Illinois Marijuana gun control
(AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
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FOIA is your friend. These documents come directly from the second in command in the Land of Lincoln, the Illinois Lieutenant Governor’s office (when she’s not waiting in line to buy marijuana). First, let’s set the stage.

October 28, 2019

The Lt. Governor‘s office reached out to Sara Knizhnik, who is with the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence. She’s also an organizer with the Illinois Gun Violence Prevention Coalition.

The subject: R3 grants (more on that later).

Note that last sentence:

“…looking forward fo speaking with you and hearing about (what) the coalition (ILGVPC) is doing“.

Moving on.

October 30 to November 5, 2019

A bunch of planning to chat via phone.

November 7, 2019

Email sent from Emily Harwell of the Lt. Governor’s office discussing an opportunity to participate in the grant-making process.

November 8, 2019:

Sara Knizhnik forwards the message to members of the Illinois Gun Violence Prevention Coalition:

Who are the members of the Illinois Gun Violence Prevention Coalition that are part of this? Who is Sara encouraging to “have a say in how the new state level funding for violence prevention will be implemented”?

You can see them all here. They include . . .

Openly partisan groups

Michael Bloomberg’s moms who demand gun control…and Giffords, too

A political action committee with the sole purpose of lobbying for gun control

Illinois marijuana gun control

Meet G-PAC

You may be wondering, what funds these grants? Refer back to those R3 grants mentioned in the first email and also what Sara Knizhnik encourages the ILGVP Coalition to get involved in.

That brings us to January 13, 2020:

Twenty-five percent of the tax revenue raised from legal weed sales will fund the R3 grants. So when you buy weed in Illinois, you’re helping fund gun control groups (or the programs they support…and those that support them).

Is anyone surprised, though, that gun grabbers would use vice money to further their cause?

From USA Today:

The marijuana industry in Illinois could eventually bring in $1.69 billion to $2.58 billion in annual revenue, according to a study by Colorado consulting firm Freedman and Koski. That would mean an additional $440 million to $676 million in annual tax revenue statewide, the study said.

That’s between $110 million and $169 million going to support gun control operations if the projections pan out. Annually.

How many ACTUAL gun safety groups do you think will be invited to participate in the ICJIA grant review process?

Here’s Illinois Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton doing her (25%) bit for gun control in the Land o’ Lincoln:

Marijuana Illinois attorney general juliana stratton
Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton purchases recreational marijuana at Sunnyside dispensary Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

 

This post was originally published at Mom-At-Arms.com and is reprinted here with permission. 

All FOIA document images courtesy Mom-At-Arms.com.

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47 COMMENTS

  1. So when you’re high, you really couldnt care less where your weed bucks are going!? Like I keep saying, “keep em dumb and dependent, you can disarm em any time after that”!

  2. Well, it kind of fits. If you buy Marijuana (legal or not in your state, medical or recreational), you are not allowed to purchase a firearm. The Obama administration had that explicitly added to the 4473 form we fill out when we purchase a gun.

    Of course, that only applies to law abiding citizens; a thug in Chicago doesn’t bother to fill out a 4473 when he buys his illegal gun.

      • If I have to go for Chemotherapy, I’d like to stop someplace where I can buy it to manage the downside of the treatment (i.e. constant vomiting). And if Illinois isn’t an option, what state being detoured too is…

        • You phishing for info, Leslie? The first time I ever saw your name (earlier this week), you went on a constant argument all the way down the comment thread debating everyone’s replies with “yeah, but what if…”

          Sounds like you don’t know much about POTG and are trolling for info to use in a publication somewhere.

          Oh wait, what’s this attached to your username?? A blog page set up fifteen years ago through an old site but never used? An enigma, this Leslie is.

          http://[email protected]/

        • Never said I was against Firearms! Only in the proper interpretation as to what the Firearm Law IS and not what people would like them too be…

        • If so, then why are you asking people for their opinions and interpretations, instead of going directly to official State and/or County gov’t websites to see “what the law is” directly, like most of us do?

          Just sayin’, there’s something a bit “off”. Can’t quite tell yet if you’re a genuine new POTG who’s curious and looking for answers, or just another troll who happened to find TTAG. Time will tell.

        • Because most is just “Blather” without any credible sources that didn’t come from or indirectly from sources like Alex Jones, or wannabe’s. While a few actually do produce sources that can be easily verified…

        • Haz, he-she posts here under *numerous* names over the past few years.

