Criminals in the Illinois State Police

It appears that we now have criminals working in positions of power at the Illinois State Police. It appears that Illinois State Police Director Larry Trent has been violating Illinois law by denying FOID cards to citizens less than 10 years of age:

ISRA Press Release:
Illinois State Police Overstepping Authority by Refusing to Issue FOID Cards to Youthful Applicants

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Oct. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA):

Controversy has been raging for several weeks over a proposal promulgated by the Illinois State Police that would set the minimum age of issuance for Illinois Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) cards at 10 years of age.

Outdoor sporting organizations, including the ISRA, oppose the adoption of the provision as it would have an adverse impact on gun safety training and youth shooting programs. On the other hand, gun control groups support the new restriction and see it as yet another means of discouraging participation in the shooting sports.

Approval or denial of the proposed regulation is the responsibility of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR). As of the issuance of this press release, only a few days remain in the period during which the public may submit comments to JCAR regarding the proposal. Once the comment period expires, JCAR will consider all comments and will issue a ruling on the proposed age limit some time in the next several months.

Although adoption of such regulations is strictly within the purview of JCAR, an investigation conducted by the ISRA has revealed that Illinois State Police Director Larry Trent unilaterally established a minimum age for FOID applicants and began denying FOID cards to citizens less than 10 years of age as early as May 2007.

"Director Trent has taken it upon himself to nullify the authority of JCAR," commented ISRA Executive Director, Richard Pearson. "Last May, he issued a declaration to the FOID division staff that directed the denial of FOID cards to applicants less than 10 years of age. Since that time, the State Police have used this bogus age limit as justification to deny over 200 applications. Of course, Trent's edict has not stopped the State Police from cashing application fee checks."

"The ISRA is presently consulting with its legal advisors to identify a means of relief from Trent's illegal actions," continued Pearson. "Without a foundation in law, Trent's age restriction places the State Police in violation of Section 5 of the FOID act which requires that FOID cards be issued within 30 days."

---

The ISRA is the state's leading advocate of safe, lawful and responsible firearm ownership. For more than a century, the ISRA has represented the interests of over 1.5 million law-abiding Illinois firearm owners.

Post this information to any and all Internet bulletin boards or blogs to which you belong.

Click here for a printer-friendly version of this alert! (PDF, 21kb)

So, who do you call when the Illinois State Police Director is violating the law? Is this part of the Peoples Republic of Chicago Criminal Empowerment Program?

-Bob

Dream Amnesty Act vote tomorrow

From Grassfire.org Alliance:

Key Amnesty Vote tomorrow. Forward to friends.

Harry Reid has scheduled a cloture vote on the Dream Amnesty Act for TOMORROW (Wednesday).

This comes after citizens like you again shut down switchboards in opposition to the Dream Act when it was pushed as an amendment last week.

Now, Durbin and Reid are pushing the Dream Amnesty Act straight to the Senate floor as a stand-alone bill -- S. 2205 -- despite overwhelming grassroots opposition!

But to rush the bill directly to the floor, they must pass a "cloture" vote first.

Robert, we simply must stop this latest effort to sneak an amnesty bill through the Senate. These are the same tricks Reid tried to use this summer to pass the Bush-Kennedy bill.

+ + Action Item #1 -- Fax Reid, Durbin and your senators

We need thousands of faxes immediately headed to Reid's office, Durbin's office, your two Senators and other key senators.

Go here to schedule your faxes:

http://www.grassfire.org/22042/offer.asp?rid=14158802

(As always, we have posted sample letters and the fax numbers if you prefer to send your own faxes.)

+ + Action Item #2 -- Call, Call, Call!

