The following was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (ISRA-PVF):

A career criminal who was the focal point of a controversial Gov. Blagojevich veto has been arrested once again for burglarizing a Wilmette home.

Morio Billings was arrested by Chicago Police just 11 days after serving less than half of a 7-year sentence for a 2003 burglary that touched off a national firestorm over the right of self defense.

In that 2003 case, Billings broke into another Wilmette home and made off with personal items and the resident's luxury SUV. The next night, when Billings returned to the home for a second helping, he was confronted by the homeowner -- who was armed at the time. The homeowner shot and wounded Billings. Interestingly enough, the heroic homeowner was arrested for possessing the handgun that probably saved the lives of himself and his family. Wilmette is one of a handful of Chicago suburbs that forbid residents from owning handguns.

The homeowner's arrest sparked widespread outrage over the fact that a husband and father could be arrested for protecting his family.

In response, the Illinois State Rifle Association drafted legislation to protect homeowners from shortsighted local ordinances such as the one on the books in Wilmette. Despite near-unanimous approval by the Illinois General Assembly, Blagojevich vetoed the bill. Good sense ruled in the end when the legislature overrode the veto.