          But I have noticed, as you have, that taken as a whole, the posts don’t really ever seem to add up as being by someone who is pro-2A…

        • I doubt you need or are having Chemotherapy.

          More probably that you are a keyboard coward and Socialist Democrat liar.

          Go do your transparent trolling somewhere else.

    • State with gun friendly weed?

      My mistake, I assumed people on this site understood gun laws.

      The 4473 is a FEDERAL form that is required every time you purchase a gun (I assume that you haven’t ever). It does not mater what state you are in, you have to answer question 11.e:

      “Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance? Warning: The use or possession of marijuana remains unlawful under Federal law regardless of whether it has been legalized or decriminalized for medicinal or recreational purposes in the state where you reside.”

      Answer YES and you cannot purchase a firearm.

      • And how many people on this Blogsite use “Weed” on a regular basis, and still manage to fill out an 4473 form and not think twice about doing so…

  3. Tax revenue to fund a political party?

    You’d think that would be all kinds of illegal in a free republic. But Alas. That’s something that aught to be addressed in a constitutional amendment. Double alas: of course the parties would not vote for it.

    • This is just one state. Obama’s slush fund did it on a national level, directing billions to left wing interest groups.

  4. Just like how buying beer and guns sends tax money to Guns save lives, fpc, Goa, and NRA-ila! Wait, they don’t get grant money from our taxes? Why not? Gotta be fair here!

  5. I’m not sure why you would buy ‘legal’ weed in IL anyway. It cost about $100/gram with all the taxes. It would be cheaper to grow your own.

    • Or just buy it from your usual ‘connection’ who doesn’t put your name on any ‘lists’…

  6. Pot Heads have always been socialist Progressive in their political orientation. They have always supported gun control. In California they were the ones pushing it the most back in the 1970s and 1980s.

    The White drug legalization crowd said that if they could just make marijuana legal there would be no reason for black drug dealers to have guns.

    The major money backers of gun control in the western States are the marijuana billionaires.

    Pothead who want guns are Fudds. They have never supported the Bill of Rights.

    • The most intelligent, driven, patriotic, and pro gun/anti government people I know are also “potheads” and hate leftists even more than you do. Do you even know just how popular weed is in the US? Simple math indicates they can’t all be the crunchy vegan hippy socialist types you’re obviously picturing

      • to Red in CO
        I was raised by potheads. My father waisted his Phd. from Princeton. He liked smoking pot more than supporting my mother and me. I’ve met people who left the military because they wanted pot more than a military job. And the military was giving them a second chance.
        Potheads are the most unreliable people I have ever encountered. You say you are proLiberty, pro gun. Ok good. You are one in a hundred thousand. The west coast is F#cked up because marijuana smokers have never taken being responsible seriously. And the ones who don’t smoke, but support it, are totally clueless as to the damaging effects of long term marijuana intoxication.

        btw
        There was an multi-million dollar NFL player who quit the game because the League gave him a choice. Either play ball and stop smoking pot. Or leave the NFL.
        He publicly said he would rather smoke dope with his friends than play in the NFL.

        You too would give up a job that pays really big $$$$, just to smoke pot correct????

  7. Alrighty then…I barely learned anything about my effed up state. Except I need to leave. IF I wanted to get get-high weed I have some very old friends who last I knew still partook of the herb. And own lot’s of guns😃

    • I ever find that any of my employees report to work baked, or anyone on my church security team is dipping in the weed, I’ll terminate their position immediately. I will not have any pot users driving forklifts or carrying guns/weapons under my charge.

      If you want to smoke pot, do it on your own time. If you want to carry a gun and you approach me with the smell on you, I’ll treat you just as if you’re intoxicated by alcohol, and take measures to safeguard myself and those around us. May include firing you or even detaining/arresting you. So don’t smoke and carry, and you’ll never have to worry about having any problems.

      Oh wait, you say you want the liberty to do both at the same time? Okay. So let’s say you toked a single joint and now someone breaks into your house to rob you. One thing leads to another, the intruder displays a gun, you draw yours and shoot him, and now the cops are there taking the report. That report goes to your local D.A. who will inquire if anyone involved was under the influence (pot, beer, meds, whatever) that might have negatively influenced the ability to make decisions. And whamo! you’re in hot water.

      Use your head, man.

        • Read my comment again in its entirety. There are limits and responsibilities that come with liberty.

