Chicago, IL – State Senator Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago) is calling on the gun advocacy group GunsSaveLife.com to apologize for its use of the gold Star of David the Nazis used to identify Jewish individuals during the Holocaust in its April newsletter.

The group compared Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s recent decision to require the Illinois State Police to release the names (but not addresses or any additional identifying information) of Firearm Owner ID (FOID) cards to Nazi Germany’s identification of Jewish individuals during the Holocaust.  Madigan’s decision stemmed from a Freedom of Information (FOIA) request filed by the Associated Press.

“Comparing the Attorney General’s legal opinion to the events that led to the Holocaust is ludicrous and frankly very offensive,” Silverstein said.  “Six million Jews were forced to wear the gold Star of David before they were cruelly murdered.  No one is going to execute registered gun owners in the state of Illinois.  No one is trying to take their guns away.”

The AP filed its FOIA request because recent studies using similar information in other states have revealed that individuals who should not be allowed to own guns--such as felons and the mentally ill--have still been able to legally purchase weapons.

“Groups like GunsSaveLife.com have every right to argue that FOID card holders’ names and other information should be exempt from the Freedom of Information Act,” Silverstein said.  “That’s a legal and legislative issue.  What they don’t have the right to do is use offensive, inflammatory rhetoric.  I’m sure there are Jews on both sides of the issue who would appreciate an apology.”

GunsSaveLife.com is based in Downstate Champaign County.