carry is still common in AZ. they are just now proposing a bill that would make it illegal to carry inside of bars and taverns. concealed carry requires a permit, but it is a simple 8-16 hour course.

I believe they're called citizens.

:eyebrow:

I had heard that there was a group that goes out of their way to be noticed carrying in public.

I had heard that there was a group that goes out of their way to be noticed carrying in public.

Here in the South, we call 'em "Police".

Alright you bunch of smartass knuckleheads...

Yeah, sometimes we call the police that too. But not to their face of course. ;)

LOL<------ I actually did, I'm not just typing that. :thumbsup:

in Larryville you can cary a gun.. in public so long as there isn't a bullet in the chamber... uh I dunno about all of that.. I had a gun but sold it due to the fact I DO NOT need to have a gun around.. then again that's me

I wonder how the determine if there is a round in the chamber or not.

I wonder how the determine if there is a round in the chamber or not.

Famous last words, I'm sure.

:eek:

there isn't much point in carrying a piece unloaded.

Unloaded is stupid, unchambered can be a bad idea as well.

unless it's cheap p.o.s. or a single action revolver. don't want an AD.

You aren't prohibited from openly carrying a weapon in Colorado, but different municipalities have different rules. They won't throw you in jail if you carry in Ft. collins, but you will be talked to. Also, if you have a concealed carry permit, you MUST carry concealed, or not at all. You forego the privilege of open carry when you sign the document for concealed carry.

Also, if you have a CCW the info is linked with the CDOT so cops who pull you over know that you're likely armed. Don't get me started. :mad:

i don't generally side with the cops, but what is the downside to this? you can't blast your way out of a traffic ticket?

It's an indicator of the 'presumption of guilt' society that we're building.

Exactly. And in fact, it places those who have been proven to be law-abiding in a position of less trust than those who haven't. If you pass the background check etc., for CCW, you get put on 'the list.' Incidentally, one of the other things you agree to when you apply for a permit is to immediately notify any police officer who contacts you that you are in possession. The kind of people who receive CCWs are usually more than happy to do so. Why the list?

Interestingly enough, there is no law against concealing a loaded weapon in your car in Colorado - the car is considered an extension of your home. It's only if you have made the effort to be completely aboveboard that you're singled out.

I am not at all amused by the news report that I heard today. Because there have been 22 murders in 9 days in Philadelphia, Shizzhonna da May-Or wants to halt issuance of gun permits.

Call me cynical, but I bet that none of the shooters bothered to do paperwork, either on the purchase of their guns, or on permits to carry.

True, but do you think anyone is going to bring that point up in public? Where the peepul can hear it?

It'll be brought up in the state legislature, which is considerably less gun-ban-happy.

Last time someone online made an argument for gun bans and against concealed carry permits in Philadelphia because of a number of nightclub shootings, I looked up every shooting (about 7, IIRC). Not one was with a legally-possessed gun -- several of the shooters were from Camden, others were fugitives and convicted felons. I'm not looking up all 20-some this time; I'm assuming the guns were already illegal unless shown otherwise. A gun ban will do zip about Philly shootings, a concealed carry ban something less than zip.

I am also (as the good white, suburban racist bitch that I am) assuming that a majority, if not all, of the killers(except, obviously, for the crazy vietnamese lady who killed her two children and then her self) are black. Okay, I'll spot you two hispanics ...

Of course you're right, but what has that have to do with politics and making useless gestures in the news. SOMETHING, must be done....so they are doing SOMETHING, however stupid and counterproductive. :biggrinje