We support Bill for Sheriff

My name is Bill Evans and I am a candidate for Cook County Sheriff in 2014.

I have been a sworn member of the Cook County Sheriff’s Office for 21 years and have served in a number of capacities during my tenure.  I began my career as a Cook County correctional officer and subsequently became a sheriff’s police officer in 1992.  During my career as a county police officer, I have served the agency with distinction and honor, accumulating a number of department citations, awards, and letters of appreciation, as well as other distinguished honors.

As a sheriff’s police officer, I have been assigned to the patrol division, the gang crimes unit, the Hostage Barricade Terrorist Team, the Field Training Program and the Special Operations Group.  I have proudly served every position from patrol officer to sergeant to lieutenant to commanding officer.  I have been involved in a number of sensitive investigations, covert assignments, and nearly 1,000 critical incidents.

Additionally, I have had the honor of representing my organization as a member of the South Suburban Association of Chiefs of Police, The Illinois Tactical Officer’s Association, The South Suburban Emergency Response Team and the Urban Area Security Initiative. I also have written and had published a number of law enforcement articles.  I have served as a consultant to local schools regarding safety matters and I have provided instruction to law enforcement officers and citizens at a local, national and international level.

I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology in 1989 and a master’s degree in criminal justice in 1995.  I am a 2005 graduate of the prestigious Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command.  I am currently studying toward a second master’s degree in leadership studies.

As a former professional boxer, I now serve as a volunteer boxing coach, working primarily with children and young adults.  I am also an active member of a number of not-for-profit organizations, including the Beverly Ridge Homeowner’s Association and the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.  I currently serve on the Criminal Justice Advisory Board for a local college. I believe it is time for a career law enforcement officer to serve as our sheriff.  I am not a politician, which I believe will be a refreshing change to the citizens of Cook County.

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- See more at: http://www.electbillevans.com/index.php/about-me#sthash.6FHwfM6E.dpuf

Illinois back in Court after Concealed carry law passed

Shepard v. Madigan This federal suit challenges Illinois' unconstitutional total ban on carrying firearms for self-defense outside the home.   The lead plaintiff is church treasurer Mary Shepard.  The ISRA is co-plaintiff in this case that is supported by the NRA. From the NRA-ILA Press Release: Mary Shepard is an Illinois resident and a trained gun owner with no criminal record, who is licensed to carry a concealed handgun in two other states. Because Illinois remains the only state that completely prohibits all law-abiding citizens from carrying firearms for self-defense outside the home, Mary Shepard also became a crime victim. While working as the treasurer of her church, Mrs. Shepard and an 83-year-old co-worker were viciously attacked and beaten by a six-foot-three-inch, 245-pound man with a violent past and a criminal record. Mrs. Shepard and her co-worker were lucky to survive, as each of them suffered major injuries to the head, neck and upper body. Mrs. Shepard’s injuries required extensive surgery and physical therapy. “Mary Shepard isn't just a victim of the violent criminal who attacked her," said Chris W. Cox, executive director of NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action. "She is also a victim of anti self-defense activists in the Illinois legislature who have consistently refused to recognize that good people have the right to protect themselves when they go about their everyday business. We're pleased that the legislature has come closer this year than ever before to changing the law, but close isn't good enough for Mary Shepard and the thousands of other Illinois residents who are prohibited by statute from defending themselves outside the home." Because Illinois statutes prohibit the right to keep and bear arms and the ability to carry handguns in Illinois, they infringe on the right of the people, including Mrs. Shepard, members of the ISRA and other law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the Second and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and are thus null and void. ... The entire press release is posted on NRA-ILA.   These PDF documents are a matter of public record in this suit, they are here for your information only. Initial Complaint  5/13/2011 Motion for Preliminary Permanent Injunction 07/08/2011      Motion for Oral Argument 07/08/2011      Supporting Memorandum 07/08/2011 Defendants' Response to the Request for Injunction  7/22/2011 Defendants' Objection to the Request for Injunction  7/22/2011 Defendants' Motion to Dismiss 7/22/2011 Defendants' Motion to Dismiss-Sheriff 7/22/2011      Defendant's Motion for Extension-Sheriff 07/22/2011 Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence Motion filing 07/25/2011 Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence Brief filing 07/25/2011 Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment 08/08/2011 Declaration of Mary Shepard in Support for Summary Judgment 08/08/2011 Declaration of ISRA President Don Moran in Support for Summary Judgment 08/08/2011 Plaintiff Response to the State Motion to Dismiss 08/15/2011 Motion to Defer Ruling on Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment, Madigan 9/2/2011 Motion to Defer Ruling on Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment, Livesay 9/2/2011 Motion to Cite Supplemental Authority, Madigan 9/12/2011 Memorandum and Order 3/30/2012 Defendant Motion to Stay 4/9/2012 Plaintiff Opposition for Stay 4/9/2012 Brief Amici Curiau 4/18/12 Appellate Request Motion to Consolidate and for Extension of Time Denied-ORDER 4/26/12 Notice of Oral Argument 5/9/12 Defendant Brief 5/9/12 Amicus Order to Join 5/10/12 Joint Order 5/10/12 City of Chicago Amicus Curiae 5/16/12 District of Columbia Amicus Curiae 5/16/12 Brady Center To Prevent Gun Violence Amicus Curiae 5/16/12 Brady Center To Prevent Gun Violence Disclosure 5/16/12 Shepard / ISRA Reply Brief of Plaintiffs Appellants 5/23/12 7th Court of Appeals Decision 12/11/12 Plaintiff's Motion For Declaration of Unconstitutionality and Preliminary and/or  Permanent Injunction 07/10/13 Defendants Motion to Dismiss 7/9/13 Plaintiff's Motion to Expedite 7/10/13 Plaintiff's Response To Defendants' Motion To Dismiss As Moot 7/10/13 Notice of Filing of Appeal 7/30/13 Notice of Case Opening 7/30/13 Motion to Expedite Emergency Motion 7/30/13 Emergency Motion For Injunction Pending Appeal 7/30/13

