Drones will be on the agenda today, as will concealed carry, with Bishop On Air on 970 WMAY, weekdays 10 to noon.
We'll start with a breakdown of the most recent concealed carry legislation that could come up for a vote today. If you missed the blog post yesterday, it's a brief analysis of a bill that's tens of pages long. Be sure you read it.
What do you think? Is it too restrictive, or just right? Be sure to get ready to sound off today with Bishop On Air--listen live and call 217-629-7970!
Then in the 11 o'clock hour, we'll talk drones.
It's not just about the four Americans the President and the DOJ now recognize killing (after it had been out in press reports for years) it's also about the countless woman and children who have been killed at wedding parties and funeral processions in countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen and who knows where else because it's classified. This issues is also about the absolute obliteration of other nations' sovereignty without a deceleration of war.
And for those who think that "you shouldn't be hanging with terrorists in war zones," better wake up and smell the DHS coffee--Some in congress have made open statements that the US is a war zone in the never-ending "War on Terror." The DHS and other law enforcement agencies have put returning vets, libertarians, Christians, pro-life and even pro-choice groups on lists as potential threats (http://start.umd.edu/start/publications/research_briefs/LaFree_Bersani_HotSpotsOfUSTerrorism.pdf).
We could also go on to talk about the lack of due process in drone killings, but we'll save that for the air!
Be sure to tune in online at WMAY.com or on your radio dial at 970 AM, WMAY! Want to sound off? Call 217-629-7970, email, Tweet or Facebook.
There's a copy of an amendment to Senate Bill 2193 introduced by State Representative Brandon Phelps. From what I've been able to gather, the bill provides for a concealed carry (of handguns) process that is state wide, costs $150 for residents, $300 for non residents, require 16 hours of training and creates a board to review denied permit applications. The measure would not allow you to carry in a variety of places like schools, government buildings, arenas and other sporting facilities, gaming establishments and public transpiration Any other privately owned place open to the public would have to post a sign indicating weapons are not allowed. Conceal carry holders would have a duty to inform police upon a traffic stop. It also would work to consolidate the the FOID card and a carry permit.
Illinois has until June 9th to pass a reasonable carry law, an order from the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. Governor Pat Quinn said he must have something on his desk by May 31st in order to meet the deadline.
Gives state 90 days to permit or deny. Has duty to inform during traffic stops " upon "the request of the officer the licensee shall disclose to the officer that he or she is in possession of a concealed firearm under this Act, present the license upon the request of the officer, and identify the location of the concealed firearm."
Creates database of license holders.
If you have "5 or more arrests for any reason that have been entered into the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS), within the 7 years preceding the date of the application for a licences or has 3 or more arrests within the 7 years preceding the date of the application for a license for any combination of gang-related offenses, the Department shall object and submit the applicant's arrest record ..."
Board makeup
Seven commissioners to be appointed by the governor with advice and consent from the senate. Three commissioners from the First Judicial District and a commissioner from each of the remaining districts. No more than 4 commissioners shall be a member of the same political party.
There are requirements to serve on the review board, including experience as a federal judge, attorney or investigator and also psychology Commissioners will serve term that coincides with the governor's term. The board will meet as necessary to review objections to applicants for a license.
Permit requirements
Permits will be issued for people 21 or older, current FOID holder, not convicted or found guilty of misdemeanor physical force, or 2 or more violations related to DUI within 5 years not subject of pending arrest warrant, prosecution, not in residential drug or alcohol treatment completed 16 hours of firearms training. After the 5 years are up for a permit the individual will have to do 3 hours more training. Up to 8 hours of out-of-state training may be accepted towards the initial 16 hours.
Part of the application requirements includes "a full set of fingerprints submitted to the Department in electronic format."
Non-residents could have access to a permit for a $300 fee, plus a bunch of other requirements.
Cost to residents will be $150.
Prohibited areas
No elementary or secondary school buildings, no pre-schools or child care facilities, --- home day care can have guns. You won't be able to carry in government buildings, inducing courts, no public transportation or establishment dealing primarily in liquor. You can't carry in permitted public events (but those walking through to their car or home can still have it), no public playgrounds, public parks, athletic facilities--however, you can take your weapon on a trail. No universities (including parking lots), gaming facilities (including parking lots), stadiums (and parking lots), libraries (including lots), airports (including lots), amusement parks (including lots), zoos or museums (lots).
In other places, if the owner doesn't want a weapon brought in it must be clearly posted.
Your license can be suspended if there's an order of protection of any kind.
Concealed carry, under the amendment, is based on preemption--meaning home rule cities can't make their own laws.
The act also works to consolidate the CC license and FOID card. The act also amends a section of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities code by changing "mental defective" to mentally disabled person. Not sure what that does for the definition of "mentally disabled person".
