NIU Shootings

Viewer Comments On Gun Control Part 2

We wanted to know your thoughts on gun control and Second Amendment rights following the shooting at Northern Illinois University that left five people and the gunman dead. Here are your responses.


Mayor Daley claims "we" need "common sense" gun control laws.
I interpret that to mean that none of the gun control laws in Illinois, or in the Chicago/Cook County codes are "common sense gun laws.
I can agree with that!
--Gene Martin


There are way to many gun laws out there now, the laws in place need to be enforced!
There are to many illegal guns on the street now, first get rid of them and don't take mine out of my hand, I follow the laws and will protect my self if needed.
If I have to turn in legal guns and the criminals still have them WHO will protect me, the police I think not!
I will fight for a CC Law, Every state that has done that crime has gone down.
Look at Australia, they removed guns from the legal public and crime went up across the country, that will happen here.
I will follow all laws to get a CC if they allow it, and pay the fees to do it.
--Chad Falstad


Do you really want something that will work. Well here it is. If you own a gun, register it, other wise you could face 15 years in prison. If your gun is used in a violent crime, life in prison.
Once your gun is registered, you are married to it. If it is ever used, by anyone in a crime you pay the price too. Equal punishment for the gun owner and the user.
If you wish to sell your gun. Take your prospected buyer to the police station for a background check. If the check comes back good, sell your gun. If not you are still married to it, so you better find another buyer.
Stop all Internet and mail order sales. Licensed dealers can still sell your product, once the back ground check is complete. Dealers need to hold the same responsibility as other owners. A real marriage partnership until legally sold.
If you want to stop these school attacks, stop giving the shooters so much fame. The attacks at Virginia Tech and NIU gave the shooters more air time then the victims. Your not famous for killing Innocent people. If your looking to die and you are looking for fame, Kill yourself and leave everyone else out it. Those extra survivors can morn you as well. This equals more fame.
Thanks,
Kevin in Arlington Heights


Why do 48 States out of 50 have concealed carry laws? Are they all wrong?
--Anonymous


I 100% support Mayor Daley and Gun Control. It is way over due to take charge and make it impossible to go into a store and buy a gun. All of these senseless killings in schools, gangs, domestic violence all would not have happen if guns were not legal. What can I do to support Gun Control in this country?
--Susan Logan

Gun Control… Thank you for asking. I believe it is written: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
People seem to think that when a law or ordinance is made that people will obey. Of course if that was true we would not have criminals. If criminals break the law why would they listen to any of the gun control laws? You see it is the legal, responsible, gun owners that have to give up their rights, sports, and protection because of these "feel good" laws. How many shootings do we have in Chicago's city limits every week? Of those involved in the shootings, how many were of legal age and met all of Illinois'' requirements including a valid Firearm Owners Identification card or FOID card? Not many. None is probably closer. Oh that's right…Chicago has a handgun ban. So no one should have handguns but police. But these 16 and 17 year olds do. So if they ignore the overall Chicago gun ban, why would they listen too "Common Sense" gun control laws?
I am assuming that this question is in the wake of NIU's shooting. Universities, schools, government offices, national parks and hospitals are all "gun free" zones. Can anyone tell me why police stations, gun shops, and gun shows do not get shot up by some nut? Every one else is armed. Out of all of the recent shootings, the shooting took place in a location where guns were not allowed. Why do you think gunmen go for these spots? Easy prey! All it takes is for one person with a CCW and a handgun to stop a potential gunman.
And for all those people who say "that is why we have police." Do you have a cop with you 24/7? And for those who say "call the police!" That is fine and dandy, just tell the person hurting you to stop while police get there and to stay where he or she is at.
I would rather have the intruder or gunmen calling the police themselves because they person they tried to rob has them at gun point.
R.S. Southern Cook County


