Todd Vandermyde - Illinois NRA lobbyist

Corporal Joined: Dec 12, 2006 Posts: 327

Do a google search of Todd Vandermyde and you will see a few thousand articles about the lobbying battle in Illinois re gun control.

Corporal Joined: Sep 20, 2005 Posts: 788

thanks blackhawkpaul

I did the search. and found this article.

Everything I thought about with the state "assault weapons" ban is coming to fruition. The article was printed almost last year but everything I thought about with the gun issue within state is happening. I didn't even know there were that many gun manufacturers in Illinois. So like I had mentioned before. Money talks and BS walks.

So the governor will may want a state AWB but I don't think he will do it because of the money and jobs lost. But we may see a county wide AWB so they will fight to have a cook county wide AWB, but not a state wide one.

I think that with the new congress, we will see with the gun issue a polarization of counties and states with pro-gun areas and anti-gun areas. So in a sense cook county is a battleground area. I don't think that southern Illinois will become anti-gun anytime soon, and I doubt Chicago will be pro-gun either but cook county, being one of the biggest counties in the country, is a serious battleground with the gun issue.

For me, what happens in cook does affect me because I live in that county and have an "assault weapon". So I'm very interested myself.

Now granted when I do move closer to Chicago, which will happen, I will have to store most of my weapons in storage and have the other ones registered, even if I can even get them registered. Well see on that one. But it may even be better if I hide them in house when I move back into the city metro area, I still haven't decided yet.

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Distribution Source : U.S. Newswire

Date : Wednesday, March 01, 2006

To: State Desk

Contact: Todd Vandermyde of DTV & Associates, 708-218-2180

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., March 1 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Representatives from several Illinois firearms manufacturers met in the state capitol today to express their concerns about pending legislation that would, in effect, run them out of business.

Among the companies represented were ArmaLite of Geneseo, Ill.; Les Baer Custom of Hillsdale, Ill.; Lewis Machine and Tool of Milan, Ill.; Rock River Arms of Colona, Ill. and; Springfield Armory, also of Geneseo.

The bill in question, HB2414, has sparked considerable controversy since its introduction several months ago by Rep. Eddie Acevedo (D-Chicago). HB2414 would ban the manufacture, sale and possession of thousands of styles of firearms now owned by law-abiding Illinois citizens. In effect, the bill would put an end to competitive shooting in the state and render most privately held gun collections worthless.
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At noon, the manufacturers held a press conference in the Blue Room of the Capitol to outline the key points in their opposition to HB2414. Among those points are:

-- The bill serves no practical crime fighting purpose as the firearms that would be banned are rarely used in criminal acts. This fact is the primary reason why the federal ""assault weapons" ban" was not renewed in 2004.

-- The bill sets bad public policy by banning lawfully acquired firearms. In effect, the bill creates two new classes of criminals where none had existed previously. Peaceable, lawful firearm owners would suddenly become potential felons for harboring contraband. Likewise for the state's firearm manufacturers - one day they'd be manufacturing a legal product, the next day they'd be facing jail time.

-- The bill does not at all address the real problem of crime and violence. Nowhere in the bill is there language targeting murderers, robbers, rapists, drug kingpins, gang bangers or any of the other vermin that prowl our streets. Rather, the bill specifically targets hunters, sports shooters, gun collectors, competitive shooters and those who keep firearms for protection against the criminals this bill conveniently ignores.

-- The bill would have a tremendous negative impact on the state's economy. The firearms manufacturers represented at today's press conference contribute over $150 Million to the state's domestic product. With over 750 employees on the payroll, the Illinois firearms manufacturers provide economic stability to a region of the state often overlooked by other investors. If HB2414 is signed into law, the Illinois firearm manufacturers will relocate to other states. In addition to lost jobs and manufacturing revenue, the state's sporting goods retailers would also see over $200 Million in retail sales revenue dry up should HB2414 be signed into law.

"Like all good citizens, the Illinois firearms manufacturers and our customers are more than willing to do our part in fighting crime," said ArmaLite president Mark Westrom. "But, playing our part does not include being vilified and run out of business. HB2414 is a politically-motivated piece of feel good legislation that does a great disservice to the law-abiding people of Illinois."