Gun rights battle hits Illinois this week

Kurt Erickson | Posted: Tuesday, March 8, 2011 2:00 am

SPRINGFIELD — Gun rights supporters think they have momentum on their side this year to allow Illinoisans to carry concealed weapons.

Opponents, however, say not enough has changed in the ongoing stalemate to signal any significant changes on the horizon.

That doesn’t mean the battle over gun rights isn’t going to heat up in the coming days.
Today, a House panel stocked with a number of downstate gun rights backers is expected to once again approve legislation that would make Illinois the 49th state to allow citizens with special training to carry guns in public.

On Thursday, thousands of gun activists are scheduled to descend on the Statehouse for an annual rally organized by the Illinois State Rifle Association.

Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, said a combination of legal and political changes in the past year have pushed concealed carry legislation to the forefront.

“I’ve never had the groundswell or the grassroots effort that this bill is getting and attention that it’s getting right now,” Phelps said.

Opponents say there is still scant support among Chicago-area lawmakers for allowing concealed carry — meaning the issue may remain unresolved for at least another year.
Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan, says downstate lawmakers should spend some time in Chicago to see the differences between a congested metropolitan area and a more rural downstate area.

“It’s a different atmosphere that we live in. People live in fear constantly about guns. We do not want to start the wild, wild West up by us,” Link said.

Despite that stance, gun rights supporters were energized by last year’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that tossed out Chicago’s controversial ban on handguns. In addition, the 2010 election saw gubernatorial candidate Republican Bill Brady winning throughout much of downstate.

Wisconsin — Illinois’ lone counterpart in banning concealed carry — also is considering legalizing the carrying of weapons in public.

“If Wisconsin passes concealed carry, Illinois will be the only state that does not allow any concealed carry permit process whatsoever. We’ll be the last state,” Phelps said.
After holding their noses and voting for an income tax hike in January, many downstate lawmakers who support concealed carry say they want something in return from Democrats and Gov. Pat Quinn.

Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, said downstate lawmakers have asked Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, to call the measure for a vote.

“I think there is enough broad-based support to get the bill to the floor,” Jacobs said.

“The people of this state deserve to have the rights of what people in almost every other state have.”

Downstate Republican lawmakers also say there is momentum this year for a vote.

“I think more and more people think there is an opportunity for concealed carry to be voted on this year,” said Sen. John Jones, R-Mount Vernon.

That message will be repeated throughout the Capitol on Thursday when gun owners rally in Springfield. Buses are departing from the Quad-Cities, Marion, Mount Vernon, Chenoa, Chester, Bloomington-Normal, Chicago and Danville.

Among the bills they will be talking about is Senate Bill 82, which is being sponsored by Republicans and Democrats, including Sens. Gary Forby, D-Benton; Kyle McCarter, R-Lebanon; Jones; Shane Cultra, R-Onarga; and Dale Righter, R-Mattoon.

Even if a concealed carry bill were to somehow make it through the Democrat-controlled legislature, Quinn remains a major obstacle.

“Our big problem is that Governor Quinn has repeatedly said he would veto it,” Jones said.

“The governor is fond of saying the will of the people should be the law of the land,” Jacobs said. “He should abide by that.”

Link said both sides of the fight need to just agree to disagree.

“I have never had an objection to anyone having a legitimate gun,” Link said. “But, when we see someone with a gun in my area, we know they’re not duck hunting.”

http://qctimes.com/news/local/article_bc350dd4-493d-11e0-a15e-001cc4c03286.html