Mayor Daley is asking for "common sense" gun control. Illinois already has some of the most restrictive gun laws in the nation. These gun laws have resulted in a much higher than normal crime rate. The vast majority of states allow their law abiding citizens to carry concealed weapons. These states also have violent crime rates far lower than Illinois. A deeper look into the causes of crime reveals that the vast majority of crimes are committed by a very small number of people. Most of the people committing violent crimes have no business being outside of a prison cell. Where are Mayor Daley's objections to known violent criminals being allowed, by the courts, to be back on the streets?
How about merely enforcing the gun laws already on the books? How about keeping criminals in jail where they belong? That is what common sense means. Each time a known violent criminal, who has been released early from prison, kills somebody, the State of Illinois should be forced to issue an apology to the family of the victim, and be held accountable.
Robert Codo


Not one of Mayor Daley's proposals would have changed either the NIU or Lane Bryant murders.Daley should be ashamed for exploiting the deaths of these helpless victims.
--Anonymous


The shootings at Northern Illinois University are truly a tragedy.
What is most upsetting is that the loss of life might have been avoided if the students were allowed to defend themselves. Thousands of mentally competent, law abiding citizens have to put themselves in harms way every time they want to set foot on a school campus. I find it repugnant that in order to attend a higher learning institution, I have to give up my inalienable right to self preservation, and put my life into the hands of an poorly trained, hourly wage security guard WHO WILL NOT BE THERE WHEN I NEED HIM(HER)!
This insanity needs to end. Now.
How many more people need to be slaughtered like sheep under the careful guardianship of campus police.
_*Let the sheep become sheepdogs and watch over themselves.*_
If the mayor believes that banning "assault weapons" is going to fix anything, why doesn't he ban Ford or Chevy vehicles if they were used in a DUI/DWI accident responsible for killing students. Using the same logic, it must be the cars/trucks that are responsible. It can't possibly be the driver's fault.
Criminals don't obey laws. It cannot be said anymore simply.
A lunatic bent on gaining celebrity status is not going to stop at the edge of the property because a sign is posted forbidding firearms.
Forgive my grammatical errors, I am a little ticked off.
Respectfully,
Neil Murphy


On your Monday night news, you referred to the 5 year limit concerning obtaining an Illinois "FOID" card, for those who were confined to a mental institution; after 5 years, as apparently in his case, Illinois would grant an applicant a FOID card needed to purchase a gun.
HOWEVER: at the time of purchasing a gun, anywhere in the U.S., the purchasor must fill out the U.S. Department of Justice, ATF Form 4473. Question # 11.f specifically asks if the would-be purchasor has EVER been committed to a mental institution. Law, specifically 18 U.S.C. 922, prohibits anyone from "transportation, receipt or possession" of any firearm, if they have been "adjudicated mentally defective or committed to a mental institution". NO TIME LIMIT !
He must have perjured himself, when he filled out the Form 4473, thus facing a penalty of up to 10 years in the Federal slammer and a fine of up to $250,000.00.
Why, when the State Police ran the "instant-check" on him, for his gun purhase, was his committment NOT shown as a red flag? Why do the State Police NOT have an accurate database? Why does Mayor Daley want more gun laws, when the existing laws & procedures - that should have stopped the purchase - are not being followed by the Illinois State Police and/or the Illinois Department of Human Services? How about investigating the slipshot methodology that let this one slip thru?
--William Meskan


Guns are not the problem. Psychological and sociological issues are the problem. In my opinion, too much violence on TV, movies, and video games, too many chemicals in our processed foods, and too many medications are making people crazy. A gun in a well-adjusted, sane person's hands is safe. Only a gun in an idiot's hands is dangerous. Forget about gun control, and get people some mental help!
--Mary


