May 29, 2007 - Report from Springfield
As all as most of you know Father Michael Pfleger has threatened John Riggio (the owner of Chuck's Gun Shop) and Illinois lawmakers with being "snuffed out". We all know what that means. Fr. Pfleger has described the ISRA as a bunch of low lifes.
Excuse me, but I don't recall any of us calling for the out right murder of those who oppose us politically. That is a privilege reserved for the left wing wacos. People like Pfleger, Osterman, and Kotowski to name a few seem to get away with anything with the blessing of the "main stream" media.
I was interviewed today regarding the Fr. Pfleger story but the tape was not shown. It makes you wonder doesn't it?
I expect the session to go past the "deadline". All antigun bills will either have their deadline extended of returned to rules, or placed on second reading, which means the same thing.
I am asking all of you to pass the word about what is happening here in Springfield. We need to let all gun owners know what is going on and to join the ISRA.
Thank you for your continuing faith and support. It means a lot to all of us down here including the pro-gun legislators who are fighting for all of us.Richard A. Pearson
Please forward this alert to all bulletin boards.
If you are not a member of the ISRA, please join. Please get a friend to join.
Please consider making a legislative donation to the ISRA.
ISRA Press Release - May 29, 2007:
Chicago Priest Calls for Murder of Gun Shop Owner
SPRINGFIELD, Ill., May 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA): Nobody expected Saturday's Operation PUSH protest at Chuck's Gun Shop & Range to be anything other than a circus of the bizarre. However, nobody anticipated that an address by a Chicago priest would include a call for the murder of a suburban gun shop owner and legislators who oppose gun control.
During an address at an anti-gun rally in front of Chuck's, Rev. Michael Pfleger, pastor of St. Sabina's Church, exhorted the crowd to "drag" shop owner, John Riggio, from his shop "like a rat" and "snuff" him. Rev. Pfleger went on to tell the crowd that legislators that vote against gun control legislation should be "snuffed" as well. As many know, "snuff" is slang for especially violent murder.
The ISRA has a recording of Pfleger's remarks in MP3 format.
"Certainly Fr. Pfleger has offered Absolution to a murderer or two during his tenure as a priest," commented ISRA Executive Director, Richard Pearson. "That's why it's shocking to hear him actually advocate the murder of a gun shop owner who has never committed a crime in his life. He then compounds the problem by calling for the murder of legislators who disagree with his personal political views -- something I suspect is a felony in this state. Pfleger's comments were disgusting and dangerous. And, I seem to remember that the Fifth Commandment frowns on murdering one's neighbor."
"This week, I'll be penning a letter to the Archbishop, expressing my concerns over Rev. Pfleger's comments," continued Pearson. "I would hope that the Archbishop would reply with words of comfort for Mr. Riggio, his family, state legislators, and all others who were injured by Rev. Pfleger's thoughtless, inflammatory remarks."
The ISRA is the state's leading advocate of safe, lawful, and responsible firearms ownership. Since 1903, the ISRA has represented the interests of over 1.5 million law-abiding firearm Illinois firearm owners.
