I owe my fellow BITOG memebers an apology for a recent rant in the SUPER BOWL topic over Tank Johnson, I'm SORRY! Here is how the media city and media view Gun Rights, it depends on who you are...
Chicago City Official Found with Handgun
Written by Mike Kinsey
Thursday, 18 January 2007
Unfortunately for average citizens of Chicago, the possession of handguns has basically been banned since the early 1980’s. However, if you live in the Windy City and would like to own one for personal protection or target shooting, there is an avenue available to you: Become a City Alderman!
Apparently, these Chicago officials are part of an elite ruling class that can exercise their innate and (supposedly) protected right to keep and bear arms while forbidding you to do so. I was not aware of this discriminatory and despicable policy until I read an article from The Chicago Tribune reporting on a criminal raid of Chicago Alderman Arenda Troutman that resulted in the discovery of her legal .357 revolver.
Believe it or not, but this blatant hypocrisy is not what upset me most about this story. Sam Adam Jr., Troutman’s lawyer, defended his client’s need for owning and carrying a concealed handgun: Adam said Troutman needed protection in the economically depressed area where she lives and serves. Her home has been broken into in the past…
"She didn't go up to the North Shore to run, or to the southwest suburbs among the affluent to make things better," he said. "She's right there in the 'hood." No kidding? She felt the need to carry a handgun for personal protection? I bet she is not the only one out of millions of Chicago residents that live in one of our nation’s most crime-ridden cities.
So… will the criminal raid affect her political future? Troutman said Thursday the charges do not deter her from running for another term in the Feb. 27 election, but opponent Willie B. Cochran called on her to resign Friday.
I understand her hesitation about becoming a lowly commoner now that she is used to a lifestyle befitting a privileged ruler. She would be forced to relinquish her special permission to defend herself and have to try and survive like everyone else on the dangerous streets of Chicago.
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FBI log: Troutman raids turned up 'suspect' drugs, gun
By Jeff Coen
Tribune staff reporter
Published January 12, 2007, 8:18 PM CST
Federal documents made public Friday show the scope of the investigation into Chicago Ald. Arenda Troutman and indicate the FBI may not be done looking into her connections to street gangs.
Evidence logs from searches of Troutman's home and office on Monday also show that agents allegedly found suspected drugs, drug paraphernalia and a handgun.
Earlier this week, authorities charged Troutman with accepting a bribe to smooth the way for a mixed-use development on the South Side. Troutman has denied the accusations.
The documents show some of the suspected drugs were recovered in Troutman's home in the 6500 block of South Kimbark Avenue, where the revolver also was found. A "white powdery substance in Ziploc plastic bag" was found in her office at 5958 S. State St., the documents state, noting it was found in a desk drawer.
FBI spokesman Ross Rice said laboratory testing of the substances was not complete.
Troutman's lawyer, Sam Adam Jr., said he believes that testing will show the powder was a vitamin supplement.
"Anybody who knows anything about Arenda Troutman can tell you she is a health freak," Adam said. "She hasn't eaten meat in years; she's a vegetarian.
"Arenda Troutman does not do drugs," he said. "We need to wait until these lab tests come back and see what we're talking about here."
Troutman, the 20th Ward alderman, has been under law enforcement scrutiny in the past for her association with Donnell "Scandalous" Jehan, an alleged Black Disciples gang leader who has fled to avoid drug conspiracy charges.
Agents were to seize "records and documents of press releases issued by Arenda Troutman, her aldermanic office, her committeeman office, her campaign committees or her employees regarding law-enforcement issues and street-gang activity."
Aldermen are an exception to Chicago's ban on handguns, and Adam said he believes Troutman's gun was lawfully owned and kept.
Adam said Troutman needed protection in the economically depressed area where she lives and serves. Her home has been broken into in the past, and the gun was registered to a private detective who left it for her, Adam said.
"She didn't go up to the North Shore to run, or to the southwest suburbs among the affluent to make things better," he said. "She's right there in the 'hood."
Troutman said Thursday the charges do not deter her from running for another term in the Feb. 27 election, but opponent Willie B. Cochran called on her to resign Friday.
The search warrants in the Troutman case included lists of items to be seized. Included were bank records, lists and receipts; income and expense summaries; cash disbursement journals, and other financial information. Also listed were computer equipment and documents.
