My visit to Chicago

8MM Mauser · May 14, 2015, 05:36 PM

I really enjoy Chicago. I've been a weekender tourist there since my parents took me when I was young. I went there as a kid, a young adult and now I take my own family. I really enjoy the feel of the city, the food is great, the facilities are impressive, and I can take a train there, and then for $20 use CTA all weekend so I get a break from driving (I have a very long work commute).

That said; I was a little disturbed by the number of "no-gun" signs I saw virtually everywhere. I'm happy to say that my hotel didn't have any (not that I could carry in IL anyway with a MI permit) but my favorite restaurant did; in fact most restaurants and other public spaces did! We took my daughter to the Shedd Aquarium, it has this series of double doors which enclose a small "inside/outside" area and then there is another set of double doors. Every single door had a no gun sign! There were so many my daughter actually asked me "dad, why is there a line through the gun?" and I had to explain what the sign met. This quickly led to questions from other kids in line too.

It is really too bad, honestly to me that what seem like very good people take such a dim view of a person's right to self-defense, especially in a city as potentially dangerous as Chicago! The whole city had a heavy police/security presence. I actually chatted with a guard carrying a GP100 for a few minutes. Chicago is a mid-western city and I cannot help but wonder if it is possible to bring them into the fold...? They aren't so different from us Michiganders really.

Sevens · May 14, 2015, 06:13 PM

Any place that is new to concealed carry licenses ALWAYS starts out with a mindblowing plethora of "NO GUNS" signs. It is all based around irrational fear and foolishness.

--they think legal, licensed carriers will get in to petty arguments leading to shootouts

--they think the same folks will play with their guns and ND a hole in the floor or wall

--they think a sign somehow absolves them from potential liability if bad thing happen

--they must believe psychopaths & murderers may kill at will BUT NOT exceed the authority of a posted sign...?!

Chicago is full of wonderful things but there are countless other places that I personally feel are a MUCH better fit for me, my time and my money. Suffice to say, I have zero plans to -EVER- go there, through there or near there ever again, the entire rest of my life.

I gree up in Michigan, my family resides there and I visit often.

The good people scattered across the State of Illinois are indeed much like Michigan folks. However, the people that occupy Chicago are NOT. Not at all, and I would think most Michigan folks would take offense to such an assertion.

NukemJim · May 14, 2015, 09:48 PM

The Chicago political machine does NOT like firearms unless they are owned by themselves or people under their control.

It was a major fight to get the CCW law to cover Chicago and there are things forbidden to CCW in Cook County that are legal elsewhere in the state.

Also large corporations and universities are also pushing all their tennants to post the signs, some are making mandatory as part of the lease.

So the real challenge of CCW in Chi is where you can CCW.

Thank goodness for the parking lot exemption.

NukemJim

Armed_Chicagoan · May 14, 2015, 11:21 PM

Downtown is like that, the neighborhoods are just the opposite. Don't see many of those signs at all outside of downtown.

The Shedd Aquaruium, btw, is prohibited by statute.

8MM Mauser · May 15, 2015, 07:50 AM

It mist be crazy to try and carry there!

In Grand Rapids MI I think I've noticed about 2-3 places with no gun signs... But down there they were on everything!

And sevens I think it would depend on who you talked to in Michigan:

GR/ Kent county are not exactly friendly to CCW but the general culture doesn't seems to have a problem with it.

osbornk · May 15, 2015, 04:58 PM

Quote:

I really enjoy Chicago. I've been a weekender tourist there since my parents took me when I was young. I went there as a kid, a young adult and now I take my own family.

If you and others like you accept their actions and continue to give them your money, why should they change? I vote with my wallet and try to make them aware of why they don't get in mine.

Zodiak · May 15, 2015, 10:44 PM

Born and raised in Chicago and it's by far the greatest city on this planet. That being said our politicians and states attorneys are biased corrupt and ignorant. I just received my CCW and what you learn in the class is to NOT carry a gun. You basically can't carry it anywhere. They want to make it as tough as possible on you so you don't get the CCW. I really hope in time it gets better. For now I'll just keep my guns at home.

Armed_Chicagoan · May 16, 2015, 02:24 PM

I've carried every day since I got my Illinois CCL in April '14, I still haven't had to disarm to go anywhere. Again, outside of downtown the "no guns" signs are few and far between.

Chicago has an ordinance requiring any establishment with a consumed on premises liquor license to post, but again outside of downtown compliance with that is almost non-existent. None of the restaurant/bars on the north side I go to watch sports are posted, in defiance of city liquor license requirements. I think the city isn't enforcing it because they know the requirement violates state preemption and they don't want a plaintiff to sue. The NRA would love to have a plaintiff to challenge this ordinance, but until they try to enforce it on someone who wants to fight back they don't have a plaintiff with standing to sue.

