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SUBMITTED BY: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

08-CR__

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CONCEALED CARRY WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY

WHEREAS, The Second Amendment (Amendment II) of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights declares a well-regulated militia as "being necessary to the security of a free State" and prohibits infringement of "the right of the people to keep and bear arms."; and

WHEREAS, States with the largest increases in gun ownership also have the largest decreases in violent crime. And, it is high crime, urban areas, and neighborhoods with large minority populations that experience the greatest reductions in violent crime when law-abiding citizens are allowed to carry concealed handguns; and

WHEREAS, States with right-to-carry laws have lower overall violent crime rates, compared to states without right-to-carry laws. In states whose laws respect the citizen's right-to-carry guns for self defense the total violent crime is 13% lower, homicide is 3% lower, robbery is 26% lower and aggravated assault is 7% lower. (Data: Crime in the United States 1996, FBI Uniform Crime Reports); and

WHEREAS, here is a strong relationship between the number of law- abiding citizens with permits and the crime rate--as more people obtain permits there is a greater decline in violent crime rates; and

WHEREAS, for the sixth year in a row, Winnebago County has the highest crime rate in the state, according to state stats; and

WHEREAS, it would be in the best interest of the Winnebago County citizens to allow the citizen of Winnebago County to carry concealed weapons within its boundaries; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the County Board of the County of Winnebago, Illinois adopted the Concealed Carry Ordinance here attached; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution shall be in full force and effect immediately upon its adoption.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the County Board is hereby directed to prepare and deliver certified copies of this Resolution to the Winnebago County Sheriff, County Board Chairman, and County Board Members.

Respectfully submitted,

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Randal Olson, Chairman

Tom Owens, Rick Pollack, John Ekberg, Frank Gambio, John Sweeney Jr., John Harmon, Pearl Hawks, Bob Hasting, Jim Webster, Dave Yeske, Bob Kinnison

The above and foregoing Resolution as adopted by the County Board of the County of Winnebago, Illinois, this ____ day of , 2008.

Scott H. Christiansen, Chairman of the County Board of the County of Winnebago, Illinois

ATTEST: Margie M. Mullins

CLERK OF THE COUNTY BOARD OF THE COUNTY OF WINNEBAGO, ILLINOIS

Margie M. Mullins

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Since this is a draft resolution and the names of the committee members are listed without signatures, I don't believe one should assume all will agree with the resolution.