Footloose and Sanity Free

Someone once asked Abraham Lincoln: "How many legs does a McHenry County voter have if you call his firearm a leg?"

Lincoln answered: "Two. If that McHenry County voter has a firearm, then it is likely he has shot off one of his feet."

If it seems that everyone in McHenry County is a foot shorter, it's not because they are shrinking:

A 74-year-old man accidentally shot himself at a McHenry gun range Saturday afternoon, authorities said. The man was practicing using a 9 mm pistol at CY Armory, 2908 W. Route 120, when he shot himself in the right thigh
Man accidentally shoots himself in leg at McHenry gun range

In related news, Walk Like a Pirate Day has been declared a holiday in McHenry County.

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Guns and Guber

Shorttime Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner was in Lake County for Sweetest Day. And while money can't buy you love, it does buy guns. As in hired guns.

In an effort to buck up his conservative streetcred, Rauner posed with Helene Walsh and Ken Idstein:

Helene Walsh and Ken Idstein were last seen at the Lake County Republican 2nd Amendment Dinner & Gun Raffle.

Here Helene (née Joe) Walsh points to a big rod and some guy with an AR-15:

Here Ken Idstein is seen huddling in back with shockjock Joe Walsh:

Gobbling up the foreground is Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran. Records indicate that no one died in the Lake County jail on that night.

And after parachuting into Lake County for his lock'n'load photo-op, Bruce Rauner was gone faster than you can say NRA.

The End.

NRA

Just Sayin!

Stick to Your Gunx

CONCEAL CARRY must be something like concealed carry, because whatever it is, Helene Walsh is all for it.

An actual unretouched screencap from State Rep Helene (née Joe) Walsh's website:

GUN RIGHTS / CONCEAL CARRY
I am a proud member of the NRA and have my conceal carry license. I truly believe in the sanctity of the 2nd Amendment as well as the practicality of having law abiding citizens who are trained to handle firearms. I believe conceal carry was long overdue because our old gunx laws restricted the rights of well-trained citizens, particularly veterans, from possessing firearms while criminals seemed to publicly carry with impunity. I believe conceal carry has made Illinois safer, not less safe, and provides greater ability for law abiding citizens to protect themselves, their families and their property.
GUN RIGHTS / CONCEAL CARRY

If you are someone who has seen Walsh's website, to be sure stranger things have happened. And if you are at all like your LakeCountyEye, you would have one question:

What's a GUNX?

According to the urban dictionary:

GUNX
a crew that consists of girrl punx, rude girls, zipper girls, psychobettys & drunx
GUNX

It is not known which crew Representative Walsh caucuses with:

• girrl punx
• rude girls
• zipper girls
• psychobettys
• drunx

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

The Culture of Ammunition

Why does the Lake County GOP need to own a trademark on the Culture of Corruption^® -- when they can just steal it instead?

Haha, the Lake County Republican Party invites you to their annual family picnic:

An old-fashioned family picnic and all are welcome to attend!! Hamburgers, hot dogs, brats, corn-on-the-cob, soft drinks, beer and wine will be provided. Attendees are encouraged to bring a dish or dessert to share. Come out and join in the fun!!
September 9, 2018: Republican Assembly of Lake County Picnic

Your LakeCountyEye notes that there are no sex, drugs or misuse of public funds on offer at the Lake County GOP picnic. How much fun will that be?

One thing not mentioned in the promo for the Lake County GOP family picnic -- and not searchable on Google -- will be a raffle. For a Mossberg 590 Shockwave:

In case you didn't know, the Mossberg 590 Shockwave is a military-style shotgun:

590^® Shockwave


LEGENDARY MOSSBERG PUMP-ACTION RELIABILITY IN A COMPACT 14" BARRELED PACKAGE.
The Shockwave Raptor bird's head pistol grip is uniquely shaped to minimize felt recoil. Includes all the features that have made Mossberg pump-actions the choice for millions worldwide: ambidextrous safety, dual extractors, positive steel-to-steel lockup, twin action bars, and a smooth operating anti-jam elevator.
Mossberg 590^® Shockwave

It is unknown if the Mossberg 590 Shockwave military-style shotgun being raffled off at the Lake County GOP family picnic will come with child-proof safety-locks.

Bring the kids anyways.