I think it's funny that Mayor Daley asks: "When will our nation learn there are common sense laws would protect everyone in the nation especially young people, from gun violence?" Illinois already has the toughest, most restrictive gun laws in the country and Chicago has the toughest laws in Illinois and yet Chicago still has the highest gun violence. When will Mayor Daley realize his path isn't working?
Keeping guns out of the hands of people who should not own them is a good idea. To that end, updated background checks to include people who have been committed for mental illness, regardless of how long ago, is probably a good idea too. Keeping guns out of the hands of responsible, legal owners is not a good idea. If even one faculty member at NIU, if only one legal age student had a concealed weapon permit, this tragedy could have been stopped in it's tracks. If only one of the women at the Tinley Park Lane Bryant store had a CCWP, all five might still be alive. That's something to think about. --Garry Forman, Richmond, IL


Gun control will never stop the bad guys from getting their hands on all the guns they want. They always have and they always will. I was in Nam and I don't have nor do I want to have any guns. But I am a law abiding grandfather who has never been in trouble with the law and I should be able to buy a gun if I want. Gun control has about as much chance of keeping the guns away from the bad guys as "Outlawing War" has of preventing war. --Jim Mulhearn


Someone please explain to me why, in this day and age, a person should have the right to buy a product, with the intent that should they feel threatened, allows them to pull the trigger and extinguish a life? I
simply do not understand. --Sue Richards


Two major shooting incidents in gun free areas. Wow, gun control really does work doesn't it.
When you try to disarm the whole of society as the Illinois politicians have done (After all, as the good Major Daley has implied, only celebrities need guns, the general population is too stupid to be allowed to have them) then you only leave guns in the hands of the criminals and the politicians and the populous in general at their mercy. After all, these days is there really much difference between politicians and criminals? --Donald W. Sisco


First of all your facts are wrong in this article. A FOID card is not an Illinois Gun License, if anything it is a violation of your right that is protected by the Second Amendment. You do not need a license to own a gun in Illinois or anywhere in the United States. Any city or State that requires one, has violated your Second Amendment rights with an "Illegal" law or ordinance.
Second, right to keep and bear arms is an individual right that existed before our government did. The Second Amendment merely recognizes and protects that right from infringement by the government.
The second amendment reads: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
But what exactly does this mean. The only way to truly understand is to take it apart and look at the individual parts.
A well regulated militia: By definition, a militia is not a formal organized fighting force, that would be the US armed forces. In the strictest sense a militia is made up of every able bodied male citizen between the ages of 12 and 65. A more modern definition could be every able bodied citizen regardless of gender or age. Essentially that means that if you are a US citizen you are a part of the militia whether you like it or not, unless you are some how disabled. By definition militia are also required to provide their own arms.
Well regulated refers to having all members of the militia being well trained in the proper handling, use, and care of their own personally provided firearms. It would also include some basic survival skills (using a compass, reading a map, building a fire or shelter, the ability to lead or follow orders, etc.). It would not necessarily include formal military training like one would receive in a military boot camp.
Being necessary for the security of a free State: Our founding fathers knew tyranny, probably better than we ever will. They also knew that there is no way that a formal military can protect this or any country completely without help. If you look at history you will clearly see that without the militia we would have lost the Revolutionary war. In order to keep ourselves free it is necessary that the militia always exist in some form or another. Therefore, it is the responsibility of every able bodied citizen to have and know how to use their own personal firearms in the event that the militia is required to keep us free from tyranny or harm.
the right of the people to keep and bear Arms: This does not say that the amendment grants a right, neither does it say that it guarantees a right. What it says is "the right" this indicates that the right existed prior to the drafting of the Constitution. It recognizes a pre-existing right that all citizens already have and then protects it with the concluding statement.
Shall not be infringed.: Essentially this says that no one or nothing can interfere with the pre-existing right all citizens have to keep and bear arms. No politician, no Justice, no Mayor, no Senator, no Representative, no Governor, no one period can interfere with this right.
So now that we have a complete understanding of what the Second Amendment actually says there really is only one answer to your question: Gun control in any form clearly violates the US Constitution. Therefore, gun control is illegal and cannot exist without the changing of the US Constitution.
The sooner liberal politicians and the liberal media understand this and stop trying to rewrite the Constitution in a backdoor way the sooner we can get on with fixing the real problems faced by this country.
According to the US Constitution every single gun control law on the books throughout the United States must be immediately repealed.
--Anonymous