Illinois has until June 9th to pass a reasonable carry law, an order from the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. Governor Pat Quinn said he must have something on his desk by May 31st in order to meet the deadline.
Coming up with Bishop On Air: Capacity limits passes senate committee, the politics of concealed carry, and more! Don't miss Bishop On Air on 970 WMAY, weekdays from 10 to noon!
They passed what?
The Illinois Senate Executive Committee passed the magazine capacity limit measure, which means it will head to the full Senate floor. What they essentially did is move to potentially make an estimated hundreds of thousands of gun owners felons overnight. Those who passed it hope to "save the children" by limiting the number of high capacity magazines to only allow civilians to have nothing more than 10 rounds per mag. What does that mean? Maybe the below video, the most recent episode in the Gun-Free Zone series, will shed some light on the situation.
So, they think that by limiting the number of rounds you have in a magazine, in essence telling you how many bullets you need to protect yourself, your family and your property, will save the children. But, they are exempting law enforcement and the shooting sports. The magazine capacity limit also essentially puts a vast majority of handguns available on the open market (not the black market) out of limits for you and I, law abiding gun owners.
Kent Redfield
Joining the show just after 10:30 will be professor emeritus Kent Redfield who will help us navigate the looming questions of the concealed carry issue. Will constitutional carry set in? What will happen if the legislature doesn't act? What about the possible appeal from the attorney general's office? We'll get those questions answered with Professor Redfield today with Bishop On Air.
Don't miss Bishop On Air, weekdays from 10 to noon on 970 WMAY. Want to sound off? Email, Tweet or comment via Facebook.
Coming up with Bishop On Air, we'll talk with Chief Engineer of Springfield's City Water Light and Power and about how some in the Illinois General Assembly want to make you a felon, if you own a high capacity magazine.
CWLP
Chief Engineer of City Water Light and Power, Eric Hobbie, joins the show in the 10 o'clock hour to talk about the utility. We'll cover everything from the possibility of another rate hike--just how much would be needed? Also, we'll try to get into the issue of water supply and what is going on between Chatham and CWLP. Don't miss this conversation!
Creating felons
Today could see a vote in Illinois to ban high capacity ammunition magazines. With that, some parents of children killed during the Newtown massacre will push state senators into voting for the measure, saying that the shooter had high capacity magazines that were used. It's a touching story that will absolutely pull at your heart strings, but is it logical to ban law abiding citizens from having magazines that hold more than 10 rounds?
Need a justification for why high capacity magazines are important? Watch the below dramatization of what could easily happen in a neighborhood near you.
Also, consider if this law passes and lawful people are restricted from owning high capacity ammunition magazines, what happens to all those who are in possession of the magazines? Would they have to turn them in? If they didn't, would that possibly make them a felon? So, the state wants to make tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of people felons overnight. That smells like government run amok!
Don't miss Bishop On Air, weekdays from 10 to noon on 970 WMAY. Want to sound off? Email, Tweet or comment via Facebook.
An absolutely jam-packed show today as we bring the man in the center of the police internal affairs files controversey on the air alongside one of his attorneys. Also, we'll talk concealed carry with the stallwart of the Illinois House bill that has bipartisan support. Don't miss Bishop On Air, Thursday edition, from 10 to noon on 970 WMAY, The News and Talk of Springfield
File Destruction
Just after the Crime of the Week with CrimeStoppers, we'll be joined in studio by Calvin Christian III and on the phone by his attorney Don Craven.
Christian has several suits against the city, one of which that deals with the destruction of requested files just got a victory with the city agreeing to do a forensic mirror of any backups and to provide City of Springfield internal communications about Calvin's requests and the destruction of the files.
That's all during the 10 o'clock hour.
Conceal Carry Now
Democrat State Representative Brandon Phelps of Harrisburg will join Bishop On Air just after 11 to talk about his efforts to pass a comprehensive and NRA friendly concealed carry law before the June 9th court order deadline.
We'll also get his take on the Illinois Senate version.
Plus, we'll try to understand what could happen if lawmakers fail to pass a reasonable carry law ... is constiutional carry likely?
This and more when you catch Bishop On Air today from 10 to noon, only on 970 WMAY, The News and Talk of Springfield.
"If you don't ... [e]nforcement action could include filing a lien against your property or a levy on your wages or bank accounts."
That's not a threat? That's not violence?
These jokers think they can get away with targeting certain segments of the population for being critical of big government. That's as appalling as the FBI targeting civil rights leaders for being critical of the government and their egregious policies.
Oh, and the IRS ... this the same bureaucracy that wants to handle the new health care overhaul behemoth?
The Obama administration has some 'splaining to do! Not only have the past few weeks focused on what really transpired in Benghazi--which some intelligence analysts say covered up weapons transfers to factions of al-Qaeda--but there is also the IRS targeting groups with the name TEA Party or groups that are critical of the government. Now there's a new controversy ... the Department of Justice snagging phone records of Associated Press reporters. More chilling affects from a government run amok.
