CAMPAIGN 2008: Illinois Democrats Speak Out

Would you vote for a Democratic candidate in the state primary without knowing where that candidate stands on health care?  The deficit?  Iraq?  The response to Hurricane Katrina?  Or your right to keep and bear arms?

Amendment II Democrats asked your Illinois Democratic candidates, and they're responding.  Don't go to the polls without learning where your candidates stand on the Second Amendment.  This section will expand as more candidates respond, so check back often!

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Illinois' Primary Election was on Tuesday, February 5, 2008.  Winners of House/Senate primaries will have their names displayed in italics below. Thank you for voting!

QUESTION 1: Which, in your opinion, should assume the predominant role in enacting legislation governing the possession and use of firearms by law-abiding citizens?

QUESTION 1	Federal Government	States	Both
(IL-9) John Nocita		X

COMMENTS
John Nocita: Many states have differing views and needs for different weapons.  I do not believe the Fed's should or could best address these issues.

QUESTION 2: Do you support Federal legislation that will prohibit law enforcement officials from confiscating firearms from law-abiding citizens in the event of a natural disaster or other catastrophic event?

QUESTION 2	Yes	No	Unsure
(IL-9) John Nocita		X

COMMENTS
John Nocita: But I believe there might be some compelling reasons to allow such...

QUESTION 3: Do you support Federal legislation that would establish a mandatory comprehensive firearms safety class for all prospective gun owners in the United States?

QUESTION 3	Yes	No	Unsure
(IL-9) John Nocita		X

COMMENTS
John Nocita: Leave it to the states.

QUESTION 4: Do you believe that law-abiding Americans should be required to have a permit in order to exercise the Second Amendment right to own firearms?

QUESTION 4	Yes	No	Unsure
(IL-9) John Nocita	X

COMMENTS
John Nocita: The registration of guns and the owners is most helpful to law enforcement.

QUESTION 5: Do you support Federal legislation that would restrict or even outlaw private ownership of semi-automatic firearms by law-abiding Americans?

QUESTION 5	Yes	No	Unsure
(IL-9) John Nocita		X

COMMENTS
John Nocita: I do not believe that one law adequately meets all issues.

QUESTION 6: Do you support Federal legislation that would restrict or even outlaw private ownership of .50-caliber rifles by law-abiding Americans?

QUESTION 6	Yes	No	Unsure
(IL-9) John Nocita	X

COMMENTS
John Nocita: Unless someone could explain the need for a .50 caliber rifle.  I could envision special permits...

QUESTION 7: Do you support Federal legislation that would help keep firearms off the American market that are inherently dangerous due to design flaws, including many "junk" handguns?

QUESTION 7	Yes	No	Unsure
(IL-9) John Nocita	X

COMMENTS
John Nocita: Any dangerous or inherently defective product should not be on the open market.

QUESTION 8: Do you support legislation that would allow ownership and/or carrying of firearms by law-abiding students and/or faculty on college campuses?

QUESTION 8	Yes	No	Unsure
(IL-9) John Nocita			X

COMMENTS
John Nocita: Faculty, and staff possibly, not students.  I was once young, immortal, and impetuous...in essence, irresponsible.  I would be uncomfortable knowing "kids" would be carrying weapons.

QUESTION 9: Do you support or favor "Castle Doctrine" laws, which preserve a law-abiding American's ability to use deadly force to protect one's family or self, that are enacted on the state level?

QUESTION 9	Yes	No	Unsure
(IL-9) John Nocita	X

COMMENTS
John Nocita: To me this is the best reason to have a weapon.

QUESTION 10: Do you support Federal legislation that would allow "Right-to-Carry" reciprocity, where a law-abiding American may carry a firearm for self-defense while traveling throughout the United States of America, provided that the individual is licensed to carry a firearm in any state?

QUESTION 10	Yes	No	Unsure
(IL-9) John Nocita			X

COMMENTS
John Nocita: Initially yes, but I would need to study the ramifications of "criminal activity" on the borders of states.  Would we create an advantage to citizens of one state vs another...

QUESTION 11: Do you support the repeal of Title 18 USC § 925(d)(3), which bans the importation of firearms that are not "readily adaptable to sporting purposes" and also bans importation of various replacement parts for such firearms?

QUESTION 11	Yes	No	Unsure
(IL-9) John Nocita		X

COMMENTS
John Nocita: I would like to study this law.

QUESTION 12: In 1993, a five-day waiting period was imposed on all handgun purchases, but the waiting period was abolished in 1998 when the National Instant Background Check System (NICS) was implemented under the supervision of the FBI.  Do you support Federal legislation that would reinstate a mandatory waiting period for handgun purchases, even with the use of NICS?

QUESTION 12	Yes	No	Unsure
(IL-9) John Nocita			X

COMMENTS
John Nocita: While I support the right to own weapons, I see the need for "cooling off" periods, which might save lives, balanced against the need to protect life.

QUESTION 13: Do you support the repeal of the provision within the Firearms' Owners Protection Act of 1986 that outlaws the manufacture of various restricted firearms for civilian ownership, provided that said civilian ownership is qualified under the National Firearms Act of 1934 as well as all relevant Federal and state requirements?

QUESTION 13	Yes	No	Unsure
(IL-9) John Nocita	X

COMMENTS
John Nocita: The way the question is phrased, yes.  I need more information possibly.

QUESTION 14: Do you agree with the ruling by a Federal Court of Appeals in 2007 that struck down the gun ban in Washington, DC?

QUESTION 14	Yes	No	Unsure
(IL-9) John Nocita	X

COMMENTS
John Nocita: I generally defer the Constitutional Arguments to the Courts absent any obvious flaws.

QUESTION 15: Do you support Federal legislation that would establish a policy of "no net-loss" of public hunting opportunities on Federally-owned land, with a view towards adapting to urban growth and changing land management procedures whiles still preserving enough land for safe and responsible public hunting?

QUESTION 15	Yes	No	Unsure
(IL-9) John Nocita	X

COMMENTS
None to report.

QUESTION 16: Do you support the creation of a Federal firearms registration system, in which a government agency will maintain records of specific firearms owned by law-abiding Americans?

QUESTION 16	Yes	No	Unsure
(IL-9) John Nocita	X

COMMENTS
John Nocita: I think it is a significant tool in law enforcement.

QUESTION 17: In regards to firearms that use detachable ammunition magazines, should there be a limit on the ammunition capacity of detachable magazines available to law-abiding American civilians?

QUESTION 17	Yes	No	Unsure
(IL-9) John Nocita	X

COMMENTS
John Nocita: Within reason.  We don't want arsenals to get into the "wrong hands."

QUESTION 18: Do you support Federal legislation imposing an arbitrary limit on the number of firearms that can legally be purchased by an American civilian within a given period of time?

QUESTION 18	Yes	No	Unsure
(IL-9) John Nocita	X

COMMENTS
John Nocita: Same reason as #17.

QUESTION 19: Do you believe that the United States should support and enforce United Nations agreements that contain measures that would infringe upon the Second Amendment rights of Americans?

QUESTION 19	Yes	No	Unsure
(IL-9) John Nocita		X

COMMENTS
John Nocita: "Our rights" via US Constitution should supersede such agreements.

QUESTION 20: Do you believe that the Second Amendment confers an individual right to bear arms, a collective right tied to the existence of state-run militias, or both?

QUESTION 19	Individual right	Collective right	Both
(IL-9) John Nocita			X

COMMENTS
John Nocita: I believe this was the intent that the founders had in mind.

NOTE: A PDF copy of the original questionnaire from any 2008 candidate is available from the Webmaster upon request.