Rep. Walsh to Governor Quinn: Give Our Constituents the Right to Protect Themselves

Press Release

Today Congressman Joe Walsh (IL-8) and 3 other Members of the Illinois delegation urged Governor Pat Quinn to give residents their constitutional right to protect and defend themselves. Members were called to action by the string of shootings that happened in Chicago over Memorial Day weekend.

"Time and again, the State's anti-gun policies have proven ineffective at best and un-safe for law-abiding citizens at worst," Walsh said. "Currently, Illinois is the only state in this nation that has not passed a conceal and carry gun law. Why? It is time for state lawmakers to give our constituents the constitutional right to protect themselves."

Violent crime in the United States has steadily dropped since the 1990s, yet crime rates in major cities in Illinois continue to increase. There has been a 35% spike in violent crime rates this year alone, and Chicago has one of the highest murder rates in the country.

In the letter to Governor Quinn, Walsh and others stated the obvious correlation between the lack of protections in place and rise in violent crimes. Over the Memorial Day weekend, 40 people were shot and 10 more were killed in Chicago, including a 7-year-old girl.

"I took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, and I will continue to fight for my constituent's Second Amendment rights."

Since coming to Congress, Walsh has been on the front lines of the Second Amendment debate. He has defended the Second Amendment against anti-gun groups stressing the importance of gun rights and how they work to protect residents of Illinois.

The other signatories included Representatives Randy Hultgren (IL-14), Timothy Johnson (IL-15), and Donald Manzullo (IL-16). Walsh led the initiative.

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