SaxonPig · May 17, 2015, 01:25 PM

Chicago is a place ruled by despots who have convinced the masses that they don't want to be armed and populated by sheeple with the "Guns are evil" mentality. Here in Arkansas the only places I know with no guns signs are one movie theater (the same chain as the one shot up by James Holmes in Aurora, CO showing how truly brain dead they are), both UPS and Fed-Ex offices (a hoot considering the number of guns being shipped through the locations) and a Toys-R-Us (and their utter stupidity is national not just local).

Maybe someday the geniuses who run businesses in Chicago will develop functioning brain cells and wise up...but I doubt it. Stupid...it seems...is forever.

8MM Mauser · May 18, 2015, 11:33 AM

It would be nice to see Chicago businesses realize the pointlessness of such signage.

Also, how about how about some reciprocity with MI?

precision_shooter · May 18, 2015, 02:20 PM

I've only had to visit Chicago on business, and likely won't ever go back. It was a neat place to visit with a lot of history, but the sheer amount of corruption and their views on things will ensure they don't get any of my money voluntarily...

Tinbucket · May 18, 2015, 07:01 PM

We've visited the Chicago area several times. Really enjoyed the Shed Aquirum the first couple times, not so much since the nineties.
Thirty dollars to park, all the handicapped taken.
Chicago is as it is portrayed in the media the last 30 years.
They are taking their show on the road. The ones, with influence or just a bit of money are taking over western Michigan. The problem with that is they are taking their baggage of anti firearms and everything else.
South Haven on north and they are expanding .Farm country of mid and southern Michigan is seeing the invasion and the anti gun agenda is popping up in places.
We observed carloads with Chicago tags bringing stuff to pawn to Marshall County Michigan. Why so far to pawn

robably hot and the other end of the Interstate.

KyJim · May 18, 2015, 08:08 PM

I've visited Chicago a few times, always on business (mine or my wife's) and mostly downtown. I like visiting but wouldn't want to live there -- just too big. I can understand a resident being savvy to the corruption but I'm really surprised that a casual visitor could see corruption out in the open. I couldn't. Heck, even the bus drivers treated me nice.

Machineguntony · May 18, 2015, 11:16 PM

Chicago has the best deep dish pizza and the best style of hotdogs. Do those two make up for the crappy gun laws?

In Austin, Texas, our local attempts at deep dish were pathetic: Conans Pizza (barf) and Mangia Pizza (double barf and now out of business). We do have better gun laws.

peggysue · May 19, 2015, 10:40 AM

Make sure you visit Englewood and Roseland are wonderful areas in Chicago.

DaleA · May 19, 2015, 11:02 AM

We've got a similar situation in Minneapolis/St. Paul with regard to the 'Guns banned in these premises' signs.

During the concealed carry debate years ago the anti legislators passed around a flak vest and donned it before getting up to tell us how the 'streets would run red' if we allowed concealed carry in the state.

Some vowed never to enter any store or shop that did NOT have the 'guns banned' sign. Wish some enterprising young journalist would follow them around for a day (today) and see how many are keeping to their pledge.

Blindstitch · May 19, 2015, 05:45 PM

I like going to Chicago too but I think they're nuts. It's like a big no personal safety place. And the only people that aren't going to be thinking about removing their gun to enter one of those safe zones is the criminals.

I also think the FOID card should be removed.

**4V50 Gary** · May 21, 2015, 08:59 AM

Did you visit the Chicago Museum of Technology and Science? U-505 and a JU-87 Stuka are there.

8MM Mauser · May 21, 2015, 09:28 AM

Quote:

I've visited Chicago a few times, always on business (mine or my wife's) and mostly downtown. I like visiting but wouldn't want to live there -- just too big. I can understand a resident being savvy to the corruption but I'm really surprised that a casual visitor could see corruption out in the open. I couldn't. Heck, even the bus drivers treated me nice.

This has been my experiance too. As a western Michigander Chicago is the closest and easiest tourist spot that is a big city, and the institutions are great, especially the museums.

8MM Mauser · May 21, 2015, 09:31 AM

Quote:

4V50 Gary
Staff

Join Date: November 2, 1998
Location: Colorado
Posts: 17,649
Did you visit the Chicago Museum of Technology and Science? U-505 and a JU-87 Stuka are there.

Didn't get to go on this trip. My daughter is only three and we thought it would be too much for her. I've been though and I love the place!

Evan Thomas · May 21, 2015, 09:32 AM

Since we seem to have finished discussing gun-related matters in this thread... closed.

