SmallCaliberCentral

ISRA: Chicago Priest Calls for Murder of Gun Shop Owner

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.

Fr. PFLEGER wrote:I believe that everybody wants to succeed. I don't believe there's anybody that woke up this morning and said, "I want to fail." If there is, please leave now. But you can confess and profess something all your life. As long as you sit on your butt and do nothing, it is not going to happen. Just because you speak it and believe it doesn't mean it's going to happen unless you get up and do something about it. You've got to roll up your sleeve, take control of your life, and do something. Stop being a victim and stop being victimized and do something about your future!