Wilmette IL suspends its handgun ban, one day after USSC ruling

[Little-Acorn]

Remember when the U.S. Armed Forces blew away the Taliban in Afghanistan for harboring bin Laden? And quickly afterward Moammar Qaddafi of Libya decided he'd be a nice guy and quit supporting terrorists, in hopes that his posterior would not be next in line?

That motivation sems to work in local U.S. politics, too. Looks like these folks KNEW that what their constantr banning of guns would never pass Constitutional muster. And once the Supreme Court came down on the DC gun ban, they've decided that maybe obeying the Constitution was a GOOD thing to do. For a change.

Wisdom comes to us all, eventually.

P.S. Mayor Daley of nearby Chicago, may think he's pissed now. He hasn't SEEN "pissed". But it's coming.

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http://www.nbc5.com/news/16729972/detail.html

Wilmette Suspends Local Handgun Ban

POSTED: 2:47 pm CDT June 27, 2008

WILMETTE, Ill. -- Wilmette has suspended enforcement of its 19-year-old ordinance banning handgun possession in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that appears to invalidate such bans.

In a 5-4 decision, the court struck down Washington, D.C.'s ban on handguns, a prohibition similar to those used in several major cities, including Chicago, and a handful of suburbs including Wilmette, Evanston, Winnetka and Oak Park.

"The Law Department and the Police Department have suspended enforcement of the ordinance pending further review by the Village Board," Wilmette village attorney Tim Frenzer said Thursday. "Based on the decision today, at a minimum it calls into serious question the continued viability of the ordinance."

Frenzer said questions remain about how directly the court's decision will impact local gun laws in Wilmette and other parts of the country. Washington is not a state, and each state has its own legal language governing the right to bear arms.

"That aside, the opinion will require further review and discussion by the Village Board, but it's prudent at this point to suspend enforcement of it," Frenzer said.

Wilmette's law, enacted in 1989, levied fines of up to $750 for handgun possession and allowed the village to seek a judge's order to have seized weapons destroyed.

Frenzer said he did not know exactly how many times the law has been invoked, but said its use is rare.

The last case he recalls involved a 2003 incident in which a resident, Hale DeMar, was cited after using a handgun to shoot and wound a burglar in his home. The case mobilized state gun right groups and led to the passage of a law that gave gun owners a defense to local prohibitions if the weapon was used in self-defense.

Wilmette's charges against DeMar were eventually dropped. He could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Wilmette Police Chief George Carpenter declined to comment on the high court's ruling, saying he had not yet had a chance to read the decision or review it with village staff.

[Kathianne]

Yep, for years victims that used self-defense tended to be left alone by authorities, but the opening for civil suits was there, no more.

[midcan5]

Wow, 19 years of sense only be overturned by a fascist court intent on putting power back in the hands of the feds.

[avatar4321]

Wow, 19 years of sense only be overturned by a fascist court intent on putting power back in the hands of the feds.

oh the irony. Complaining that a fascist law is being repealed and pretending it's facist to allow people to freely defend themselves.

[5stringJeff]

Wow, 19 years of sense only be overturned by a fascist court intent on putting power back in the hands of the feds.

Actually, I was thinking that the citizens of Wilmette, IL, now have the freedom to arm themselves, if they so choose. Freedom is the opposite of fascism.

[Little-Acorn]

Freedom is the opposite of fascism.

And, the opposite of what midcan5 wants to see.

[Kathianne]

Actually, I was thinking that the citizens of Wilmette, IL, now have the freedom to arm themselves, if they so choose. Freedom is the opposite of fascism.

As I said Jeff, many from Winnetka, Wilmette, Oak Park, Evanston chose to arm themselves. It came out when they defended themselves and families. The authorities chose not to prosecute, but in a couple instances civil suits were brought by the perps or their families. Now those would be moot.

[5stringJeff]

As I said Jeff, many from Winnetka, Wilmette, Oak Park, Evanston chose to arm themselves. It came out when they defended themselves and families. The authorities chose not to prosecute, but in a couple instances civil suits were brought by the perps or their families. Now those would be moot.

As they should be. No one should be prosecuted for defending their family in their home.