May 14, 2015, 05:36 PM	#1
8MM Mauser Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2011 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts: 647	My visit to Chicago I really enjoy Chicago. I've been a weekender tourist there since my parents took me when I was young. I went there as a kid, a young adult and now I take my own family. I really enjoy the feel of the city, the food is great, the facilities are impressive, and I can take a train there, and then for $20 use CTA all weekend so I get a break from driving (I have a very long work commute). That said; I was a little disturbed by the number of "no-gun" signs I saw virtually everywhere. I'm happy to say that my hotel didn't have any (not that I could carry in IL anyway with a MI permit) but my favorite restaurant did; in fact most restaurants and other public spaces did! We took my daughter to the Shedd Aquarium, it has this series of double doors which enclose a small "inside/outside" area and then there is another set of double doors. Every single door had a no gun sign! There were so many my daughter actually asked me "dad, why is there a line through the gun?" and I had to explain what the sign met. This quickly led to questions from other kids in line too. It is really too bad, honestly to me that what seem like very good people take such a dim view of a person's right to self-defense, especially in a city as potentially dangerous as Chicago! The whole city had a heavy police/security presence. I actually chatted with a guard carrying a GP100 for a few minutes. Chicago is a mid-western city and I cannot help but wonder if it is possible to bring them into the fold...? They aren't so different from us Michiganders really.

May 14, 2015, 06:13 PM	#2
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	Any place that is new to concealed carry licenses ALWAYS starts out with a mindblowing plethora of "NO GUNS" signs. It is all based around irrational fear and foolishness. --they think legal, licensed carriers will get in to petty arguments leading to shootouts --they think the same folks will play with their guns and ND a hole in the floor or wall --they think a sign somehow absolves them from potential liability if bad thing happen --they must believe psychopaths & murderers may kill at will BUT NOT exceed the authority of a posted sign...?! Chicago is full of wonderful things but there are countless other places that I personally feel are a MUCH better fit for me, my time and my money. Suffice to say, I have zero plans to -EVER- go there, through there or near there ever again, the entire rest of my life. I gree up in Michigan, my family resides there and I visit often. The good people scattered across the State of Illinois are indeed much like Michigan folks. However, the people that occupy Chicago are NOT. Not at all, and I would think most Michigan folks would take offense to such an assertion. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

May 14, 2015, 09:48 PM	#3
NukemJim Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2002 Posts: 287	The Chicago political machine does NOT like firearms unless they are owned by themselves or people under their control. It was a major fight to get the CCW law to cover Chicago and there are things forbidden to CCW in Cook County that are legal elsewhere in the state. Also large corporations and universities are also pushing all their tennants to post the signs, some are making mandatory as part of the lease. So the real challenge of CCW in Chi is where you can CCW. Thank goodness for the parking lot exemption. NukemJim __________________ "Half of being smart is knowing what you are dumb at" "Guns shoot bullets. People shoot people."

May 18, 2015, 02:20 PM	#11
precision_shooter Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 2,475	I've only had to visit Chicago on business, and likely won't ever go back. It was a neat place to visit with a lot of history, but the sheer amount of corruption and their views on things will ensure they don't get any of my money voluntarily... __________________ "Laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes...Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man." - Thomas Jefferson, 1776

May 18, 2015, 07:01 PM	#12
Tinbucket Senior Member Join Date: January 17, 2015 Posts: 355	My Visit to Chicago We've visited the Chicago area several times. Really enjoyed the Shed Aquirum the first couple times, not so much since the nineties. Thirty dollars to park, all the handicapped taken. Chicago is as it is portrayed in the media the last 30 years. They are taking their show on the road. The ones, with influence or just a bit of money are taking over western Michigan. The problem with that is they are taking their baggage of anti firearms and everything else. South Haven on north and they are expanding .Farm country of mid and southern Michigan is seeing the invasion and the anti gun agenda is popping up in places. We observed carloads with Chicago tags bringing stuff to pawn to Marshall County Michigan. Why so far to pawnrobably hot and the other end of the Interstate.

May 14, 2015, 11:21 PM	#4
Armed_Chicagoan Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2013 Location: Albany Park, Chicago Posts: 776	Downtown is like that, the neighborhoods are just the opposite. Don't see many of those signs at all outside of downtown. The Shedd Aquaruium, btw, is prohibited by statute.

May 15, 2015, 07:50 AM	#5
8MM Mauser Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2011 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts: 647	It mist be crazy to try and carry there! In Grand Rapids MI I think I've noticed about 2-3 places with no gun signs... But down there they were on everything! And sevens I think it would depend on who you talked to in Michigan: GR/ Kent county are not exactly friendly to CCW but the general culture doesn't seems to have a problem with it.

