Prairie State Wire

Federal District Court Judge Iain D. Johnston ruled on Friday that Illinois' ban on carrying firearms on public transportation and in public transportation facilities is unconstitutional. This decision specifically applied to plaintiffs Benjamin Schoenthal, Mark Wroblewski, Joseph Vesel, and Douglas Winston but is seen as a broader victory for the Second Amendment community in Illinois.

"Plaintiffs Benjamin Schoenthal, Mark Wroblewski, Joseph Vesel, and Douglas Winston were vindicated," the statement read. The ruling challenges the constitutionality of restrictions that have been in place.

The statement highlighted ongoing safety concerns within Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) properties. "Chicago Transit Authority trains and facilities remain a target-rich environment for dangerous criminals who freely roam CTA properties as they terrorize innocent victims," it said. The recent incident involving four fatalities on the Blue Line train in Forest Park was cited as an example of these dangers.

Criticism was also directed at CTA President Dorval Carter. "It’s also sad that CTA President Dorval Carter spends more time traveling around the world and flying on a plane than visiting Chicago transit stations and ensuring that his customers get to their destinations safely and without incidents."

The Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) emphasized its active role in legal actions concerning gun rights. "The ISRA is presently leading the charge as a named plaintiff on two cases and playing a supporting role in an additional five more – totaling 7 cases dealing with constitutional issues and on behalf of law-abiding gun owners in Illinois."

Additional quotations from the statement underscored various perspectives on gun rights advocacy:

"Ninety-eight percent of the people in this country are decent, hardworking, honest Americans. It’s the other lousy two percent that get all the publicity."

"The people who work against your gun rights are basically saying to you, 'The right of the criminal to rip you off, rape and kill you shall not be infringed.'"

"I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man but must be taught to protect herself."

"You may find me one day dead in a ditch somewhere. But by God, you’ll find me in a pile of brass."

"Using inner-city kids as your proof that guns and kids don’t mix is like using an alcoholic to prove all people will abuse alcohol."

"How dare politicians continue to pass insane laws forcing good, law-abiding people to be defenseless and helpless."

"The said Constitution [shall] never be construed to authorize Congress to infringe or prevent the people of the United States from keeping their own arms."

"One of the greatest delusions in the world is hoping that evils can be cured by legislation."

"No free man shall ever be debarred from using arms."

"Foolish liberals who are trying to read the Second Amendment out of the Constitution are courting disaster by encouraging others to use similar means against portions they dislike."

"Every 13 seconds in America someone uses a gun to stop a crime."

"The AK-47 is not a device of aggression … I devised this machine-gun for my country's security."

For further information or inquiries:

Main Office

Illinois State Rifle Assn PO Box 637 Chatsworth, IL 60921

(815) 635-3198

member@isra.org

ISRA Range

1589 N 7000 W Road Bonfield, IL 60913

(815) 939-1909

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