Young Guns

It has come to your LakeCountyEye's attention that the three teens taken into custody after firing a stolen gun in public were not the same three teens taken by Congressman Peter Roskam to a closed-door meeting on gun violence.

The one group of three pro-gun teens were stopped early this week by Woodstock police:

Three teens were taken into custody Sunday after one of them fired a stolen gun in Woodstock, authorities said.
Teens arrested in Woodstock after shots fired Sunday

While the the other group of three pro-gun teens were with Peter Roskam, two weeks ago, for a discussion with high school students about school shootings:

In addition to the six students from Glenbard North, South and West high schools, five of whom originally requested the meeting after the town hall, Roskam added three pro-gun rights students from Wheaton Academy to the closed meeting — something the town hall students said they did not expect.
In closed-door meeting, Roskam brings pro-gun rights teens to talk gun violence prevention with students

A careful inspection of publicly available reports does show that the first trio of pro-gun teens and the second trio of pro-gun teens are different trios of pro-gun teens.

Your LakeCountyEye regrets the error.

Shoot from the Hip

According to the Guinness Book of Records, McHenry County boasts the most self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the foot, per capita:

My Foot!

Your LakeCountyEye has learned however that Lake County might take a stab at that record this year:

A Barrington-area man accidentally shot himself in the leg Saturday while handling a handgun his wife recently purchased, police said.
Lake County man accidentally shoots self in leg, police say

It is unknown if the firearm was purchased at the Lake County Republican 2nd Amendment Dinner & Gun Raffle.

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

A Gun No-Show

Note to Ops: If you are organizing the Second Annual Lake County Republican 2nd Amendment Dinner & Gun Raffle you better hurry up. The Village of Deerfield wants to ban your assault weapons:

An assault weapon ban was previously discussed in Deerfield in 2013 when the Village Board of Trustees decided to regulate the storage and transportation of the firearms. Now, the village is preparing to make that category of weapons illegal.
Deerfield to consider village ban on assault weapons

The Lake County GOP was giving away those same assault weapons, last year, for a $2000 donation:

Lake County Republican 2nd Amendment Dinner & Gun Raffle

These assault weapons are already banned in Highland Park. If they are banned in Deerfield this raises a question: How many Lake County Republicans will be willing to spend $2000 for an assault weapon that they could not legally keep in their homes?

Fortunately there is a simple solution to every complex problem:

That's all your LakeCountyEye has. Hit the road.

Q the Eye/02.21.18

Dear LakeCountyEye,

They give away the razors so they can sell you the blades.  Then why don't they give away guns to sell you the bullets?

Good Guy Seeks Good Gun

Dear Uh Huh,

How many times has this happened to you? You're at a gun show. A good looking AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle catches your eye. But when you pull out your wallet you come up short.

Too many? That's because those good looking AR-15-style semi-automatic rifles don't come cheap. They were moving at $2000 a pop at the Lake County Republican 2nd Amendment Dinner & Gun Raffle, last year:

Lake County Republican 2nd Amendment Dinner & Gun Raffle

To put that in perspective, $2000 is about the average donation the NRA gives the average Illinois Republican Congressman:

Gun-rights groups giving to Illinois Republicans in Congress

So take it from Lake County vestigial Congressman Peter Roskam: If you really want that assault weapon that you can't afford, just follow these 3 easy steps:

1. Become a Republican Congressman
2. Receive Big Donations from the NRA
3. Go Shopping

A no-brainer!

If you are an elected official, or a previously elected official, or just a private citizen under indictment, send your political questions to Q the Eye c/o ... LakeCountyEye@gMail.com

Lake County GOP Gun Raffle

Your LakeCountyEye is under the weather with the 1918 flu.

Please enjoy this encore presentation from last year!

Lake County GOP Gun Raffle

Save the date! The Lake County GOP invites you to their 2nd Amendment Dinner & Gun Raffle on Oct 13, 2107.

The story first broke in the News-Sun:

The "Lake County Republican 2nd Amendment Dinner & Gun Raffle" in northwest suburban Kildeer features an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle for those who pay $2,000 to sponsor the event, raffles for a 12-gauge shotgun and a 9 mm handgun, and other gun-related packages.
Suburban Chicago Republicans moving ahead with gun giveaway fundraiser 2 weeks after Las Vegas massacre

Operatives seeking the biggest bang for their buck are advised to take a look at this AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle:

Lake County Republican 2nd Amendment Dinner & Gun Raffle

This little beaut goes for only $2000 and the money goes to a worthy cause: the Lake County Republican Party. Who else will be working arm-in-arm with the NRA to protect your Second Amendment Rights? Who else will fight to make sure that anyone can purchase any firearm they want, any time, any place?

