Begorrah…bein’ a quarter Irish as I am, I could think of no better way to spend a St. Patrick’s Day than with a lovely colleen…so, on March 17, Gail Pepin and I sat down with Colleen Lawson of Chicago, one of the named plaintiffs in McDonald, et. al. v. Chicago. This, you’ll recall, is the landmark case now being deliberated by the Supreme Court of the United States, to determine whether the same body’s decision in Heller v. Washington, DC two years ago is binding upon jurisdictions other than the District of Columbia.
Mrs. Lawson’s perspective gives her understanding of the issues from many angles. A native Chicagoan, she has seen crime go up pervasively in the windy city. Living in a nice neighborhood, she knows that crime does not confine itself to the blighted inner city. As a person of mixed race, she has learned that racial hatred still exists in America. As a woman and a mother of daughters, she has learned that misogyny exists, too, and that criminals who hold women in contempt can be particularly violent toward them. Finally, she has learned that in a world where predators abound, the helpless are merely prey.
She can tell you of the day she looked through the window of her back porch door at the hostile faces of men who were breaking into her home, the battered door one more blow away from coming down, her face literally inches from theirs with only the fragile, damaged door in between. That particular encounter ended well, but left a strong sense of vulnerability. Since then, she has been an advocate for a responsibly armed citizenry, and for the civil rights of gun owners.
The mere possession of handguns has been banned in the City of Chicago since 1982. Colleen acquired a 20-gauge shotgun, but notes that it is much bulkier and more unwieldy than a handgun, particularly for a woman with less upper body strength than a man. Her position is that the Chicago handgun ban has disparate impact upon women. Who, with any degree of credibility, can disagree?
Colleen’s articulate plea for sanity and basic civil rights can soon be heard on the Pro-Arms Podcast, http://proarmspodcast.com. Our interview with Otis McDonald, the lead named plaintiff in the case (see below) will soon be there too, both downloadable to computer or iPod at no charge. Ms. Lawson’s interview with Pro-Arms Podcast producer Gail Pepin will be part of the all-women’s series within a series, the Broad Cast. When next in Chicago, we hope to interview the two other named plaintiffs, Adam Orlov and Colleen’s husband David Lawson.
Colleen Lawson & Mas
Colleen really is quite lovely, huh Mas!? Her husband is one fortunate fellow.
Mas, Thanks for your involvement in the McDonald case. This is clearly a very key case in the struggle to retain our second amendment rights. Much appreciation.
Carl, she’s not only a lovely lady, she’s a bright and articulate one. Her husband David is indeed a lucky man, and I’ll tell him so when — if all goes as planned — I interview him next month, as well as the other remaining plaintiff, Adam Orlov, whom I’ve not yet contacted. The schedule did not cooperate when I was in Chicago (mine, not theirs) or I’d have done those interviews by now. 🙁
Ma, I’m loving this series – will look forward to the Orlov installment. Thanks!
cheers, erich
I’m glad someone has taken on the windy city like this. We need to get the Sullivan Act in New York shot down _ pun intended