Illinois Review's story about Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy’s remarks accusing gun rights groups of being corrupt and obstructing public safety have angered at least one Illinois legislator - State Sen. Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap) who called them "inflammatory and insulting to Illinois’ 1.3 million citizens who hold FOID cards."
“I was shocked by his comments about the Second Amendment. McCarthy’s problem should not be with law-abiding firearm owners or their right to petition the government, but in his and the City of Chicago's inability to curb gang gun violence,” LaHood said. “I think pro-gun legislators are committed to working with Chicago legislators, Mayor Emanuel and others to address the gang problems, but such comments from the Superintendent are counterproductive."
LaHood served as a state and federal prosecutor for over nine years, and believes that proper enforcement and prosecution of current federal and Illinois’ guns laws, and passage of concealed carry legislation, is the best avenue to reduce crime. “I would urge the Superintendent to choose his words more carefully when talking about law-abiding gun owners. His ‘corrupt special interests’ are an overwhelming majority of my 220,000 constituents who demand immediate action on concealed-carry laws,” LaHood said. "Rhetoric and inflammatory comments will not decrease the homicide rate or move concealed-carry laws any more quickly. Calmer heads must prevail.”
Senator LaHood is currently a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 1248, the Senate’s leading version of concealed-carry legislation. He is also the chief sponsor of SB 2190, which would restrict local governing bodies’ ability to impede on the Second Amendment and the potential right-to-carry.
