The issue of Alex Pretti being armed with concealed carry brings to mind the issue of the Second Amendment right to own and carry a firearm, the only limit being a weapons-free zone. Back in 2010, as chair of the Board of Health, I raised the concern about what would happen if a private citizen legally carrying a firearm was challenged by a sworn police officer. We as a commission could find no real answer to the question. Now we have seen the answer to this question: if an officer believes your legal firearm is seen as a threat, then you are at risk of having that officer take your life if he feels “you present a risk to his life,” based upon the opinion of President Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and the Secretary of Homeland Security.
I don’t believe in the use of firearms to protect oneself on the streets of America and therefore don’t believe in either open or concealed carry. But the Supreme Court has made clear that my belief is inconsistent with American jurisprudence and that the Second Amendment entitles a citizen to stand his ground and defend himself with said weapon.
Do you see the inconsistency there?
Frank Vozak
Oak Park
