TECH32
Veteran Member
Story can be found at <a href=http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/29gun.html>link</a>
No guns on menu at 'Taste'
May 29, 2001
BY TIM NOVAK STAFF REPORTER
After 21 years of deep-dish pizza, ribs and cheesecake at the Taste of Chicago,
John Birch wants to add a new item to the menu: concealed guns.
Unloaded, of course.
Concealed guns are illegal in Illinois, but Birch believes a loophole gives people the
right to carry unloaded weapons in fanny packs.
Chicago officials say Birch is wrong, warning that police will arrest everyone
stuffing a gun in their fanny pack alongside their food coupons.
"If anyone is found carrying a concealed weapon, you are breaking the law,"
Chicago police Sgt. Robert Cargie said. "The Chicago police will act
appropriately. If that means arrests, then arrests it shall be."
Birch acknowledges his supporters face misdemeanor charges if they're caught in
Chicago. But he believes they should stand up for their rights.
"Yep, you are invited to load up a fanny pack and head to the Taste of Chicago for
a peaceful demonstration of our rights," Birch says on the Web site for his group,
Concealed Carry Inc. of Oak Brook. "Yes, Mayor Daley has made Chicago a
paradise for armed thugs, but on Wednesday, July 4th, 2001, we will have our
own gun paradise at Taste of Chicago in Grant Park."
Besides encouraging people to break Chicago's gun laws, Birch may also be
inciting trouble at the Taste of Chicago, expected to lure 3 million people to Grant
Park between June 29 and July 8, Ald. Burton Natarus (42nd) said.
"He's nuts," Natarus said. "He's inviting trouble. I think it's a provocation.
"If everybody knows in advance that there are people walking around with
concealed weapons, I think somebody might start a fight. They might start a
provocation to steal that weapon. Then it will end up in the hands of someone who
shouldn't have it.
"There's no reason for this," Natarus said. "Why is he picking on Taste of Chicago,
a large event, if he isn't looking for a provocation?"
Birch said he targeted Taste of Chicago rather than an event near his DuPage
County home because Cook County State's Attorney Dick Devine has threatened
to prosecute anyone charged with carrying a gun in a fanny pack.
Fanny packs are so popular--with people using them to carry wallets, money and
other small items--Birch believes it will be impossible for officials to know which
ones also contain guns.
"It's a big event, and it's a chance for people who are gun advocates to have a
good time," Birch said. "The idea is for Dick Devine to decide how to handle
everyone who has a fanny pack."
Birch is encouraging his supporters to make sure their weapons are unloaded, and
to carry their Illinois firearm owner's identification card. He's also encouraging them
to dress casually, avoding "gun owner clothing" such as camouflage garb.
"We want to show we're law-abiding citizens and we can mix with the rest of
humanity and not harm anybody," Birch said. "We are not gang-bangers. We are
the most law-abiding people in the state. We don't get out of hand."
"Certainly we will cause no problems," Birch said. "I can almost guarantee it. That's
not the kind of people we are. They will have more problems with drunks and lost
kids than they will with us."
Birch said Taste of Chicago patrons have no reason to fear Birch's gun-toting
supporters because they will make it "the safest Taste of Chicago."
Natarus said Birch and his supporters will create further problems for police
officers burdened with crowd control and directing traffic.
"This is supposed to be a fun thing," Natarus said. "People walk onto the scene,
buy something to eat, listen to the music. He's being a killjoy. He's spoiling the fun
for a lot of people. He's throwing cold water on it."
============================================
"If everybody knows in advance that there are people walking around with
concealed weapons, I think somebody might start a fight. They might start a
provocation to steal that weapon. Then it will end up in the hands of someone who
shouldn't have it.
ROFLMAO!! Oh yes, let's go start a fight with someone who's carrying a gun so we can steal if from them! BWHAAHAAHAA!!!!
-TECH32-
No guns on menu at 'Taste'
May 29, 2001
BY TIM NOVAK STAFF REPORTER
After 21 years of deep-dish pizza, ribs and cheesecake at the Taste of Chicago,
John Birch wants to add a new item to the menu: concealed guns.
Unloaded, of course.
Concealed guns are illegal in Illinois, but Birch believes a loophole gives people the
right to carry unloaded weapons in fanny packs.
Chicago officials say Birch is wrong, warning that police will arrest everyone
stuffing a gun in their fanny pack alongside their food coupons.
"If anyone is found carrying a concealed weapon, you are breaking the law,"
Chicago police Sgt. Robert Cargie said. "The Chicago police will act
appropriately. If that means arrests, then arrests it shall be."
Birch acknowledges his supporters face misdemeanor charges if they're caught in
Chicago. But he believes they should stand up for their rights.
"Yep, you are invited to load up a fanny pack and head to the Taste of Chicago for
a peaceful demonstration of our rights," Birch says on the Web site for his group,
Concealed Carry Inc. of Oak Brook. "Yes, Mayor Daley has made Chicago a
paradise for armed thugs, but on Wednesday, July 4th, 2001, we will have our
own gun paradise at Taste of Chicago in Grant Park."
Besides encouraging people to break Chicago's gun laws, Birch may also be
inciting trouble at the Taste of Chicago, expected to lure 3 million people to Grant
Park between June 29 and July 8, Ald. Burton Natarus (42nd) said.
"He's nuts," Natarus said. "He's inviting trouble. I think it's a provocation.
"If everybody knows in advance that there are people walking around with
concealed weapons, I think somebody might start a fight. They might start a
provocation to steal that weapon. Then it will end up in the hands of someone who
shouldn't have it.
"There's no reason for this," Natarus said. "Why is he picking on Taste of Chicago,
a large event, if he isn't looking for a provocation?"
Birch said he targeted Taste of Chicago rather than an event near his DuPage
County home because Cook County State's Attorney Dick Devine has threatened
to prosecute anyone charged with carrying a gun in a fanny pack.
Fanny packs are so popular--with people using them to carry wallets, money and
other small items--Birch believes it will be impossible for officials to know which
ones also contain guns.
"It's a big event, and it's a chance for people who are gun advocates to have a
good time," Birch said. "The idea is for Dick Devine to decide how to handle
everyone who has a fanny pack."
Birch is encouraging his supporters to make sure their weapons are unloaded, and
to carry their Illinois firearm owner's identification card. He's also encouraging them
to dress casually, avoding "gun owner clothing" such as camouflage garb.
"We want to show we're law-abiding citizens and we can mix with the rest of
humanity and not harm anybody," Birch said. "We are not gang-bangers. We are
the most law-abiding people in the state. We don't get out of hand."
"Certainly we will cause no problems," Birch said. "I can almost guarantee it. That's
not the kind of people we are. They will have more problems with drunks and lost
kids than they will with us."
Birch said Taste of Chicago patrons have no reason to fear Birch's gun-toting
supporters because they will make it "the safest Taste of Chicago."
Natarus said Birch and his supporters will create further problems for police
officers burdened with crowd control and directing traffic.
"This is supposed to be a fun thing," Natarus said. "People walk onto the scene,
buy something to eat, listen to the music. He's being a killjoy. He's spoiling the fun
for a lot of people. He's throwing cold water on it."
============================================
"If everybody knows in advance that there are people walking around with
concealed weapons, I think somebody might start a fight. They might start a
provocation to steal that weapon. Then it will end up in the hands of someone who
shouldn't have it.
ROFLMAO!! Oh yes, let's go start a fight with someone who's carrying a gun so we can steal if from them! BWHAAHAAHAA!!!!
-TECH32-