Because of over regulation on guns, Blagojevich is entirely responsible for the murders at NIU and Tinley Park. Had the citizens of Illinois been allowed to protect themselves, instead of being constrained by an anti-American governor who despises and spits on the Constitution, there would have been an excellent chance of killing the mass murder before he took so many innocence lives. --BJ


Good Morning,
We are extremely saddened by the horrific event that happened at NIU last week.
But, Gun Control will not stop needless violence, it will only exacerbate the problem.
We must remember that there was no gun control when the gun was invented. If guns are the problem, the human race would be extinct.
Many forms of violence have been around since Cain killed Abel and Cain did not use a gun.
Gun laws already in place must be ENFORCED by the Police and the Judicial system. Further controls will not help.
Thank you.
--Frank, Plainfield, IL.


I never really understood why people think that guns are the root of all evil in this state. Have you ever seen a gun that was laid on the table away from anyone just jump up and shoot someone. NO, it take a person to work the gun. and most of the time it is a person that can not own a gun legally that uses guns beyond there original intend(for gathering food,sport, and defending yourself).I think that it is time that people of illinios start to think about law abiding citizens and how they can protect themselves.
-doug-


Illinois has some of the most prohibitive gun laws in the nation, and all these laws do is prevent decent citizens from having the means to defend themselves against crime. The only new gun law we need in Illinois is one that allows decent law-abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms. Criminals and killers will think twice once they know the people of Illinois are no longer sitting ducks waiting to be preyed upon.
- Bob - Round Lake IL


Illinois is only one of two states that does not allow properly trained & licensed private citizens the right to carry a concealed firearm. Do our governing politicians, who, by the way, all have armed bodyguards, feel that the citizens of Illinois are so irresponsible and trigger happy to warrant such a restrictive state society? Are the lives of the governor or the Chicago mayor any more valuable than yours or mine? Yet they allow the Chicago aldermen the right to concealed carry. It sure does give me a warm fuzzy feeling know that the likes of Ed Burke, and Dorothy Tillman, and some of the other Chicago politicians are/were able to carry.
Could the Tinley Park an NIU tragedies have been prevented were a properly trained & licensed individual been present? Maybe, maybe not. But one thing is certain, without a licensed individual being present, the victims had absolutely no chance of surviving.
It's time for the Illinois legislature to move into the 21st century and begin treating the citizenry as responsible individuals rather than treating us like victims in waiting, then engaging in uncontrolled fits of hand wringing every time the topic of concealed carry is raised. If not, then Blago and Daley should immediately disband their armed bodyguard details and show us just how safe we are
Jim Ochwat, Orland Park


There are hundreds of laws concerning gun control that are not enforced. New gun control laws inevitability will only go after the law abiding citizen. Enforce the laws that are currently on the books and go after the gangs with illegal guns. The day is near that the have- nots will be taking from those that have and it will almost be a nessisity to have a gun to protect home and family.
Dan A


You can not legislate morality, health, wealth, or even safety.
Adding more gun laws and more cameras won't stop shootings they will only will take away more citizens rights and business owners own decisions. Where there is a will there is a way.
We need to go back to building moral character, self sufficiency, and common sense.
The government isn't here to feed you or house you, and try as they might, they can't get to you before a disaster of any type happens. We as individuals need to get back to basics, we are too pampered and expect someone else to do everything for us and blame everyone else when things go wrong.
If it is to be it's up to me -
God helps them who helps themselves-
Do unto others and you would have them do unto you.
I recently shopped at the Tinley Park Target store and noticed they had a young woman security guard.
without a gun. I smiled because although she was watching everyone walking into the store, I didn't feel any safer than usual.
I later went to a Walmart in Country Club Hills. I saw a well built man with a police jacket as their security guard & he had a gun. At first I thought, " now this is better security". On second thought, I smiled and decided I didn't feel any safer there because he was so busy talking with people, he easily could have been overtaken.
Kathy, Tinley Park