We simply must shut down the switchboards today and tomorrow. Every Senator needs to get thousands of calls. Please call your two Senators today and tomorrow, as well as these key senators:

Sen. Durbin 202-224-2152
Sen. Obama 202-224-2854

Key Senators:
Durbin (Asst. Maj. Leader) -- 202-224-2152
Reid (Maj. Leader)-- 202-224-3542
Shelby (AL)-- 202-224-5744
Hagel (co-sponsor) 202-224-4224
Lugar (co-sponsor) 202-224-4814
Brownback (KS) 202-224-6521
Grassley (IA) 202-224-3744
Lott (MS) 202-224-6253
Cochran (MS) 202-224-5054
Hutchison (TX) 202-224-5922
Byrd (WV) 202-224-3954

Our staff has compiled a list of all the Senators who currently have "no position" on this bill. Go here:

http://www.firesociety.com/blog/107/17693/?src=111

+ + Talking Points

1. I oppose the DREAM Act because it provides amnesty to illegal aliens and their families.
2. I urge the Senator to vote "NO" on cloture for S. 2205. This amnesty bill should not be brought to the Senate floor.
3. A "yes" vote on cloture will be considered a "yes" vote for amnesty.

We simply cannot allow Reid and Durbin to sneak this bill through the Senate. Thanks for your immediate action.

Steve Elliott, President
Grassfire.org

P.S. Please forward this message to friends who share your concern for our nation's illegal invasion crisis.

+ + Feedback or comments on this update?

Go to FireSociety.com and post your comments so that the Grassfire staff along with thousands of citizens can benefit from your thoughts and opinions:

http://www.firesociety.com/comments/17694/?src=111

+ + + + +
Grassfire.org Alliance is a non-profit 501(c)4 issues advocacy organization dedicated to equipping our 1.5 million-strong network of grassroots conservatives with the tools that give you a real impact on the key issues of our day. Gifts to Grassfire.org are not tax deductible.

Outsourcing

It appears that my friend Hank is again my source of humor this week:

I was feeling depressed last week, so I called the mental health help line.

Like all other call centers, it has been outsourced to a third world location.

When I told the operator in Pakistan that I was feeling suicidal, he got very excited and wanted to know if .....

I could drive a truck or fly a plane.

-Bob

Doctor Talk

Here is another good one from my friend Hank:

A Chinese doctor says, medicine in my country is so advanced that we can take a kidney out of one man, put it in another, and have him out looking for work in six weeks."

A German doctor says, "That is nothing. We can take a lung out of one person, put it in another, and have him out looking for work in four weeks."

A British doctor says, "In my country medicine is so advanced that we can take half a heart out of one person, put it in another, and have both of them out looking for work in two weeks."

The American doctor, not to be outdone, interjected, "You guys are way behind. We are about to take a woman with no brains, send her to Washington where she will become President, and then half the country will be out looking for work."

-Bob

Is Disney banning God?

I just learned that Radio Disney has refused to air a promotional ad for a new movie on the Ten Commandments with the words, "chosen by God" included.

I have signed a citizen petition to express my outrage. Please go here for details:

http://www.libertyaction.org/286/petition.asp?PID=14677738&NID=1

-Bob

Reminder: South Cook County Gun Rights Rally - Tues 10-16

Reminder:
South Cook County Gun Rights Rally - Tuesday, October 16 - Tinley Park

Many of you who live in the area around Tinley Park received a mailer announcing a meeting to protect your gun rights against Mayor Daley's ever-expanding circle of influence.  This is a reminder to attend, and even if you did not receive the mailing, you're welcome to attend.

Mayor Daley wants collar counties to look just like Chicago, indeed, he wants the whole state to do his bidding to take away your right to keep and bear arms.  Southern Cook County is his latest target, find out how to fight back!

Stop Chicago-style gun control in its tracks!

Come join your fellow gun owners at the South Cook County Gun Rights Rally!
There's no reservation needed, and there's no charge to attend.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Tinley Park American Legion Post
17423 67th Court
Tinley Park, IL

Rally Begins at 7:00 PM

Post this information to any and all Internet bulletin boards or blogs to which you belong.