ISRA v. Illinois State Police   This suit seeks to keep the Illinois State Police from releasing FOID information. The ISRA obtained a restraining order that prevents the ISP from releasing the info while the suit proceeds. Illinois State Rifle Association Secures Temporary Restraining Order Against Release of Firearm Owners' Personal Information PEORIA, Ill., March 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA): The ISRA is pleased to announce that it has secured a temporary restraining order against the release of personal information belonging to persons holding Illinois Firearm Owner Identification cards (FOID). The ISRA and four additional plaintiffs filed for the temporary restraining order after Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced that her office believes that release of FOID information to the public is proper under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. The ISRA is very concerned that public release of personal information from the FOID database will jeopardize the safety of law-abiding firearm owners. ... The entire press release is posted on PRNewswire.   These PDF documents are a matter of public record in this suit: ISRA Compliant  3/11/2011 Adding extra plaintiffs  4/1/2011 Appearance of ISP's attorneys 4/25/2011:  Thompson,  Carter ISP's answer to the complaint, with exhibits  5/13/2011

Moore v. Madigan This federal lawsuit alleges that Illinois statutes that completely ban the carrying of handguns for self-defense are "inconsistent with the Second Amendment." Joining SAF are two private citizens, Michael Moore of Champaign and Charles Hooks of Percy. Named as defendants are Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and State Police Superintendent Patrick Keen.  The initial press release is posted on PRNewswire. Additional plaintiffs have been added: Illinois Carry,  and two more private citizens, Peggy Fechter of Carmi, and Jon Maier, a resident of Bloomington.  This info is in a additional press release is posted on PRNewswire. These PDF documents are a matter of public record in this suit: Initial Compliant  5/13/2011 Amended complaint & extra plaintiffs  5/20/2011 Brief of AMICUS CURIAE Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence in Support of the Defendants 7/27/2011 Court Decision 2/3/2012 7th Court of Appeals Decision 12/11/12

