CONTACT: Rich Morthland
P: (309) 654-2229

Calls on Ahern to Refuse Campaign Contributions from Anti-Gun Politician Michael Madigan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 16, 2010

MORTHLAND OPPOSES QUINN’S GUN BAN PROPOSAL

PORT BYRON – Rich Morthland, Republican candidate for State Representative in the 71st House District, announced his opposition to Governor Pat Quinn’s referendum banning the sale of semiautomatic firearms in the City of Chicago. Morthland is also calling on his opponent, Dennis Ahern, to refuse campaign contributions from anti-gun legislators like House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago).

“Governor Quinn and Speaker Madigan have consistently opposed the rights of gun owners,” Morthland said. “For a decade, Speaker Madigan has refused to allow a floor vote on concealed-carry legislation. Also, Madigan backed Mayor Daley’s unconstitutional gun ban. He doesn’t support our Second Amendment rights, and my opponent is beholden to him. The rights the Constitution and the Supreme Court have declared belong to citizens are being threatened by Quinn and Madigan. They’re trying to buy Dennis Ahern’s support for their anti-gun agenda.”

On Thursday, the petitions were filed to place a referendum on the November ballot in Cook County. The proposed advisory referendum would ban the sale of semiautomatic firearms inside the county. Petitions were circulated by Maz Jackson, a top field operative for the Quinn campaign.

“Chicago Democrats have been trying for years to take away gun owners’ Second Amendment rights,” Morthland said. “Dennis Ahern has taken gobs of campaign cash from Speaker Madigan. So long as he keeps taking money from Mike Madigan, I don’t believe we can trust that my opponent will stand up to the Chicago Democrats’ anti-gun agenda.”

Rich Morthland called on Ahern to refuse contributions from Speaker Madigan earlier this month, citing the Speaker’s desire to work with Governor Quinn to pass a 67 percent income tax increase after the election. Ahern continues to accept large amounts of money from the Democrat powerbroker who is working with Quinn to ban semi-automatic firearms.

“This is the second time I have called on my opponent to turn down any campaign contributions he gets from Tax-Hike-Mike Madigan and other anti-gun politicians,” Morthland added. “As State Representative, I will always defend our constitutional rights against the liberal agenda of the Chicago politicians.”

For questions or more information, please contact the Committee to Elect Rich Morthland at (309) 654-2229 or via e-mail at electmorthland@gmail.com.