SPRINGFIELD, Ill., May 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was
 released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA):
     Nobody expected Saturday's Operation PUSH protest at Chuck's Gun Shop &
 Range to be anything other than a circus of the bizarre. However, nobody
 anticipated that an address by a Chicago priest would include a call for
 the murder of a suburban gun shop owner and legislators who oppose gun
 control.
     During an address at an anti-gun rally in front of Chuck's, Rev.
 Michael Pfleger, pastor of St. Sabina's Church, exhorted the crowd to
 "drag" shop owner, John Riggio, from his shop "like a rat" and "snuff" him.
 Rev. Pfleger went on to tell the crowd that legislators that vote against
 gun control legislation should be "snuffed" as well. As many know, "snuff"
 is slang for especially violent murder.
     The ISRA has a recording of Pfleger's remarks in MP3 format.
     "Certainly Fr. Pfleger has offered Absolution to a murderer or two
 during his tenure as a priest," commented ISRA Executive Director, Richard
 Pearson. "That's why it's shocking to hear him actually advocate the murder
 of a gun shop owner who has never committed a crime in his life. He then
 compounds the problem by calling for the murder of legislators who disagree
 with his personal political views -- something I suspect is a felony in
 this state. Pfleger's comments were disgusting and dangerous. And, I seem
 to remember that the Fifth Commandment frowns on murdering one's neighbor."
     "This week, I'll be penning a letter to the Archbishop, expressing my
 concerns over Rev. Pfleger's comments," continued Pearson. "I would hope
 that the Archbishop would reply with words of comfort for Mr. Riggio, his
 family, state legislators, and all others who were injured by Rev.
 Pfleger's thoughtless, inflammatory remarks."
     The ISRA is the state's leading advocate of safe, lawful, and
 responsible firearms ownership. Since 1903, the ISRA has represented the
 interests of over 1.5 million law-abiding firearm Illinois firearm owners.
 
 

SOURCE Illinois State Rifle Association