State v. Aguilar This case involves the constitutionality of a law which Alberto Aguilar was charged and convicted of, that being aggravated use of a weapon.   The case was appealed by Aguilar to the first district court of appeals on grounds the law is unconstitutional.  The case was affirmed at the Appellate Court level as originally ruled by the trial courts judgment.  The case has been brought to the Illinois Supreme Court seeking to reverse the Appellate Courts decision. ISRA filed an amicus brief (a friend of the court) and included CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) and The Pink Pistols.  Certain Illinois legislators also filed amicus briefs. These PDF documents are a matter of public record in this suit: Aguilar Motion to file Amici Brief 9/15/11 Aguilar notice of filing 9/19/11 Illinois Legislators Unopposed Motion for Leave to file a Brief Amicus Curiae in Support of Appellant 9/19/11 Illinois Legislators Brief Amicus Curiae in Support of Petitioner 9/19/11 National Rifle Assn Unopposed Motion for Leave to File a Brief Amicus Curiae in Support of Appellant 9/19/11 Brief of Amici Curiae, Illinois State Rifle Association, CORE and Pink Pistols in Support of Appellant 9/20/11 Motion for an Extension of Time to File People's Brief 10/24/11 Aguilar Opening Brief for Appeal 9/14/2011 Aguilar Reply Brief 8/29/2012 Aguilar Supplemental Brief 1/17/2013 Aguilar Supplemental Reply 3/16/2013 Ezell v. Chicago Capitalizing on its federal appeals court victory Wednesday in Ezell v. City of Chicago, the Second Amendment Foundation today moved for a preliminary injunction against the State of Illinois to prevent further enforcement of that state's prohibitions on firearms carry in public by law-abiding citizens. The motion was filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois in Springfield. Joining SAF in this motion are Illinois Carry and four private citizens, Michael Moore, Charles Hooks, Peggy Fechter and Jon Maier. The underlying case is known as Moore v. Madigan.  The initial press release is posted on PRNewswire. These PDF documents are a matter of public record in this suit: Memorandum of Points and Authorities In Opposition to Defendant's Second Motion to Dismiss 08/29/2011 Memorandum Opinion and Order 09/28/2011 Amended Complaint filed 10/15/11 Heller v. DC Court of Appeals Ruling This PDF document is a matter of public record in this suit: Court of Appeals Ruling 10/4/2011 Keep the ISRA fighting for your rights in the courts.  Please make a donation on-line here , or over the phone at 815-635-3198. If you would like to mail or fax a donation, we have a printable form here . If you're not an ISRA member, now is the time. You can join on-line , or over the phone at 815-635-3198. You can download a printable application form here .

ISRA News: Tom Dart the Grave digger and dog snatcher now wants your FOIDS and Guns

CHICAGO (CBS) – A new team from the Cook County Sheriff’s Office has launched an effort to seize guns from thousands of people whose state gun permits have been revoked.

WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya reports more than 3,000 people in Cook County have failed to surrender their revoked Firearm Owner’s Identification cards, but Sheriff Tom Dart said most people with revoked FOID cards don’t get rid of their guns ...

Read the whole story on CBS Local. 

Illinois still violates gun rights with new law

To all Chicago non police residence there is no longer gun registration in Chicago. How ever this new law is unconstitutional and very restrictive.


On July 9, 2013, Public Act 98-63, the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, became state law (430 ILCS 66). You may view the full text of the law at: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/98/PDF/098-0063.pdf
The Illinois State Police ("ISP") is in charge of implementing this law. The ISP has a webpage dedicated to this topic with common questions and aswers. They are the autority on this topic. You can view it here: http://www.isp.state.il.us/firearms/ccw/ccw-faq.cfm

If you see a class already advertised for Illinois Concealed Carry, consider this section in the law:

Section 80. Firearms instructor training.
(b) A person who is not a certified firearms instructor shall not teach applicant training courses or advertise or otherwise represent courses they teach as qualifying their students to meet the requirements to receive a license under this Act. Each violation of this subsection is a business offense with a fine of at least $1,000 per violation.
Since no one has been certified as an Illinois CCW Firearms Instructor by ISP yet, it is technically illegal to advertise an "Illinois Concealed Carry Class".