IQ-50

I got this from my friend Hank this morning.  Various versions of this one has been around the block before.  It just goes to prove, "If Democrats Had Any Brains, They'd Be Republicans"

A man walked into a very high-tech bar. As he sat down on a stool he noticed that the bartender was a robot. The robot clicked to attention and asked, "Sir, what will you have?"

The man thought a moment then replied "A martini please."

The robot clicked a couple of times and mixed the best martini the man had ever had.

The robot then asked, "Sir, what is your IQ?" The man answered "Oh, about 164."

The robot then proceeded to discuss the 'theory of relativity', inter-stellar space travel', the latest medical breakthroughs, etc...

The man was most impressed. He left the bar but thought he would try a different tact. He returned and took a seat. Again the robot clicked and asked what he would have? "A martini please."

Again it was superb. The robot again asked "What is your IQ sir?"

This time the man answered , "Oh about 100". So the robot started discussing NASCAR racing, the latest basketball scores, and what to expect the Dodgers to do this week end.

The guy had to try it one more time. So he left, returned and took a stool.... Again a martini, and the question, "What is your IQ?" This time the man drawled out " Uh..... bout 50".

The robot clicked then leaned close and very slowly asked,

"A-r-e...
y-o-u-r...
p-e-o-p-l-e...
g-o-i-n-g...
t-o...
n-o-m-i-n-a-t-e...
H-i-l-l-a-r-y-?????

-Bob

Banking for Illegal Aliens - Update

To follow up on my previous post, I had an e-mail conversation with the President of Blackhawk Bank. He are some notable quotes from our e-mails:

"One part of the government is strongly encouraging banks to comply with the Community Reinvestment Act by banking the “unbanked”, another euphemism for “illegal aliens.” The FDIC has a whole unit devoted to promoting banking services to illegals and, in fact, sponsors conferences on the subject."

I've done work for banks before. I know what he is saying when he says "strongly encouraging". It basically means he's being forced to give accounts to Illegals. How said is that?

"We file an SAR, a Suspicious Activity Report, on absolutely every ITIN transaction we do with the government which has all the information they need to know who is where. But, as you point out, the government does nothing with the information."

This is probably all that banks are allowed to do.

The moral of the story?

• The FDIC appears to be forcing banks to open accounts for Illegal Aliens.
• The IRS gives out ITIN numbers to anyone in hopes of getting more revenue (at any cost). The IRS does not share information on Illegal Aliens with other government agencies.
  
• We still don't have the fence we were promised. Sign the petition!
• Border Patrol Agents need our support.

-Bob

Banking for Illegal Aliens

I did a little survey this morning to see how hard it is for Illegal Aliens to get a bank account.

I surveyed three area banks and found that it's quite easy. Here are my results:

• Blackhawk Bank: You need two forms of ID. The Matricular Card is "acceptable" form of ID. They also recommended a state ID or driver's license. Also an ITIN number can be used instead of a SSN. The person I talked to does not think that they report this to the INS.
• Amcore Bank: The Matricular Card and a ITIN number may be all that you need to open an account. When asked about the INS, they seemed to indicate that they don't report Illegals.
• Alpine Bank: You need two forms of ID. The Matricular Card is "acceptable" form of ID. The person I talked to mentioned a number of other items that can serve as the second form of ID, including credit cards. An ITIN number can be used instead of a SSN. When asked about the INS, they stated, "we do all required government reporting".

None of the people I talked with seemed at all bothered about giving bank accounts to Illegal Aliens. It seemed more like they supported the idea than anything else.

Of the above banks, only Blackhawk Bank appears to be seeking customers for their "Immigrant Banking Services". I was not able to find similar pages on the other banks' web sites.


Overall, a bit disturbing, don't you think?

-Bob

Update: Bank of America gives credit cards to Illegal Aliens: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,251672,00.html

My country

Here's one I got from my wife yesterday. It explains the illegal immigration issue pretty well:

Let me make this perfectly clear!

THIS IS MY COUNTRY!

And, because I make this statement DOES NOT mean I'm against immigration!!!