          You have a right to drink, but not endanger me and my family by getting behind the wheel and driving in my direction. You have a right to put whatever you want into your body, but not operate heavy machinery (forklift driver), administer care (nurse or pharmacist), or carry a gun in public service (law enforcement) while you’re under the influence. You also have a right to own and carry a gun, but not wave it around in people’s faces. I retain my right to terminate your employment or release you from my security team if I ever find you intoxicated. Then you’ll have plenty of time to stay at home and clambake yourself to your heart’s content. You just won’t be getting your paycheck from me anymore.

  8. They get you coming and going. Not only do you find gun control organizations. You are also now a federally prohibited person.

  9. An armed society is a polite society . A stoned society is a complacent , easily controlled society.personally I feel like the gun grabbers want people to use , so they can take advantage of them in a Dumbed down state of consciousness. Especially habitual users. I personally never saw the appeal of weed . I’m also not going to judge those that do , what do you value more , your guns or your grass. Imho it’s a no brainer.

  10. Historically it doesn’t get any more deceitful crooked immoral treasonous and socialist than the corrupt Daley Democrat Machine in Chicago, Illinois in Cook County! This is all predicated upon anti-gun “LBJKGB” style class warfare and is malevolently and punitively aimed at the innocent law abiding gun owner! No…..this is not about public safety, making our communities safer, or reducing death. It’s all predicated upon subversive political Saul Alinsky inspired deceit, class warfare, and people control! The gun control/civilian disarmament movement is financed largely by powerful tax exempt left wing foundations, and elitist billionaires who are so far removed and out of touch with the common blue collar working class of America it defies decency!
    Most of these anti-gun elitists have armed bodyguards protecting their asses 24/7 and often at tax payer’s expense!

    James A. “Jim” Farmer
    Merrill, Oregon (Klamath County)
    Long Live The State of Jefferson!

    On the net: JPFO, Inc. at http://www.jpfo.org. JPFO, Inc. is “America’s Aggressive Civil Rights
    Organization” and is non-NRA affiliated. Also, News With Views at http://www.NewsWithViews.com and The Roseburg Beacon at http://www.roseburg beacon.com.

  11. So, as a group whose number one mission is gun safety and prevention of inadvertent gun violence, why isn’t the Illinois NRA instructors organization not applying for R3 grants? Seems to me that most pro gun groups serve a dual purpose of protecting gun rights as well as trying to reduce injuries due to gun violence – by teaching victims to shoot back, among other things. Refuse to be a Victim groups is outstanding in this regard – Illinois NRA affiliates, take your rightful place at the trough!

  12. Can’t wait til mayor Pete decriminalizes ALL drug possession and all these liberal groups take an immediate hit to their cash flow.

  13. Well that sucks. Out of curiosity I wonder what some of the booze companies think about gunms?
    Whomever throwed that second amendment in the bill of rights certainly is messing up a lot of humans dreams. I do not believe I’ve ever seen such a hate for gunms as in this last decade. 1994 was bad however it didn’t seem as if as many states were on board with grabbing gunms. Most if the anti gunmenners I’m sure are motivated by the mass shootzings in skools and places of wordship . But let’s trade that gunm for a meat cleaver and say it could do the same thing. Now the hating goes on the meat cleaver, make it a car, the problem is not the vehicle of death but the persons driving the vehicle..

  14. And when you consume coffee you are supporting Communist governments. Imagine the fury if the most common abused substance was outlawed. As a former employer I would rather have someone that smoked a little weed over the hungover guy that showed up late, called in sick, or was just unproductive.

  15. That’s one of the many reasons the lefty wanted it legalized, they had the media to show and use families and children to pass this law, the lefty don’t care about anyone or anything, but what they want, they knew that there was alot of money in the sale of drugs, an they wanted in, so they would have more cash flow to buy their way into destroying America, as the old saying goes the government can’t stand competition, like why is moonshine elegal because our grovnment wasn’t getting any revenue from it’s sale, same with everything drugs an all, you can bet your ass it wasn’t to help the people who could use it for medical needs. It’s just another way for them to steal from you, just look at your check stab, they get some on payday, then the state gets some, then when you go to the store fuel pump, car lot, well anything you buy legally, under the table is the only way u can purchase something without putting more fund’s in the true thief pocket, check your bank at tax time, unless you’re rich then they have a loophole for you all, weed, weed,

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