[email protected]
Chicago City Official Found with Handgun
Written by Mike Kinsey
Thursday, 18 January 2007
Unfortunately for average citizens of Chicago, the possession of handguns has basically been banned since the early 1980’s. However, if you live in the Windy City and would like to own one for personal protection or target shooting, there is an avenue available to you: Become a City Alderman!
Apparently, these Chicago officials are part of an elite ruling class that can exercise their innate and (supposedly) protected right to keep and bear arms while forbidding you to do so. I was not aware of this discriminatory and despicable policy until I read an article from The Chicago Tribune reporting on a criminal raid of Chicago Alderman Arenda Troutman that resulted in the discovery of her legal .357 revolver.
Believe it or not, but this blatant hypocrisy is not what upset me most about this story. Sam Adam Jr., Troutman’s lawyer, defended his client’s need for owning and carrying a concealed handgun: Adam said Troutman needed protection in the economically depressed area where she lives and serves. Her home has been broken into in the past…
"She didn't go up to the North Shore to run, or to the southwest suburbs among the affluent to make things better," he said. "She's right there in the 'hood." No kidding? She felt the need to carry a handgun for personal protection? I bet she is not the only one out of millions of Chicago residents that live in one of our nation’s most crime-ridden cities.
So… will the criminal raid affect her political future? Troutman said Thursday the charges do not deter her from running for another term in the Feb. 27 election, but opponent Willie B. Cochran called on her to resign Friday.
I understand her hesitation about becoming a lowly commoner now that she is used to a lifestyle befitting a privileged ruler. She would be forced to relinquish her special permission to defend herself and have to try and survive like everyone else on the dangerous streets of Chicago.
--------------------------------------------------------------
FBI log: Troutman raids turned up 'suspect' drugs, gun
By Jeff Coen
Tribune staff reporter
Published January 12, 2007, 8:18 PM CST
Federal documents made public Friday show the scope of the investigation into Chicago Ald. Arenda Troutman and indicate the FBI may not be done looking into her connections to street gangs.
Evidence logs from searches of Troutman's home and office on Monday also show that agents allegedly found suspected drugs, drug paraphernalia and a handgun.
Earlier this week, authorities charged Troutman with accepting a bribe to smooth the way for a mixed-use development on the South Side. Troutman has denied the accusations.
The documents show some of the suspected drugs were recovered in Troutman's home in the 6500 block of South Kimbark Avenue, where the revolver also was found. A "white powdery substance in Ziploc plastic bag" was found in her office at 5958 S. State St., the documents state, noting it was found in a desk drawer.
FBI spokesman Ross Rice said laboratory testing of the substances was not complete.
Troutman's lawyer, Sam Adam Jr., said he believes that testing will show the powder was a vitamin supplement.
"Anybody who knows anything about Arenda Troutman can tell you she is a health freak," Adam said. "She hasn't eaten meat in years; she's a vegetarian.
"Arenda Troutman does not do drugs," he said. "We need to wait until these lab tests come back and see what we're talking about here."
Troutman, the 20th Ward alderman, has been under law enforcement scrutiny in the past for her association with Donnell "Scandalous" Jehan, an alleged Black Disciples gang leader who has fled to avoid drug conspiracy charges.
Agents were to seize "records and documents of press releases issued by Arenda Troutman, her aldermanic office, her committeeman office, her campaign committees or her employees regarding law-enforcement issues and street-gang activity."
Aldermen are an exception to Chicago's ban on handguns, and Adam said he believes Troutman's gun was lawfully owned and kept.
Adam said Troutman needed protection in the economically depressed area where she lives and serves. Her home has been broken into in the past, and the gun was registered to a private detective who left it for her, Adam said.
"She didn't go up to the North Shore to run, or to the southwest suburbs among the affluent to make things better," he said. "She's right there in the 'hood."
Troutman said Thursday the charges do not deter her from running for another term in the Feb. 27 election, but opponent Willie B. Cochran called on her to resign Friday.
The search warrants in the Troutman case included lists of items to be seized. Included were bank records, lists and receipts; income and expense summaries; cash disbursement journals, and other financial information. Also listed were computer equipment and documents.
[email protected]