YOU ARE WELCOME HERE IN MY COUNTRY.

Welcome to come through like everyone else has.

Get a sponsor!

Get a place to lay your head!

Get a job!

Live by OUR rules!

Pay YOUR taxes!

And

LEARN THE LANGUAGE LIKE ALL OTHER IMMIGRANTS HAVE IN THE PAST!!!

AND PLEASE DON'T DEMAND THAT WE HAND OVER OUR LIFETIME SAVINGS OF SOCIAL SECURITY FUNDS TO YOU TO MAKE UP FOR ''YOUR'' LOSSES.

If you don't want to forward this for fear of offending someone, then YOU'RE PART OF THE PROBLEM!

When will AMERICAN'S STOP giving away THEIR RIGHTS???

We've gone so far the other way ... bent over backwards not to offend anyone. But it seems no one cares about the AMERICAN that's being offended!

WAKE UP America !!!

If you agree ... pass this on.
-Bob

The origin of liberals and Conservatives.

Here is a good one from the comments of "Pretend to Be All That You Can Be" one of Ann Coulter's articles on Human Events.com.

By Clark Fultz, Fairbanks, Alaska:

HISTORY:


Humans originally existed as members of small bands of nomadic hunters/gatherers. They lived on deer in the mountains during the summer and would go to the coast and live on fish and lobster in the winter.

The two most important events in all of history were the invention of beer and the invention of the wheel. The wheel was invented to get man to the beer. These were the foundations of modern civilization and together were the catalyst for the splitting of humanity into two distinct subgroups:

1. Liberals
and
2. Conservatives


Once beer was discovered, it required grain and that was the beginning of agriculture. Neither the glass bottle nor aluminum can were invented yet, so while our early humans were sitting around waiting for them to be invented, they just stayed close to the brewery. That's how villages were formed.

Some men spent their days tracking and killing animals to B-B-Q at night while they were drinking beer. This was the beginning of what is known as the Conservative movement.

Other men who were weaker and less skilled at hunting learned to live off the conservatives by showing up for the nightly B-B-Q's and doing the sewing, fetching, and hair dressing. This was the beginning of the Liberal movement.

Some of these liberal men eventually evolved into women. The rest became known as girliemen.

Some noteworthy liberal achievements include the domestication of cats, the invention of group therapy, group hugs, and the concept of Democratic voting to decide how to divide the meat and beer that conservatives provided.

Over the years conservatives came to be symbolized by the largest, most powerful land animal on earth, the elephant. Liberals are symbolized by the jackass.

Modern liberals like imported beer (with lime added), but most prefer white wine or imported bottled water. They eat raw fish but like their beef well done. Sushi, tofu, and French food are standard liberal fare.

Another interesting evolutionary side note: most of their women have higher testosterone levels than their men. Most social workers, personal injury attorneys, journalists, dreamers in Hollywood and group therapists are liberals. Liberals invented the designated hitter rule because it wasn't fair to make the pitcher also bat.

Conservatives drink domestic beer. They eat red meat and still provide for their women. Conservatives are big-game hunters, rodeo cowboys, lumberjacks, construction workers, firemen, medical doctors, police officers, corporate executives, athletes, Marines, and generally anyone who works productively. Conservatives who own companies hire other conservatives who want to work for a living.

Liberals produce little or nothing. They like to govern the producers and decide what to do with the production. Liberals believe Europeans are more enlightened than Americans. That is why most of the liberals remained in Europe when conservatives were coming to America . They crept in after the Wild West was tamed and created a business of trying to get more for nothing.

Here ends today's lesson in world history!

It should be noted that a Liberal may have a momentary urge to angrily respond to the above before forwarding it.

A Conservative will simply laugh and be so convinced of the absolute truth of this history that it will be forwarded immediately to other true believers and to more liberals just to MAKE THEM ANGRY .

-Bob

ISRA Alert - State Police Proposal Would Abolish...