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The below information was written up and posted by us on 03/21/2013, before any law was passed and at the time when competing bills were floating around. The below assesment is not longer relevant, but has been preserved for historical and reference purposes. Refer to the top of this page for the most current and up to date info.

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The Illinois concealed carry law has not been passed yet! News flash... Do yourself a favor and do not fall for unscrupulous and unethical instructors who are offering you an Illinois concealed carry class right now. Such a class does not exist yet. The seventh circuit court made it perfectly clear that the current prohibition on concealed carry in Illinois is unconstitutional. The court stayed its order for 180 days thus giving the Illinois General Assembly until June 9th 2013 to come up with an Illinois concealed carry law/bill. If no concealed carry law is passed, the court is likely to permit concealed carry without a law: in other words we could have constitutional carry.

The bill in front of the State of Illinois Legislative Assembly has undergone a dozen changes and will undergo a dozen more before the final Illinois concealed carry law is finalized and passed. These changes will incorporate instructor qualifications and registries with the Illinois State Police as well as student class requirements. Furthermore, the State of Illinois Concealed Carry law might require that all training be effective after the Illinois concealed carry law has passed.

I know what you are thinking: It is very reasonable to assume that the 8 hour NRA Basic pistol class will be the foundation to qualify for the Illinois concealed carry license/permit, once it passes. It is easy to make that assumption because the 8 hour NRA Basic Pistol class qualifies you for most other concealed carry permits/licenses in the Nation and it is listed as one of the proposed student requirements in HB0997. DON'T TAKE THAT CHANCE!! The current Illinois Concealed Carry bill already has specific range (live-fire) qualifications that are different from the typical 8 hour NRA Basic Pistol class. Furthermore lawmakers have changed the range (live-fire) qualifications multiple times already.

The Illinois concealed carry class is likely to have specific examination requirements during classroom portion and discussions on the use of deadly force as they pertain to the laws of the State of Illinois.

However, there is something you should be doing to prepare for Illinois concealed carry. You absolutely must obtain a non-resident permit from Florida, Arizona or Utah. In the proposed legislation (amended HB0997) there is language that states the following: "Any Illinois resident who has a license or permit to carry a handgun issued by another state shall be able to carry a handgun in accordance with this Act using that license for 365 days following the effective date of this Act." This means that you would be able to carry concealed in Illinois on the date when the bill becomes law for 1 year. Avoid the initial onslaught of applications to the Illinois State Police and price gouging.

In addition, having a non resident permit will allow you to carry in other states since it may also take a while for Illinois State Police to enter into reciprocity agreements with other states.

We recommend Utah + Arizona permit combination due to the coverage they provide and the low costs both states charge to process the applications. Florida permit is recommended if you travel to Florida.

I am disgusted with the instructors and companies misrepresenting to the hard-working people of Illinois their classes by implying that you can take a class now and it would satisfy Illinois concealed carry requirements. If you are one of those people who paid for a class already, call those companies and instructors back and demand a refund!

Feel free to call or email Illinois Concealed Carry, LLC. if you have additional questions about this topic. And please keep us in mind for all your firearm and concealed carry training needs.

Judges are forced to restrict travel

A new Illinois law requires judges to confiscate the passport or restrict the travel of a person charged with first-degree murder or another violent crime if the court determines the defendant is a flight risk.
Previous state laws gave judges more discretion on whether to take such steps.
The change was sparked by a 2012 Tribune investigation, "Across the Border, Beyond the Law," that found hundreds of Chicago-area defendants charged with murder, rape and other violent crimes avoided trial simply by crossing a U.S. border. At cursory bond hearings in murder trials, county judges often failed to confiscate passports or impose other travel restrictions, even when the accused was a citizen of another country.
"This closes a huge loophole that was brought to my attention by the Chicago Tribune," said the law's sponsor, state Sen. Ira Silverstein, D-Chicago. It was signed Friday by Gov. Pat Quinn.
Two state laws have now been enacted as a result of the Tribune series. The other made it a felony for a family member to help prevent a fugitive's arrest or aid in his or her escape from a jurisdiction to avoid prosecution.