Springfield is, of course, the capital of the great state of Illinois, one of the least firearm-friendly locales in the nation. Most of the anti-gun antipathy there emanates from the corrupt county of Cook far to the north. If it were just left up to downstaters, Illinois would have long ago enacted shall-issue concealed carry laws. For now though, Illinoisans can only dream. And vote. Right along with their friends and neighbors in the cemeteries. But if Chicago pols wanted any examples of how guns can save lives and prevent crime- have no illusions, they don’t – they just have to look to what happened at the Home Town Pantry convenience store Thursday night when a robber pulled a pistol . . .
According to sj-r.com, the stick-up man presented a pistol wrapped in a white t-shirt (for some reason) and demanded money from the two clerks behind the counter.
As the gunman leaned over the counter, one of the employees grabbed a pistol, pointed it upward at a 45-degree angle and fired a single shot, police said. The would-be robber then ran out of the business.
The clerk had the necessary Illinois Firearm Owners Identification card so apparently he won’t face any charges. This week’s goings on almost duplicated another armed robbery attempt at the same store last July.
Two men entered the store and pointed weapons at the two clerks behind the counter. One of the intruders was armed with a shotgun, and the other was carrying a handgun.
Police said one of the clerks retrieved his own handgun and fired a round at the man with the shotgun. The bullet missed him and struck a display shelf. The man with the shotgun dropped it on the floor before running away with the other would-be robber.
Of course, if the Chicago machine had their way, their citizens and those throughout the state – people just like the two Home Town Pantry clerks – would be left with no way to defend themselves, save perhaps a tape dispenser. The city has been dragged kicking and screaming toward easing some of the strictest gun controls laws in the country by the McDonald decision. How long it takes for them to get concealed carry in the Land of Lincoln is anyone’s guess. But it will happen. It’s only a matter of time.