At least he doesn't seem to have threatened to 'snuff' anyone this time

I've talked a bit about the Illinois forcible citizen disarmament lobby's ignominious defeat of their most cherished legislation, HB 48 (which would have banned private handgun sales). I have to admit, a little celebratory gloating feels pretty good.

Someone, though, is not at all happy.

To: Illinois House Representatives
From: Rev. Michael L. Pfleger, Saint Sabina Church
Re: HB48
Date: March 26, 2009

To all the legislators who voted no to HB48, I ask the question, why? I watched and listened to your hollow arguments and your statements wondering whether HB48 would make things any better or not, or whether there was a better bill that could do more, but I could not help but think maybe, yes, maybe there is better legislation to be written. Maybe this won't do enough, but why weren't you willing to try to see, to give it a chance? If you do nothing, nothing will change. If you do something, you are putting yourself in position to make a difference. Especially since you have offered no other legislation. Are your hearts that insensitive or your allegiance to the National Rifle Association that strong that you could not say well we'll give it a try? Anything to help save one life - anything to try and stop one more gun from getting into the wrong hands.

Yes, I watched and listened to your arguments loud and clear, but I also hear the blood of my foster son who was killed by gun violence and the countless other sons and daughters killed by gun violence crying out from the grave. Perhaps, like Cain, in the book of Genesis, you ask, "Am I my brother's keeper?" The answer then and the answer now is, yes!
I wonder when another life is gunned down, if you will feel anything. I continue to pray for you and for the safety for your children and all our children.

As mentioned in the title of this post, the fact that Pfleger managed to refrain from threatening to "snuff" the legislators who have displeased him is progress. Although the incident discussed here is most famous for his threats to "snuff" John Riggio, the owner of the gun shop that is the perennial target of the Chicago-area gun prohibitionists' wrath, he also threatened to "snuff" legislators who didn't go along with his gun banning agenda.

Still, pro-rights legislators in Illinois would be well advised to not turn their backs on "Snuffy" and his mob.

The Armed Schoolteacher has much more (well--much more analysis and insight--I think I managed more snark and pettiness than he did).