Anyone other than the Lake County GOP?

Your LakeCountyEye doesn't think so!

Mortality Tables: The Final Round

Is it Opposite Day? Instead of taking money from the Gun Lobby, both Lake County Congressmen Peter Roskam and Randy Hultgren gave money:

Lake County Republican Central Committee A-1 List

To make some sense of those topsy turvy turn of events your LakeCountyEye contacted Dr. I.M. Bhatschidtkhrazzi, Professor of Paranormal Research at the College of Lake County.

"Holy simoleons." said Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "Roskam and Hultgren donated $1000 to the Lake County Republican 2nd Amendment Dinner & Gun Raffle. Each! That can buy somebody a bundle of bumpstocks."

Your LakeCountyEye noticed that Hultgren's PAC is a PO Box maildrop. And the address of Roskam's PAC is Tampa, Florida.

"Where banking regulations are non-existent." offered Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi.

According to the Lake County GOP Gun Raffle brochure, anyone with a $2000 donation would take home a Smith & Wesson assault rifle.

"Then Roskam & Hultgren should've pooled their money." suggested Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "They could have fought for who got to keep the gun."

Fight for the gun -- how?

"It's a basic rule of hand-to-hand combat." replied Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "The first one who gets to aim the gun owns the gun."

As things stand neither got a gun. Then why donate $1000 to a gun raffle at all?

"Roskam is a personal injury attorney and Hultgren owns funeral homes." noted Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "Having more guns in circulation would have to be good for business."

Does that mean Roskam and Hultgren are in the pocket of the gun lobby?

"Why, nothing of the sort." scoffed Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "The gun lobby says that firearms reduce crime and other acts of violence."

Your LakeCountyEye was all like: haha, good one.

"Cracked myself up with that one." chortled Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi.

Your LakeCountyEye observed that neither Roskam or Hultgren attended. Both missed out on a free chicken dinner.

"Ya, and they also missed out on a photo-op with Joe Walsh. Former Congressman Joe Walsh gave the keynote address. That $1000 was earnest money toward not seeing a Joe Walsh challenge in the Primary."

Too crazy. Did Dr Bhatschidtkhrazzi have any parting advice?

"Tell your operatives, to go ahead and run in the Primary, but neither Peter Roskam nor Randy Hultgren are afraid of 2nd Amendment remedies."

Shooting Fish in a Barrel

Q:	Has anyone seen Joe Walsh lately?
A:	Haha, trick question.

Former Congressman Joe Walsh gave the keynote at the Lake County Republican 2nd Amendment Dinner & Gun Raffle. Here is an actual unretouched screencap from the Lake County Republican website:

2nd Amendment Dinner – October 13, 2017

Walsh is on the right.

The Lake County GOP also took the opportunity to unveil their new Party logo:

For the record, Talk Like a Pirate Day is on September 19.

Open Carry

Those weren't just Gun Nuts 2nd Amendment Patriots attending the Lake County Republican 2nd Amendment Dinner & Gun Raffle. Some GOP big guns showed up:

• Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran
• State Senator Dan McConchie
• Lake County Board Commissioner Nick Sauer
• Former Congressman Joe Walsh

Also, the raffle prize firearms were locally sourced:

Mike Rioux of Red Dawn Arms, a gun store in Lake Villa, said he sold 22 of the 24 firearms to the organizers for the raffle.
Lake County GOP gun raffle draws about 100 protesters

And to be in compliance with Federal and State law, raffle winners weren't just permitted to drive away with gun prizes in hand:

Rioux said the people who win the raffles have to pick the weapons up at his store and must pass a background check.
Lake County GOP gun raffle draws about 100 protesters

Your LakeCountyEye salutes the professionalism of the Lake County GOP.  Readers are invited to see the photos of the 2nd Amendment Gun Raffle at the Lake County GOP website:

2nd Amendment Dinner – October 13, 2017


2nd Amendment Dinner – October 13, 2017


2nd Amendment Dinner – October 13, 2017

Note to Ops: Were there any members of law enforcement at the Lake County Republican 2nd Amendment Dinner & Gun Raffle?