ISRA Alert:
State Police Proposal Would Abolish Youth Hunting/Shooting/Gun Safety Programs

A proposal submitted by the Illinois State Police (ISP) to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) would effectively eliminate participation in shooting activities by anyone under 10 years of age. The proposal, which would establish minimum age requirements for obtaining an Illinois Firearm Owner’s Identification Card (FOID), comes in the wake of an irresponsibly biased feature article that had appeared in a south suburban newspaper. In the article, the feature writer spun a near-satirical yarn about how easily his newborn son, ‘Bubba’ was able to obtain a FOID. Reaction to the article amongst anti-gun/anti-hunting forces was predictably hysterical. In response, Gov. Blagojevich's State Police issued a proposed change in the law which would set 10 years of age as the minimum age at which one could obtain a FOID.

To become effective, the ISP’s age-limit proposal must be approved by JCAR - an administrative body responsible for establishing regulations and implementing guidance for statutes signed into law by the governor. Prior to considering proposed regulations, JCAR must observe a 45-day public comment period during which citizens may submit their views on the proposal, in writing, to JCAR.

Of course, the ISRA is adamantly opposed to the ISP’s FOID age-limit proposal. More specifically, the ISRA seeks rejection of the proposal for the following reasons:

1. There is no practical purpose for establishing a minimum age-limit for FOID cards. The ISP, and others, claim that setting a minimum age for acquiring a FOID would reduce violent crime and firearm accidents. Yet, the fact of the matter is, nobody under the age of 18, FOID or no FOID, can purchase a firearm in Illinois. Furthermore, nobody under the age of 21 may purchase a handgun in Illinois. On the matter of firearm safety, childhood deaths from accidental firearm discharge are at historical lows - a phenomenon resulting in large part to youth firearm training classes put on by the NRA and sportsmen’s clubs. The ISP proposal could actually increase the likelihood of accidental childhood firearm deaths by prohibiting meaning firearm training of children during life stages where it will do the most good.

2. The proposal materially alters the spirit and legislative intent of the state’s safe firearms storage laws. By prohibiting FOID issuance to children under 10, millions of low-risk households would be forced to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to bring their homes into compliance with safe storage laws. At the same time, high-risk households would be unaffected due to ignorance of safe firearm handling procedures and contempt for laws already in force.

3. The proposal denies parents the right to choose when and how their children become involved in hunting and the shooting sports.

4. The proposal would severely damage the state’s hunting heritage by delaying the entry of successive generations into the sport.

ISRA members are encouraged strongly to submit comments on the proposal to the address below.

NOTE: It is very important that you remain polite and respectful when submitting your comments to JCAR about the proposed regulations. Speak strictly to the facts presented above. JCAR is only interested in the matter at hand - whether the minimum age for obtaining a FOID should be set at 10 years of age. Getting off message will not help our cause.

Please send comments on your opposition to this change by October 25, 2007, in writing, to: Mr. John M. Hosteny
Interim Chief Legal Counsel
Illinois State Police
801 South 7th Street, Suite 1000-S
Post Office Box 19461
Springfield, Illinois 62794-9461

Post this information to any and all Internet bulletin boards or blogs to which you belong.

Tenjooberrymuds

Here's one I received from a friend of mine today.  It's funning and sad, all at the same time...

                  "TENJOOBERRYMUDS"...

 This is a hoot .... sad, because it is TRUE ..... but a hoot!!!!
By the time you read through this YOU WILL UNDERSTAND "TENJOOBERRYMUDS"...

In order to continue getting-by in America (our home land), we all need to learn the NEW English language! Practice by reading the following  conversation until you are able to understand the term "TENJOOBERRYMUDS".

With a little patience, you'll be able to fit right in.
Now, here goes...

The following is a telephone exchange between maybe you as a hotel guest and call room-service somewhere in the good old U S A today......

Room Service : "Morrin. Roon sirbees."

Guest : "Sorry, I thought I dialed room-service."

Room Service: " Rye. Roon sirbees...morrin! Joowish to oddor sunteen???"