May 15, 2015, 10:44 PM	#7
Zodiak Junior Member Join Date: May 9, 2015 Location: Chicago Posts: 6	Born and raised in Chicago and it's by far the greatest city on this planet. That being said our politicians and states attorneys are biased corrupt and ignorant. I just received my CCW and what you learn in the class is to NOT carry a gun. You basically can't carry it anywhere. They want to make it as tough as possible on you so you don't get the CCW. I really hope in time it gets better. For now I'll just keep my guns at home.

May 16, 2015, 02:24 PM	#8
Armed_Chicagoan Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2013 Location: Albany Park, Chicago Posts: 776	I've carried every day since I got my Illinois CCL in April '14, I still haven't had to disarm to go anywhere. Again, outside of downtown the "no guns" signs are few and far between. Chicago has an ordinance requiring any establishment with a consumed on premises liquor license to post, but again outside of downtown compliance with that is almost non-existent. None of the restaurant/bars on the north side I go to watch sports are posted, in defiance of city liquor license requirements. I think the city isn't enforcing it because they know the requirement violates state preemption and they don't want a plaintiff to sue. The NRA would love to have a plaintiff to challenge this ordinance, but until they try to enforce it on someone who wants to fight back they don't have a plaintiff with standing to sue.

May 17, 2015, 01:25 PM	#9
SaxonPig Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2006 Posts: 1,900	Chicago is a place ruled by despots who have convinced the masses that they don't want to be armed and populated by sheeple with the "Guns are evil" mentality. Here in Arkansas the only places I know with no guns signs are one movie theater (the same chain as the one shot up by James Holmes in Aurora, CO showing how truly brain dead they are), both UPS and Fed-Ex offices (a hoot considering the number of guns being shipped through the locations) and a Toys-R-Us (and their utter stupidity is national not just local). Maybe someday the geniuses who run businesses in Chicago will develop functioning brain cells and wise up...but I doubt it. Stupid...it seems...is forever.

May 18, 2015, 11:33 AM	#10
8MM Mauser Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2011 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts: 647	It would be nice to see Chicago businesses realize the pointlessness of such signage. Also, how about how about some reciprocity with MI?

May 18, 2015, 08:08 PM	#13
KyJim Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2005 Location: The Bluegrass Posts: 9,142	I've visited Chicago a few times, always on business (mine or my wife's) and mostly downtown. I like visiting but wouldn't want to live there -- just too big. I can understand a resident being savvy to the corruption but I'm really surprised that a casual visitor could see corruption out in the open. I couldn't. Heck, even the bus drivers treated me nice. Last edited by KyJim; May 18, 2015 at 08:15 PM.

May 18, 2015, 11:16 PM	#14
Machineguntony Senior Member Join Date: June 22, 2013 Posts: 1,277	Chicago has the best deep dish pizza and the best style of hotdogs. Do those two make up for the crappy gun laws? In Austin, Texas, our local attempts at deep dish were pathetic: Conans Pizza (barf) and Mangia Pizza (double barf and now out of business). We do have better gun laws. __________________ Sent from Motorola DynaTac 8000x

May 19, 2015, 10:40 AM	#15
peggysue Junior member Join Date: May 20, 2014 Posts: 1,835	Make sure you visit Englewood and Roseland are wonderful areas in Chicago.

May 19, 2015, 11:02 AM	#16
DaleA Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2002 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 5,313	We've got a similar situation in Minneapolis/St. Paul with regard to the 'Guns banned in these premises' signs. During the concealed carry debate years ago the anti legislators passed around a flak vest and donned it before getting up to tell us how the 'streets would run red' if we allowed concealed carry in the state. Some vowed never to enter any store or shop that did NOT have the 'guns banned' sign. Wish some enterprising young journalist would follow them around for a day (today) and see how many are keeping to their pledge.

May 19, 2015, 05:45 PM	#17
Blindstitch Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2013 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 2,693	I like going to Chicago too but I think they're nuts. It's like a big no personal safety place. And the only people that aren't going to be thinking about removing their gun to enter one of those safe zones is the criminals. I also think the FOID card should be removed.

May 21, 2015, 08:59 AM	#18
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,841	Did you visit the Chicago Museum of Technology and Science? U-505 and a JU-87 Stuka are there. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

May 21, 2015, 09:32 AM	#21
Evan Thomas Senior Member Join Date: July 7, 2008 Location: Upper midwest Posts: 5,631	Since we seem to have finished discussing gun-related matters in this thread... closed. __________________ Never let anything mechanical know you're in a hurry.