Just Sayin!

Mortality Tables: Buy a Round

Perhaps operating on the theory that guns reduce crime, Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran attended the Lake County Republican 2nd Amendment Dinner & Gun Raffle:

2nd Amendment Dinner
October 13, 2017

Curran not only attended the GOP Gun Raffle last week, but he bought a $1000 table:


Lake County Republican Central Committee A-1 List


Part of that $1000 no doubt helped pay for the (minimum) 24 guns that were raffled off:

Twenty-four firearms were raffled off at the $75-per-person fundraising dinner, including at least two safes filled with guns.
Lake County GOP gun raffle draws about 100 protesters

Curran is Sheriff of the third largest County in Illinois. There are now at least 24 new guns in circulation -- made possible, in part, by Sheriff Mark Curran's contribution.

The End.

Mortality Tables: Round 2

Q:	What did one table sponsor say to the other table sponsor at the Lake County Republican Gun Raffle & Dinner?
A:	Mine's bigger than yours.

Haha, the Lake County GOP awarded their table sponsors firearms of different caliber based on size of contribution:

Table Sponsor $1,250

• ​Ruger K10/22TD Takedown 22 LR

Concealed Carry Sponsor $1,500

• Smith&Wesson M&P Shield 9mm

2nd Amendment Sponsor $2,000

• Smith & Wesson M&P 15SPTII 223

Both State Senator Dan McConchie and Lake County Board Commissioner Nick Sauer bought $1,250 tables:


Lake County Republican Central Committee A-1 List


Lake County Republican Central Committee A-1 List


And while these $1,250 contributions put in the hands of Dan McConchie & Nick Sauer a formidable 22 caliber rifle ...

As readers of this blog are aware ...

Mortality Tables

A $2,000 contribution -- like one made by Howard Cooper, the Lake County Coroner -- would have brought home this take-no-prisoners assault weapon:

Note to Ops: If it's the zombie apocalypse that keeps you up at night, you need the bigger gun.

Mortality Tables

Note to Operatives: When it comes to military-style assault weapons, you don't want to gamble. And even if you bought a Lake County Republican Gun Raffle ticket last week, odds are you did not win that fully equipped Smith & Wesson M&P®15 Sport™ II.

The smart money bought a table. A table sponsor at the GOP Gun Raffle & Dinner was guaranteed to take home ...

Lake County Republican 2nd Amendment Dinner & Gun Raffle

And all for only $2000!

The Lake County Republican Central Committee A-1 List would be expected to identify these table sponsors and new owners of that muscular Smith & Wesson assault weapon:

Lake County Republican Central Committee A-1 List

If you don't recognize the name, Howard Cooper is the Lake County Coroner:

Coroner's Office, Lake County, IL

Readers are asked to make up their own joke here.

Cartoon Violence

If you see a youngster dressed as an action superhero at your door that may be a sign that you live in the Lake County Fairgrounds. That's because the Lake County Comic-Con is at the Fairgrounds this weekend.

Haha, Count-i-Con – Lake County's Biggest Pop-Culture Event -- will be here faster than Quicksilver and The Flash in a 3-legged race ...

Count-i-Con 2017

October 20-22, 2017
Friday: 6pm-10pm
Saturday: Noon-7pm
Sunday: Noon-5pm

Lake County Fairgrounds
1060 East Peterson Road
Grayslake, IL 60030

Informed sources have informed your LakeCountyEye that no firearms will be raffled off at the event.

Weapon/prop policy
for Count-i-Con 2017

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Q the Eye/10.17.17

Dear LakeCountyEye,

I just found out the Lake County Republicans held a "Second Amendment" fundraiser last week, and they gave away AR-15 Assault Weapons. Did you shoot any photos?

They Got the Numbers but We Got the Guns

Dear Math Death,

Your LakeCountyEye is under injunction to maintain a 500 ft perimeter whenever near a gun auction, and regrettably did not attend the GOP firearm raffle. However your LakeCountyEye did find a picture of an AR-15 that was seized in Round Lake Beach this week:

An AR-15 with a loaded 30 round magazine was seized in a warrant search Friday in Round Lake Beach that also uncovered a large cache of marijuana, authorities say. (Round Lake Park Police)
Drug cartel linked to 600-pound marijuana bust in Round Lake Park, police say

Enjoy!

