Chicago gun ban ignored as senior citizen defends himself and kills felon intruder

[buster2209]

Did a search and nothing came up

Yet another example of why Chicago sucks balls....

http://www.examiner.com/x-45736-Illi...felon-intruder

Chicago gun ban ignored as senior citizen defends himself and kills felon intruder

The quick actions of an 80 year old senior citizen to shoot an intruder while defending himself highlights the divide between Illinois and the rest of the country regarding the use of guns to protect one’s self and family.

An 80-year-old Army veteran ignored Chicago’s 28 year old handgun ban and bought a gun six months ago after being robbed at gunpoint in his home by three intruders. He used the gun to shoot and kill Anthony Nelson, 29, who was on parole since December following a three-year prison sentence for a drug conviction, after Nelson entered the senior citizen’s home and shot through a window.

Nelson entered the two flat while the man, his wife, his son and his grandson were sleeping in the early morning hours. After busting a basement window and entering the premises, Nelson shot a glass window of the 80 year old man’s bedroom when the door wouldn’t open. The intruder actually fired two shots. The homeowner pulled out his own gun, which he illegally possessed, shot and killed Nelson with one shot, according to the Chicago Police.

"He missed, (but) my daddy didn't," said the 80-year-old's son, Butch Gant, who lives upstairs in the two-flat in the 600 block of North Sawyer Avenue.

"He saved our lives," said the man's wife, 83, who had been asleep with her husband when the noise of shattered glass startled the family from its sleep about 5:20 a.m. Throughout the day Wednesday, a family friend worked to board up the two broken windows.
Gant said the shooting demonstrates why Chicago's handgun must be repealed. "If homeowners can't have guns to defend themselves and their families, there's going to be more home invasions," Gant said. "My father's glad he had a weapon. He did what he had to do."

Nelson had a long rap sheet including a number of drug and weapons convictions dating to 1998, according to police and court records. He lived less than a mile from the home he broke into. Neighbors recognized him from his mug shot as a man they had seen at the corner liquor store who went by the name "Big Ant."

Neighbors of the senior citizen homeowner applauded his quick actions and criticized Chicago’s handgun ban.

"I'd have done the same thing," said another neighbor, Audrey Williams, who has known the couple for more than 40 years -- the time they've lived on Sawyer. "They say we've got to give up our guns. But that's crazy."

Last week, Chicago’s Mayor, Richard M. Daley, defended the handgun ban and its effectiveness.

In this case, the ban did not stop a criminal on parole from having a gun or a law abiding citizen from having his own gun.

Illinois is only one of two states that do not allow qualified citizens to carry a concealed weapon. At the same time, Chicago has one of the worst murder rates in the nation.

The US Supreme Court will soon issue a ruling challenging the Chicago handgun ban. How long will it be before Illinois moves toward laws that allow law abiding citizens to carry guns?

Dennis Brennan is an Illinois Attorney who writes a daily column for the examiner.com

[Yellowfin]

Quite simple: while Chicago politicians can ignore gun owners at no consequence, they can't piss off the senior citizen voting block and keep their jobs.


Unfortunately too often that voting block has voted lock step with the same politicians who are anti gun because the other half of leftist politics is giving away money: there is EXTENSIVE income redistribution to seniors via Medicare, Medicaid, and SS.

[GlockedAndLoaded]

That was a good article.

[rikilii]

Two questions.

1. What's a two-flat?

2. Is he being charged?

[Defender]

What was the big deal that this guy was an 80 year old veteran and has therefore some special exemption from the law because of his age? A 30 year old pizza deliveryman should have the same right to defend himself with a handgun, as should the 42 year old housewife, the 50 year old truck driver, or the 22 year old dishwasher. This guy should either be charged with a crime like they would charge others or take the stupid law off the books! But you see they can't because in reality they know that their handgun ban makes no sense and charging this guy would raise a howl from a citizenry that has a large dose of common sense. A pox on you Mayor Daley!

[S&WM&P40]

I would imagine a multi family apartment building, since they said the son lives upstairs from the father. The use of language in this article is questionable, calling an apartment a flat and for the son referring to his father as daddy. Otherwise nice article.

[tlgpa]

Last week, Chicago’s Mayor, Richard M. Daley, defended the handgun ban and its effectiveness.

Nelson had a long rap sheet including a number of drug and weapons convictions dating to 1998

Chicago has one of the worst murder rates in the nation.

[electronics]

My only problem with the article is the use of the word "busted." Maybe that's just me.

[PreserveandProtect]

Good for the old gent. Old guys are set in their ways. Right is right.

Sort of reminds me of the old saying, "Never threaten and old guy. He didn't get old by being stupid."

But, seriously, it is always sad when someone is forced to defend themselves with deadly results. We are not cheering the death of a person, rather we are celebrating the lives that were spared by one man's courage and willingness to do the unthinkable yet unavoidable.

And now, thanks to the Supremes, other families will also have the opportunity to be safe and live.

[whoshisface]

i wonder how many convictions are about to be overturned after the scotus ruling