Guest: "Uh..... Yes, I'd like to order bacon and eggs."

Room Service: "Ow July den?"

Guest: ".....What??"

Room Service: "Ow July den?!?... pryed, boyud, poochd?"

Guest: "Oh, the eggs! How do I like them? Sorry.. scrambled, please."

Room Service: "Ow July dee baykem? Crease?"

Guest: "Crisp will be fine."

Room Service: "Hokay. An Sahn toes?"

Guest: "What?"

Room Service: "An toes. July Sahn toes?"

Guest: "I... don't think so."

RoomService: "No? Judo wan sahn toes???"

Guest: "I feel really bad about this, but I don't know what 'judo wan sahn toes' means."

RoomService: "Toes! Toes!...Why Joo don Juan toes? Ow bow Anglish moppin we bodder?"

Guest: "Oh, English muffin!!! I've got it! You were saying 'toast'...   Fine...Yes, an English muffin will be fine."

RoomService: "We bodder?"

Guest: "No, just put the bodder on the side."

RoomService: "Wad?!?"

Guest: "I mean butter... just put the butter on the side."

RoomService: "Copy?"

Guest: "Excuse me?"

RoomService: "Copy...tea..meel?"

Guest: "Yes. Coffee, please... and that's everything."

RoomService: "One Minnie. Scramah egg, crease baykem, Anglish moppin, we bodder on sigh and copy ... rye??"

Guest: "Whatever you say."

RoomService: "Tenjooberrymuds."

Guest: "You're welcome"

Remember I said "By the time you read through this YOU WILL UNDERSTAND 'TENJOOBERRYMUDS' ".....and you do, don't you!

 

 -Bob

Thank you for response on Recall question

Here is the response I received today from Dan Rutherford regarding my post to him about the recall issue:

Dear ...,

Thank you for taking the time to express your input on whether Illinois should
have the provision of "Recall" for elected officials included in the state
constitution.

The response Committee for Legislative Action (CLA) has received shows that the
public is interested in the matter. If it were to become law, "Recall" would be
a rare, serious and seldom-used power that should not be considered lightly. As
a citizen of Illinois your input is valued.

CLA will continue to gauge public support of "Recall." The findings are posted
at: http://www.CommitteeForLegislativeAction.org Please visit the website to see
the percentages to date.

If you would like to make a donation to help CLA with the outreach on the
"Recall" question, you may do so at:
https://egon.cmititestbank.com/cla/contribute/contribute.asp or by mailing a
check to CLA, 220 West Howard Street, Pontiac IL, 61764. If donating online, be
sure and memo "Recall" in the comments section and we will know where to credit
the contribution. Thank you for your consideration.

I appreciate you taking the time to express your thoughts on this important
public policy matter.

Sincerely,
Dan Rutherford
State Senator
Chairman, CLA
220 W. Howard Street
Pontiac, IL 61764

It appear that we have at least one (state) senator that listens to the people. Good job Dan!

-Bob

Illinois' tricky Dick - Update

Update 10/1/2007 - Today I received the following response from Dick Durbin (in response to: http://blog.justbob.us/2007/09/illinois-tricky-dick.html):

Dear Mr. ...:
  
Thank you for your follow-up message regarding immigration reform.  I
understand your strong feelings on this subject and appreciate hearing
from you.  I will continue to keep your concerns in mind as immigration
reform legislation is considered further by the Senate.

Please feel free to keep in touch on other issues of concern.

Sincerely,                              
                              Richard J. Durbin
                              United States Senator

RJD/tf

P.S. If you are ever visiting Washington, please feel free to join
Senator Obama and me at our weekly constituent coffee.  When the Senate
is in session, we provide coffee and donuts every Thursday at 8:30 a.m.
as we hear what is on the minds of Illinoisans and respond to your
questions.  We would welcome your participation.  Please call my D.C.
office for more details.

What do you think, maybe Dick is at a loss for words?

-Bob