Larry Hoover is seeking release so, according to his lawyer, he can be with his family, “like every senior citizen or elder in our community would like to do.”
Let’s not forget the murders he ordered, according to federal prosecutors. He prevented several people from reaching senior citizen status.
This is an example of another criminal found guilty by laws that govern our nation who has been pardoned by the criminal occupying the White House who continues to circumvent the laws that govern our nation.
Tony Prevolos, Bonita Springs, Florida
Federal firearms licensee follows rules
Josh Sugarmann’s recent letter, “Illinois can’t let guard down on hidden gun manufacturers,” dramatically misrepresents the reality of this industry. As a federally licensed home-based manufacturer — a Type 07 FFL and Class 02 SOT — I can assure readers there’s nothing “hidden” or nefarious about what we do.
Every firearm I buy, build or sell is logged, serialized and traceable under the law. My records are open to inspection by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — every gun, every serial number, every form. A single clerical error can trigger enforcement action. There is real accountability.
To be a federal firearms licensee, I passed FBI background checks, fingerprinting, zoning review and lengthy in-person interviews, as required by law. Once licensed, I became subject to unannounced inspections by the ATF and Illinois State Police and lifelong recordkeeping requirements.
Home-based licensees are regulated the same as brick-and-mortar gun stores. We follow the same rules, maintain the same records and face the same penalties for violations. We regularly attend local ATF meetings and seminars designed to keep licensees up to date on rule changes and compliance issues.
As a Class 02 special occupational taxpayer, I also comply with extra rules for National Firearms Act items, such as suppressors and short-barreled rifles. Each and every NFA transaction to and from my business requires review and written approval in advance from the ATF — hardly a “shadow” activity.
In reality, home-based licensees strengthen public safety. Many of us are certified firearm instructors who teach responsible ownership, secure storage and safe handling. When a new gun owner has questions about firearm safety or rules, it’s often their neighborhood federal firearms licensee that is the expert who provides this critical education.
Like the other home-based dealers and manufacturers, my business relies on my integrity and my meticulous compliance with industry regulations and best practices.
Home-based licensees are not a threat to public safety. We are the cornerstones of regulated, responsible and educated firearm ownership. We are professionals who accept heavy oversight because safety and accountability matter.
We are not the problem. We are part of the solution.
Benjamin D. Ferdinand, Libertyville
Celebrating Polish heritage
Since 1619, when Poles first landed on the shores of what would become America, the core values of our heritage have been the building blocks for generations of Poles coming to the U.S. in search of freedom and independence.
Those 1619 Polish settlers worked in the glass factory at Jamestown to provide the colony with an export to help finance the colony. When they were denied the rights to vote and own land, they staged the first labor strike in American history and won the rights they held so precious.
Every Polish American and every Polish citizen learns the core values of being Polish from their grandparents and parents: “faith, family, community.” That is the litany we absorb.
“Freedom and independence,” those are cherished principles of community that generations of Poles have fought for through decades of czars, Nazis and communists. Now Poland is free and independent and a major player in the geopolitical landscape of Europe and of America.
Poles have fought off oppression successfully. Polish Americans supported those hard-won victories with money, food, clothes, ambulances, copiers, paper, printers — anything that helped, we sent.
Now, Poland and the rest of Europe face a familiar evil enemy. The misplaced logic of the Kremlin that somehow Russia should control other sovereign nations by force.
Americans are not perfect. But we also understand the principles of freedom and independence.
Our support for Ukraine against Russia has been a direct line from the American Revolution. If 250 years of freedom and independence here means anything, it must mean that we continue to support those same principles for other sovereign nations.
Freedom and independence assure that faith, family and community continue in peace for all of us. These values are important to all people of good faith, whatever their heritage.
During this Polish Heritage Month, we welcome the opportunity to show how much we have in common with our neighbors who celebrate a different heritage; how much we share is so much bigger than those few areas in which we disagree.
Aurelia Pucinski, Illinois Appellate Judge
A better way for Broadway
In your Oct. 10 article about the city’s proposal to radically upzone Broadway in Edgewater and Uptown, 48th Ward Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth painted an incomplete picture of the community’s opposition.
Edgewater Residents for Responsible Development strongly supports construction of affordable apartments along Broadway. But we repeatedly have asked Mayor Brandon Johnson and Manaa-Hoppenworth to meet with us to come up with a better plan that would promote true affordable housing for working-class families, like the new 90-unit Bickerdike building at 5853 N. Broadway.
Johnson and the alder have refused, even though hundreds of Manaa-Hoppenworth’s constituents have expressed opposition at community meetings this year. She has never convened her own community forum to discuss the plan.