Giving Obama the Bird
Oh, and how could we forget to mention this story:
[T]he administration has never fined or prosecuted a wind-energy company, even those that flout the law repeatedly. Instead, the government is shielding the industry from liability and helping keep the scope of the deaths secret.
...
More than 573,000 birds are killed by the country’s wind farms each year, including 83,000 hunting birds such as hawks, falcons and eagles, according to an estimate published in March in the peer-reviewed Wildlife Society Bulletin.
Other reports indicate that the Obama administration has prosecuted oil companies with federal charges when birds drown in their waste pits and power companies when birds are electrocuted by power lines. Is this an example of favoritism?
Boozing on the job
Except for undercover cops, Springfield Police are barred from being intoxicated on the job. Sangamon County deputies are also barred from being even the slightest bit intoxicated while on duty. But, that's not the case for some police departments around the state. There's an effort to push for a statewide standard to have a zero tolerance policy for on-duty police. Does that go far enough?
Freezing File Destruction
After 11:30 we'll be joined by Aldermen Sam Cahnman who has several ordinances up for consideration in the Springfield City Council concerning the early destruction of internal affairs files at the police department. One ordinance, which failed to pass on emergency passage, would freeze the destruction of files without Aldermanic approval. Our conversation is on the heels of yet another suit filed by Calvin Christian seeking all internal communications pertaining to the FOIA requests.
That's all ahead with Bishop On Air. Questions? Comments? Email, Tweet or Facebook.
So the IRS wants to keep closer tabs on groups who criticize the government. That's just a conspiracy theory, right? Nope. We'll discuss the chilling affect of the government using certain agencies to compartmentalize groups with certain political stance.
Printable guns ... seems like science fiction, but it's reality. The federal government is looking to stifle free speech to appease international weapons trade treaties. They are talking about files posted online that provide schematic plans to be used in printing a gun using a 3D printer. Haven't yet heard of this? Not surprising. We'll talk about it coming up with Bishop On Air.
Cody Willson's "Liberator"
On the subject of firearms, we'll talk about the pending deadline for some kind of carry law here in the Land of Lincoln.
That's all ahead with Bishop On Air from 10 to noon only on 970 WMAY, The News & Talk of Springfield.
Apparently there were some tourists checking out some Lincoln sites while flying around in an unidentified flying object checking--also known as a UFO. I first saw a message posted to Facebook about a UFO sighting early this morning. I then saw a Facebook friend post some pictures. You can see the pictures below:
Photos reportedly from Mike Pratt
I talked with one of the witnesses to the UFO. Tim Day tells me that he is not a UFO guy ... he doesn't obsess about this stuff. He claims to have seen a large triangular object floating over South East High School in Springfield between 12:30 and 3 am Wednesday morning. Day says that the object made some bizarre sounds like what you'd hear off in the distance after a crash at a race like the Daytona 500. He also said that the object would ascend and descend rapidly. Day also says that at that time of day there are typically helicopters flying around. He didn't see any other aircraft overnight. After calling around to various officials with radar equipment and even making a call to the Springfield Police Department, Day said he took to Facebook where he found some friends reporting they witnesses something similar.
Now, I did talk with a deputy chief with Springfield Police and he told me that there wasn't a flux of calls talking about unidentified flying objects. He also said "Bishop, I'm starting to question your sanity." Me too, Deputy Chief ... me too.
Is this a legitimate UFO sighting? I don't know. One thing I will say is I don't believe in "extraterrestrials." I do believe in unidentified flying objects as they are defined: objects that are unidentified and flying. When it comes to the possibility of some kind of "disclosure" this satirical cartoon always comes to mind.
Whatever you make of this, one thing's for sure--there's rarely a dull moment in Springfield!
Catch Bishop On Air Weekdays from 10 to Noon, CST, on 970 WMAY!
Today, We'll discuss what's happening with the SOHO Music Festival. Apparently there is an issue with the two-day-music-even-for-charity being booked on the same site as the upcoming Civil War reenactment. Watch past year's videos of both events below:
Civil War Medical Encampment--2011
The Music Must Go On--SOHO 2012
Now, which seems like more fun, and could generate more revenue to the downtown?
Also, we'll cover the latest in the ongoing developments about Springfield Police Internal Affairs Documents being destroyed. Mayor Mike Houston has requested that Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Read the story and the letter here.
Then, after 11, we'll be joined by Marine Veteran and staunch libertarian commentarian Adam Kokesh about an "Open Carry" rally he plans to hold in DC this July. We'll find out what the plan are. Below, you can see another rally that Kokesh was part of back in 2011 at the Jefferson Memorial where people danced in protest to regulation prohibiting any form of dancing as free speech.
Clear First Amendment Violation
That's all coming up with Bishop On Air. Don't miss it!