I personally own several hand guns, have for many years. My ammunition is kept totally separate from the weapons locked where it cannot be reached. Each time I renew my FOID card however the process concerns me. What true screening do they do? It doesn't seem very thorough for such an important issue. It also amazes me that if you have a major illness, almost anyone around the country would know it because of insurance links with computers. Then why can someone be a mental patient in a facility for a year and yet be given a FOID card so he is allowed to purchase weapons. Why can't the medical industry, the psychiatric facilities, notify the state department who issues gun cards, of someone's history so that it is in a computer bank and will pop up when applied for. I realize this does not stop the criminal who buys guns on the streets or steals them from someone's home, but it would eliminate people such as the NIU killer. It would be a start.
--Cathy Zajac


I am A loyal Channel 2 Morning news watcher. My thought on gun control is that While you can take away guns from a society, it is the ignorance that is the root of violent actions such as the NIU situation. If a person is out to hurt people and there are no guns around it may be a knife or baseball bat or some other instrument that will be used to do damage. People shouldn't use guns as a spin or smokescreen for sick or ignorant individuals. If an individual stabs several people with a Bic pen would we be talking about Bic Pen Control?
--Anonymous


Many have expressed their thoughts about our Rights such as the right to carry a gun to defend ourselves. We also have the Right to Vote. How many uses that right? We can also contact our Representatives by e-mail or phone to express our thoughts on how we want them to vote. We need to give thought to some of recent cut backs. Mental Health being one of them. Guns and Drugs are destroying the Youth of our country. Including a GUN in the belongings of our child as we send them off to college is Sad.
Anonymous


It's ridiculous that this debate even has to take place again. The reason that Illinois has a high murder rate is because they have strict gun laws. People who live in Chicago are defenseless. People on campuses are defenseless. Every time a murder happens in Chicago, the City should be sued. Every time a school shooting happens, the school should be sued. If they don't allow people to protect themselves, they need to be held responsible when people die. I feel safe in the suburbs, because I can have a gun. Criminals know that Chicago and schools are open season. They can walk into a home in Chicago knowing they aren't going to face an legally armed citizen. It's no different with classrooms. Why does Daley have an armed entourage with him? Maybe because he is afraid of the City and wants to be SAFE!!!!! Why is it that everybody wants to take my guns away when I haven't done anything wrong? Why don't the police become more proactive? Quit trying to take away my rights!
Aaron - Chicago


While my heart goes out to those who lost loved ones, more control on guns is not the answer. This young man could have found the guns he wanted on the streets of Chicago...OH MY, The streets of Chicago, the city that does not allow law abiding citizens the means to defend themselves? Exactly, where crime has run rampant.
If one student in that auditorium had been a concealed carry licensee, no more than one person other than the shooter would have died...More control is not the answer....
-RonB


My thoughts on gun control are these:
They need to strictly enforce they laws they have now - if they were already doing that - he would never have been able to get a gun card and buy those guns if the State Police had done their job and done a thorough background search on him in the first place.
They need to police the on-line gun stores so that they follow the same rules as the State the customers live in that are purchasing the weapons.
Making new laws is not going to make a difference since they don't enforce the ones already on the books. So why even try unless you want to be Hitler and confiscate all guns.
--Anonymous


Gun conrol has not worked as many states currently have it in place. I lived in Indiana who allows carrying concealed weapons. Indiana does not have a high crime rate involving weapons. I wonder why? Could it be perhaps that most people carry weapons? Indiana people are polite, you don't see road rage, could it be that most people carry weapons? Stop all hand guns and you don't stop criminals - you only stop decent people who are trying to protect themselves. Check other states, Michigan, Texas and others who also have allowed carrying weapons - crime is lower than Illinois why? Perhaps because criminals are afraid knowing people may be carrying guns too? I think it makes sense. It is impossible to stop the criminal element from obtaining weapons. To think this is truly stupid.
--Anonymous

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