Saint Sabina votes to post ‘No Guns Allowed” signs on all of its buildings

Father Pfleger praises Senator Collins for her ‘no’ vote; vows to bust out others

 

By Chinta Strausberg

Referring to state lawmakers who voted to override Gov. Quinn’s changes to Illinois’s Concealed Carry bill, Saint Sabina’s Parish Council late Wednesday night voted to post “no guns allowed” signs on all of its buildings and schools with Father Michael L. Pfleger urging others to follow suit.

Saying he takes this personally given the recent 72 shootings and 12 killings over the holiday weekend, Pfleger said, “We want to put signs up immediately where we stand. We’re disappointed in Springfield. I’m ashamed of the legislators who voted for it.

“If any legislator who voted for this bill comes to our church, I will call them out for voting for this horrible bill that the NRA sponsored. We will put signs up on our buildings as quickly as possible to make it clear that we do not want guns here unless you are turning a gun in,” Pfleger said.

During the Parish Council meeting, members voted in favor of posting the no guns allowed signs including an amendment that made one exception. The only guns allowed on Saint Sabina property will be at the Rectory Office, 1210 W. 78^th Place, where they can turn in any guns without any questions asked.

When asked if others should follow suit, Pfleger said, “I urge every church, stores, businesses, everybody needs to put signs up to take a stand on this thing about guns.”

Praising, Illinois Senator Jacqueline Collins (D-16^th) for voting against HB No. 183’s override amendatory veto, Pfleger said she is to be commended for her eloquent remarks on the floor and her stand to bar guns from places like restaurants that serve liquor and schools. The Senate voted 41 yeas and 17 nays.

On the Senate floor, Collins said, “Parts of my district already resemble the wild West. Today, I voted, once again, to reject the false premise that more guns will make our streets safer.”

In explaining her vote against overriding Gov. Quinn’s amendatory veto of the concealed-carry legislation, Collins said the senator’s “were faced with a Hobson’s choice: to turn down a chance to make Illinois’ concealed-carry law less risky, or to allow a ‘wild west’ scenario in which concealed carry becomes legal tomorrow by court order and no law is in place to restrict how and where firearms are carried.”

Making it clear, Collins said she voted her constituents wishes. “I kept faith with my constituents who live every day in embattled neighborhoods…. I remain committed to laws that protect our neighborhoods and our children from the scourge of violence.”

Despite her pleas and others for cooler heads to prevail, the House voted 77-31 to override Quinn’s amendatory veto and the Senate voted 41-17.

And, though Father Pfleger said if any of those who voted to override Quinn’s amendatory veto comes to Saint Sabina, he will call them out, Rep. Monique D. Davis (D-27) who voted to override his amendatory veto because the federal government gave them a July 9th deadline to have a concealed carry law in place. Illinois is the last state to pass such a law.

Davis disagreed with the governor on his opposition to carrying guns in dining restaurants where alcohol is served. She said 77 lawmakers voted to override Quinn’s bill when “it takes only 71 votes.

“Even if I had voted ‘no,’ it was going to pass,” Davis told this reporter. “The trouble we are having in Chicago is the illegal guns, not the legal guns.”

She is also opposed to the governor’s demands to force people to have 16-hours of weapons training. “We cannot keep pretending that Chicago is an island. We have more gun laws, but we have the highest crime rate. It doesn’t make sense,” said Davis.

She took her anti-violence push one step further by calling on the federal government to dispatch the National Guard to Chicago especially after the last two shootings of babies.

While Davis said most believe the shootings are gang-related or mistaken identity, she asked, “then what about the shootings of these babies”?

Davis took a swipe at Police Supt. Garry McCarthy who said crime is down compared to the same time last year. “Tell that to the mother of the baby who is burying her child,” quipped Davis. “This is not a normal situation where more children are dying than older people.”

“I want the National Guard to come into Chicago to serve and protect the people. Kids have been killed recently in three parks. These criminals should be caught. What would you do if they had on uniforms from other countries? When have you ever heard of more children being buried than seniors? For those of us who have a voice, it’s criminal not to speak up.” Davis criticized those who “don’t want to be against any administration. I have to stand up for my community,” she said.

Taking another swipe at city officials, Rep. Davis said Supt. McCarthy’s proposal to hire 21-year-olds for policemen when the current law is 25 is unacceptable. She has a better idea.

“I want the mayor and the governor, with my help, to establish a commission or task force to guide the National Guard on a daily basis. I want them to serve and protect this city. Are we paying for a park district we can’t use? I want former Police Superintendants Terry Hillard and Jody Weis along with Father Pfleger to direct the activities of the National Guard on a daily basis,” said Davis.

Referring to the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Terrance Graves, a newspaper vendor who also sold fresh fruit at 99^th and Halsted, Davis said, “He had a disagreement with some youth fighting over (drug) territory. They killed him and the community should be outraged.” Davis praised  Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-14^th) for standing with her on this vote. “The tragedy is people can object, but what is your solution”?

“I want the governor to bring in the National Guard to stem the crime,” she said. When told some critics feel their presence would be another level of harassment to the black community, Davis strongly disagreed. “Why would it be police harassment when they would be standing guard around our parks? If gunfire erupts, the National Guard would respond.”

Davis said her idea is better than those who just “sit around waiting for the net headline and killing along 79^th Street, Halsted Street, Auburn Gresham community, Cooper Park and the many other places where gunfire has erupted killing innocent lives.

“Yes, I am angry over these shootings,” she said admitting she is frustrated at the spike in gunfire. “What would happen if these were white children, Irish children or Jewish children? What would happen in Chicago then? I cannot understand the idea of children not being allowed to be children.

“My objective for calling in the National Guard is to have people a bit more fearful of those shooting into a crowd or being caught for killing someone. I am not saying bringing them in will end the shooting, but we’re in a crisis,” Davis said.

“The federal government needs to be involved given the spike in shootings in Chicago. I want President Obama to send someone to be a part of this task force I am proposing to alleviate what is going on. I do know that people want jobs. They want to work, but I don’t believe if you’re not working it makes you a killer,” she said in criticism of those who blame the shootings on the unemployed.

Proving her point, Davis said, “When we were in slavery and were released, they were not trying to find weapons to kill each other. These shootings are unacceptable, and I don’t want to be quiet about it. A child should not have to stay in the house because they might be killed. It’s insane.”

“If the Chicago police cannot catch these shooters, then the National Guard can be here to protect the children. My heart is in the right place…. “

To faith leaders, Davis asked, “How can you preach to a bunch of people without talking about violence? How can you not preach about innocent people losing their lives? We should be outraged about it.”

In fact, Rep. Davis said those who know the identity of the shooters including their own children should turn them into police. “It could save the kid’s life. If you have a child who has gone astray and has weapons and are doing things that are wrong, then do them a favor…turn them in and save their lives.”

And to the critics who are urging the community to police itself, Davis said that’s impossible. “We don’t have that kind of training. We need those who do have the training to be available to protect us.”

Lastly, Rep. Davis said some activists are missing the boat because “liquor billboards are coming back into our community. The black community will once again be inundated with these signs. For years, thanks to Father Pfleger and others, they were prohibited and now they are back. Are we not going to say anything because the mayor is our friend”? She asked. Davis said it’s fight-back time.

Chinta Strausberg is a Journalist of more than 33-years, a former political reporter and a current PCC Network talk show host. You can e-mail Strausberg at: Chintabernie@aol.com.