Otis McDonald, left, applauds a point made by IGOLD spokesman Valinda Rowe at the pre-march warm-up at the Prairie Capital Convention Center. Otis McDonald was the plaintiff in the landmark civil rights case McDonald v. Chicago. More gun owners were still filing in when this shot was taken at about 12:25. Click for larger image.Otis McDonald, a humble and kind man, speaks a few words. Watching are some of the plaintiffs of various recent civil rights cases that have come down in favor of gun owners’ rights. In the middle, in the yellow T-shirt, is Mary Shepard of Shepard v. Madigan, the case that struck down Illinois’ prohibition on carry outside the home.
Despite a wicked winter storm in northern Illinois, approximately 8100 gun owners still managed to converge on Springfield, Illinois for Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day (IGOLD) on Wednesday, March 6, 2013.
IGOLD began in 2007 as the Illinois State Rifle Association joined forces with other gun clubs, organizations and Internet forums to have a massive turnout at the Statehouse in Springfield to lobby legislators and the state’s elected officials.
In the first year, nearly 1200 people turned out and the crowds have grown consistently.
This year, the weather was very unfavorable for those in northern Illinois as a winter snowstorm blew through Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning. At least a half-dozen buses from northern Illinois were cancelled because of road conditions and others were late. Plenty more individuals tried to drive down and turned back because of treacherous road conditions.
Despite these challenges, over eight thousand dedicated gun owners turned out to advocate for the principles our nation was founded upon and to rally against recreating past tyrannies.
Speakers, including politicians and the NRA’s contract lobbyist for Illinois Toddy Vandermyde and representatives from the major sponsoring gun rights organizations warmed up the crowd at the Prairie Capital Convention Center before the six-block walk to the Statehouse. Other speakers included plaintiffs of a several of the recent landmark civil rights cases.
The eight-block march / parade of gun owners is just getting underway. Click for larger image.
Springfield Police blocked traffic and escorted the marchers through eight blocks of downtown Springfield. Contrast this support from local law enforcement with the so-called welcome Chicago gave to protesters last year…
Photographers await the crowd at the railroad overpass over Capitol Avenue.
This is the sight that causes anti-gun politicians in Springfield to piddle down their legs. Click for a larger image.
Gun owner approach the final street before on Statehouse property like a giant tsunami. Click for a larger image.
The tsunami of gun owners surges forward. Click for a larger image.
Gun owners were strung out over at least four city blocks. Click for a larger image.
Pressing the flesh: Guns Save Life leadership and members visit Illinois’ Treasurer Dan Rutherford, seen as a likely Republican candidate for governor in 2014. Click for a larger image.
Senator Chapin Rose talks strategy…
… with a who’s who of gun rights leaders and IGOLD participants.
Strengthening partnerships: Guns Save Life’s John Naese, left, with Days of our Trailers’ Roy Kubicek. Roy’s now officially famous… as national gun banners complained of his work (taking quotes out of context) at a Congressional hearing last week, earning Mr. Kubicek inclusion into the Congressional Record. Click for a larger image.
Chapin with a bunch of us in the hallway outside his office. Click for larger image! (Email templar223 at comcast.net for the really high-res version).
It’s the criminals, stupid! Click for larger image.
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