Most residents and business owners near Broadway still don’t know about it, because the city’s notification process has been so deficient.
We want the city to focus redevelopment on parcels that currently are vacant or are being used poorly, such as the Burlington store and parking lot.
As we and Landmarks Illinois have said, let’s preserve older, architecturally significant buildings along the Broadway corridor that give our neighborhood beauty and character and that also provide naturally occurring affordable housing and commercial spaces for our vibrant small businesses.
Upzoning those irreplaceable buildings will increase property taxes on them, boosting the odds of their being demolished.
Edgewater and Uptown already are two of the most densely populated neighborhoods in Chicago. We love the diversity of people and businesses in our community, and the beauty and history of the older buildings along Broadway.
We want to collaborate with the city on a better plan that creates more truly affordable housing and business vitality while respecting the unique character of the Broadway corridor and enhancing the quality of life for current and future residents.
Let’s rework the city’s one-size-fits-all upzoning plan that would turn Broadway into a canyon of high-rise apartment buildings that look like everywhere else.
Even though the City Council passed that shortsighted plan on Oct. 16, we can and should work together in good faith to improve it.
Harris Meyer, Uptown
It’s the people’s house, not Trump’s
Why wasn’t there a picture on your Thursday front page of the carnage that is happening at the White House? I literally cried when I saw the footage. Oh, every president has made changes to the White House. Did they actually destroy a whole wing of it?
Isn’t it enough that he’s demolishing America and all the decency and kindness we once stood for? Now, he has to destroy a national landmark as well? For what? Why was he even allowed to do this?
First, he lied about the extent of it, but no one should be surprised about that, as half of what comes out of his mouth is a lie. Second, doesn’t the White House belong to the American people? He’s just living in it temporarily, I hope. Like a guest.
What right does he have to mar that beautiful and sacred property? All for his grandiose dreams of a gaudy ballroom? And one larger than the White House itself? Are you kidding me? Why do we need that anyway? Does he dance?
Does anyone have the guts to stand up to this man? Is nothing off limits? Do we draw the line anywhere? To all those Republican robots bowing to his every whim, no matter what he does: Shame on every one of you. How will you explain your apathy to your ancestors one day? Ever since he was reelected, I feel like I’m living in a nightmare that I can’t wake up from.
Betsy Teixeira, Chicago Heights
A white castle for Trump
How long before Donald Trump renames the White House Trump Castle? He’s building a ballroom, but isn’t it really a throne room? This is a democracy. No kings.
Christopher Berbeka, Palatine
Trump’s a home wrecker
Donald Trump does not own the White House. Not quite yet, anyway. Technically, he is a glorified house sitter. Where were the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives when construction crews moved in? Why are we paying them if they let this travesty occur?
The question that everyone who helped put him in office needs to ask themselves is: What would you do if you had a house sitter for your home and came home to find a situation such as this?
The White House is a historical residence. For anyone else, what Trump is doing would be a major crime against government property. Instead, the GOP and Trump supporters cheer.
John Farrell, DeKalb
A day to remember
Thank you, Chicago! Chicagoans came together and protested and marched in the No Kings rally Oct. 18. We marched peacefully, calmly, with great joy and lots of energy. I have never felt safer and more in love with my city than on that day.
I grew up in the Old Town neighborhood and witnessed and endured the riots and protests of the Democratic Convention week. I was going on 10 that summer of ’68, and I will always remember those nights and days.
Yes, we were tear gassed. Kids, along with reporters and neighbors, ran through Lincoln Park and down Clark Street. I watched all of this from my living room window as police grabbed and beat anyone they could catch.
Talk about the feeling of coming out the other side! The feeling of possible déjà vu evaporated as my husband and I waited in Grant Park in front of the old band shell stage for our friends and neighbors. Eventually, hundreds of thousands of Chicagoans turned out to say no to kings, dictators, ICE and to militarizing our city.
I saw police calmly watching us and giving directions to folks. I heard protesters thanking the police for doing their jobs by protecting us.
It really was a “Love America” walk. A walk for each other, immigrants, LGBTQ+ neighbors and “the other.”
This city was due for a rebirth, and it has begun. A rebirth of soul, strength and might, and not the might of tear gas and rubber bullets. A rebirth of love, care and empathy for our city and its inhabitants. Listen, and you’ll hear the might of Chicago voices echoing across the land.
Nora Duff, Old Town
Hat tip to Jewish baseball star
I enjoyed reading the two recent letter tributes for Sandy Koufax not playing on Yom Kippur. But we shouldn’t forget the great Jewish star Hank Greenberg of the Detroit Tigers, who did likewise years ago. He was immortalized in verse by a poet.
Fred J. Wittenberg, Evanston