If you are an elected official, or a previously elected official, or just a private citizen under indictment, send your political questions to Q the Eye c/o ... LakeCountyEye@gMail.com

24 Gun Salute

The message sent by the Lake County GOP is loud and clear:

Suit Up

Last Friday, the Lake County Republican Party held a gun raffle. As a result, County statisticians now track at least twenty-four more firearms:

Twenty-four firearms were raffled off at the $75-per-person fundraising dinner, including at least two safes filled with guns.
Lake County GOP gun raffle draws about 100 protesters

In related news, the Lake County 911 Emergency Dispatch Task Force estimates that a consolidation of 911 centers would realize nearly $3 million in cost reductions. A Task Force report proposes a two-step process where ...

The first phase would result in about $400,000 in annual savings and the second phase would result in savings of about $2.3 million, according to the report.
'Turf wars' challenge effort to consolidate Lake County's 911 dispatch services

One 911 dispatcher told your LakeCountyEye: "With all those new guns on the street, we're going to need that $3 million!"

The Silencers are Deafening

Lake Co. Republicans holding gun giveaway fundraiser after Las Vegas massacre

What if they gave a gun raffle and nobody came?

As readers of this blog are aware ...

Please Pass the Guns and Butter

The Lake County Republicans are hosting a 2nd Amendment Dinner and Gun Raffle fundraiser in Kildeer on Friday.  The controversial event has resulted in a media firestorm and at least one high-profile no-show:

Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor, a Republican, said Thursday evening he would not attend, sponsor or contribute toward the 2nd Amendment Dinner.
Protest organized ahead of GOP gun raffle in Kildeer

Will anyone from the Lake County GOP be in attendance? Your LakeCountyEye notes at least one willing participant:

Larry Falbe, president of the Lake County Republican Federation, an independent group that raises money for Republicans including the local party organization, supported moving forward with the fundraiser. "I would think that canceling the event would suggest there's something wrong or something to be ashamed of for having this kind of dinner that is supporting people who believe very strongly in the 2nd Amendment," said Falbe, whose group bought a sponsorship.
Suburban Chicago Republicans moving ahead with gun giveaway fundraiser 2 weeks after Las Vegas massacre

This is the same Larry Falbe who created Lake County's #1 political blog ...

TeamAmerica10th

Sharpeyed operatives will observe there is a $75 ticket price to get in the 2nd Amendment Dinner and Gun Raffle. Which may be beyond the means of anyone who draws a blogger's salary. Particularly a blog that hasn't published anything since 2013.

Your LakeCountyEye notes however, that tickets are reduced to $50 for "Joe Walsh Volunteers". Do not be surprised if you see Mr Falbe after all!

Please Pass the Guns and Butter

The Lake County Republican Federation will be raffling off a Mossberg 500 shotgun on Friday. There is no truth to the rumor, though, that the winner will be chosen with a spin of a russian-roulette wheel.

Haha, the Lake County GOP is hosting a fundraiser:

Lake County Republicans are moving ahead with a fundraiser where at least a dozen firearms will be given out to donors Friday night, less than two weeks after the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history in Las Vegas. The "Lake County Republican 2nd Amendment Dinner & Gun Raffle" in northwest suburban Kildeer features an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle for those who pay $2,000 to sponsor the event, raffles for a 12-gauge shotgun and a 9 mm handgun, and other gun-related packages.
Suburban Chicago Republicans moving ahead with gun giveaway fundraiser 2 weeks after Las Vegas massacre

The Lake County Republican Party bought a domain to publicize the event:

www.lcrgundinner.com

If you're bad at remembering web URLs, here is a helpful mnemonic that is easy to learn:

Lake County Republican GUN DINNER Dot Com

The GOP website provides a nice color catalog of the guns that will be available:

One military analyst observed: "That's enough firepower to launch a ground assault on Pyongyang!"

While in outward appearance a gun show, the GOP fundraiser, from a legal perspective, is a dinner event. One source showed your LakeCountyEye a menu. "Be sure to sample the stuffed shells in the bump stock broth. To die for!"

The cash bar is open at 5:30 PM. Innocent bystanders are asked to steer clear of Lake County the night of the event.