ADA to the Rescue? -- After reading (and writing) thousands of words about Terri Schiavo, I thought I had heard every possible argument that could be made. But Slate has a great article by a disability-rights lawyer that brings in a new angle:
7. In addition to the rights all people enjoy, Ms. Schiavo has a statutory right under the Americans With Disabilities Act not to be treated differently because of her disability. Obviously, Florida law would not allow a husband to kill a nondisabled wife by starvation and dehydration; killing is not ordinarily considered a private family concern or a matter of choice. It is Ms. Schiavo's disability that makes her killing different in the eyes of the Florida courts. Because the state is overtly drawing lines based on disability, it has the burden under the ADA of justifying those lines.
’Rastling and Prayer -- Uber-blogging pastor Mark Roberts has a new book on prayer called “No Holds Barred”. If the writing is half as good as the inspired cover art it's sure to be a must read.
Gun Nut Query -- Before I discovered blogging, if I needed specific information I had to do the research myself. The problem with that approach is that you can’t always know what you don’t know – or what you need to know to know what you need to know. But now when I need to know what applicable handgun laws I need to know for my new town of Chicago and whether I need to register my handgun (Glock 22 (.40 caliber)) in the state of Illinois, I can just post a query and hope my favorite gun nuts respond. Anyone know the answer?
The Weird Universe -- Dark Matter. Not-so-constant constants. The Placebo Effect. New Scientist finds 13 things that do not make sense. (Assuming it isn’t a fluke, #4 is particularly intriguing.) [HT: Southern Appeal]
The Schiavo Protocol -- Charlie Lehardy reminds us that the Schiavo case is not about abstract concepts but about people – and one husband's unwillingness to accept the role of servant.
The New, New Journalists -- Congratulations to John Coleman for receiving an honorable mention in the Felix Morley Journalism Competition. Keep an eye on John. With his intellect, writing talent, and business acumen he’s bound to be the next Michael Lewis. (But with all the superlatives I could justifiably heap on my buddy, I have to say that he’s not nearly as cute as his fellow HM nominee and (like me) former Dallasite) Brooke Oberwetter.)
1
Regarding your gun, you will need an Illinois Fiream Owners' Identification (FOID) card. Here's the State Police web site that will answer your questions and allow you to print the form. http://www.isp.state.il.us/foid/firearms.cfm
Follow this link (http://www.isp.state.il.us/foid/ordinances.cfm) and choose the municipality you live in (are you really in Chicago or one of the 'burbs?) for specific ordinances regarding gun ownership.
I live in Grayslake in Lake county about an hour from downtown.
Bill
posted on 03.24.2005 12:34 AM2
I lived in E. Dundee, IL for several years. As noted by Mr. Ketterman, you must have an FOID, even to handle ammunition boxes in a gun store (I don't know whether that's actually part of the law, but it's surely how the law was interpreted by the employees of a gun store near my home).
If you are moving within the city limits of Chicago, your guns may be banned. At least that's my recollection of Chicago law.
Note that within recent years, the current governor tried to raise the FOID fee to several hundred dollars, according to a friend o' mine who resides in Cook County.
You be movin' into one gun-unfriendly state, my man... Come on over to sweet TN. Besides, the weather's better. I gay-ron-tee it.
posted on 03.24.2005 6:39 AM3
The disability argument is really lame for two reasons:
- she ain't disabled. for legal purposes, she's PVS. The ADA argument is just a cynical to rally the troops.
- even if we concede that PVS is a form of disability, she's been given the same treatment as anyone else: she's been afforded the right to deny treatment.
posted on 03.24.2005 8:18 AM4
My recollection of the law is that it generally bans guns within Chicago city limits, save for a few special exceptions and (as I recall) certain longguns that have been grandfathered in (i.e., owned by a city resident since 1977 or whenever the law was passed).
I would consult an attorney.
posted on 03.24.2005 9:07 AM5
You might also want to consult the Illinois State Rifle Assn website.
posted on 03.24.2005 11:08 AM6
No handguns within the Chicago city limits. I'm not sure about long guns, those probably just require registration.
You might want to consider giving Kim du Toit a call/email. I'm sure his blog isn't exactly your style, but he is a gun owner and former Chicago resident so he would know the ins and outs.
posted on 03.24.2005 12:09 PM7
"One husbands[sic] unwillingness to accept the role of servant?" Hardly. He has fought tirelessly to see that his wife's wishes are met, despite personal attacks, mounting legal bills, and a ton of negative publicity. And over the years, Terri Schiavo has had no more frequent visitor than Michael Schiavo. Frankly, I don't think she could ask for a better servant.
posted on 03.24.2005 12:12 PM8
Folks, over at my blog's a link to the NYT article on Dr. Cheshire today, who, as it turns out, is probably in Joe Carter's management chain, or at least closely related thereto.
Turns out the guy who has diagnosed Schiavo has said she's basically a flat-liner.
posted on 03.24.2005 12:49 PM9
the courts have decided that she would not want to be kept alive this way. up until the malpractice award came thu, the schiavos and schindlers were a close team taking care of terri together. she had at least threee years of intensive therapy and treatment. this isn;t about one guy deciding to kill a disabled wife. to cast the issue this way is dishonest.
posted on 03.24.2005 1:10 PM10
Oh man, Joe, DON'T actually live in the City of Chicago. As has been pointed out, you can't even own a handgun in your own apartment and don't even bother trying to get a CCW.
Mayor Daley is one of the biggest anti-Second Amendmenters around and -- not satisfied with disarming city inhabitants, he wants to spread his brand of gun control to the entire state. Head to Northern New England! Better skiing, too.
posted on 03.24.2005 2:15 PM11
Oh man, Joe, DON'T actually live in the City of Chicago.
Well, I have to disagree with that. Chicago is my favorite town in the world. You'll have a great time.
I understand that you're in Roger's Park; if true, one of these days you should shoot down to Andersonville and give a restaurant called Atlantique a try (I think it's still around). Great seafood, relatively reasonable prices (for Chicago). Do not pass up the warm lobster salad if it's on the menu. (Do pass up the oyster-sake-raw-quail's-egg-in-a-shot-glass, however, if it's being offerred. Some ideas really are as bad as they sound.)
posted on 03.24.2005 2:42 PM12
Don't get caught in "Moron Grove" (Morton Grove). If you use a gun to shoot at someone who just robbed you, you will be the one thrown in jail. They are truly anti-gun Nazis.
posted on 03.24.2005 4:06 PM13
Dear tgirsch,
I just rewrote these wedding vows and thought you could use them:
Yesterday’s Marriage Vows:
Do you promise to love and cherish her, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, for so long as you both shall live?
Today’s Marriage Vows:
Do you promise to use and enjoy her, in youth and vitality, for gain and for prosperity, for better for purse, and forsaking her druthers, keep your wealth only to transfer, your lust so now she can't live?
Hope this helps you, tgirsch.
posted on 03.24.2005 5:38 PM14
About your gun. The others are correct in the FOID issue. If you are living within the City limits, you have a problem. The last time I looked at the City law, it does not ban handguns, but it does require that you register them. Only problem is, the City hasn't accepted any registering of handguns for about 10 years. So, it isn't illegal if you register it, but you can't register it, so it's illegal. If you are moving to our wonderful area, I strongly suggest you live in the suburbs if you wish to remain legal with your handgun.