THE GUNNERY NETWORK
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Daley Lawsuit Points to Chilling Attack
on Gun Buyers' Right to Privacy
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THE GUNNERY NETWORK
A Stenhammar Viking Web Production
Daley Lawsuit Points to Chilling Attack
on Gun Buyers' Right to Privacy
| CHICAGO, June 8 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) is expressing concern today over the intent of a lawsuit filed Wednesday by the City of Chicago against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF). According to published reports, the lawsuit seeks to compel the Bureau to release personal information about Illinois citizens who have purchased more than one handgun within a 5 day period. Information demanded by the city includes data on law-abiding citizens who made multiple handgun purchases in full compliance with federal law, and who are not under any sort of criminal investigation. The city maintains that it needs such information to support its controversial $433 million lawsuit against law-abiding firearm manufacturers. The ISRA suspects that the Daley Administration has ulterior motives for filing its lawsuit against the BATF. During the 1999 legislative session, Daley allies in the Illinois General Assembly attempted to pass a series of gun control bills that would have seriously eroded the privacy of law-abiding firearm owners. If passed, the legislation would have granted Chicago officials unrestricted access to statewide firearm purchase records -- without the benefit of a court order. Even the Democratically controlled House shot down this brazen Daley attack against law abiding firearm owners. This recent lawsuit filed against the BATF is a clear attempt by Daley to use the courts to accomplish that which the state legislature has prohibited him from doing. The ISRA is further concerned that, if Daley is successful in his effort to secure multiple transaction records, the door will then be opened for the mayor to obtain records on every lawful firearm purchase in the state. "Individuals purchasing more than one handgun from a licensed dealer within a five day period freely submit to the special federal documentation process," commented ISRA president Richard Pearson. "They did so under the assumption that the federal government would protect their privacy. Little did they know that their names might one day end up in a file folder on Mayor Daley's desk. "If the Daley suit is successful, these law abiding citizens would then become, in effect, registered with the City of Chicago, regardless of where they reside in Illinois," continued Pearson. There is no telling what sort of harassment the Daley Administration has in store for these folks. "We will be watching developments in this case very carefully." ------ The ISRA is the state's leading advocate of safe, lawful and responsible firearm ownership. For nearly a century, the ISRA has represented the interests of more than 1.5 million law-abiding Illinois firearm owners. U.S. Newswire 1-202-347-2770 - 06/08 08:57 Copyright 2000, U.S. Newswire To: State Desk & RKBA Net - |
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