Concealed-carry bill on hold: Gun legislation fails to get House votes
Freeport, Ill. —
New legislation allowing state residents to carry concealed weapons has stalled in the Illinois House of Representatives, but sponsors plan to bring the bill forward again later this month.
State Rep. Jim Sacia, R-Pecatonica, a sponsor of the bill, said the legislation needed 71 yes votes to be approved by the House on May 5, but only received 65. Even so, the bill did get enough support to qualify for “postponed consideration,” which means it will likely be voted on again soon, Sacia said.
“It will come back up in May,” Sacia said, adding that he has been an ardent supporter of the proposed law. “I spoke passionately in favor of the bill, citing my 30 years in law enforcement, which has convinced me it is the right thing to do.”
If approved, House Bill 148 would allow county sheriffs across Illinois to issue permits to carry concealed firearms to state residents who are at least 21 years of age and who meet certain requirements. Among other things, the bill requires applicants to complete extensive training, including classroom instruction and live firing exercises, and to submit to a criminal background check.
In order to obtain a permit, applicants cannot have been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison, or of a misdemeanor involving violence in the last 10 years. In addition, applicants cannot be free on bond or have any outstanding warrants, and they also cannot have a history of mental illness or disease.
Illinois and Wisconsin are the only two states in the U.S. that do not allow some form of concealed carry. Wisconsin is working on similar legislation.
Stephenson County Sheriff David Snyders is the co-chairman of a special subcommittee that is advising the Illinois General Assembly on the proposed concealed-carry law. He is one of 13 Illinois sheriffs serving on the subcommittee, which was created by the Illinois Sheriff’s Association.
Snyders Monday reaffirmed his support for the legislation. If approved by the Illinois House, the concealed-carry law would move on to the Senate.
“I’m disappointed it didn’t pass,” Snyders said. “Hopefully, it will come up again. ... The majority of law enforcement, in general, favors this legislation.”
Constitutional Right
To Sacia, law-abiding citizens should have the right to exercise their right to bear arms, as is guaranteed to them by the Second Amendment. He said states that allow residents to carry concealed weapons tend to be safer, and that the criminal element obtains their firearms illegally.
“Its time has come,” Sacia said of the law. “There is substantial evidence that when law-abiding citizens have the right to carry a firearm, you are in a safer society.”
The law has met its fair share of opposition, primarily from Chicago area legislators, the Illinois Governor’s Office, and the Illinois State Police, Sacia said.
Innocent Bystanders
State Rep. Monique Davis, D-Chicago, said she has many concerns about the concealed-carry bill. One of her chief worries is that it could result in more innocent bystanders being hurt during a shooting incident. If a criminal opens fire in a crowd, and several law-abiding citizens fire their guns at the criminal, it may increase the number of injuries that occur, Davis said.
Before such a law were passed, Davis said she would like to see police receive additional training about how to deal with an armed citizenry. Also, the gang problem in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs needs to be addressed before concealed carry is allowed, she said.
“I’m (worried) about unintended consequences,” Davis said, adding that Chicago and downstate Illinois have very different cultures when it comes to firearms. “Downstate, kids grow up with guns and they don’t shoot each other. They hunt. It’s not the same in the city. ... I absolutely support children in Chicago learning what a gun is and what its parts are.”
State Police
Captain Scott Compton of the Illinois State Police confirmed Monday that his agency has come out against the concealed-carry bill, under the direction of Gov. Pat Quinn.
http://www.journalstandard.com/highlight/x837707757/Concealed-carry-bill-on-hold-Gun-legislation-fails-to-get-House-votes
State Rep. Jim Sacia, R-Pecatonica, a sponsor of the bill, said the legislation needed 71 yes votes to be approved by the House on May 5, but only received 65. Even so, the bill did get enough support to qualify for “postponed consideration,” which means it will likely be voted on again soon, Sacia said.
“It will come back up in May,” Sacia said, adding that he has been an ardent supporter of the proposed law. “I spoke passionately in favor of the bill, citing my 30 years in law enforcement, which has convinced me it is the right thing to do.”
If approved, House Bill 148 would allow county sheriffs across Illinois to issue permits to carry concealed firearms to state residents who are at least 21 years of age and who meet certain requirements. Among other things, the bill requires applicants to complete extensive training, including classroom instruction and live firing exercises, and to submit to a criminal background check.
In order to obtain a permit, applicants cannot have been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison, or of a misdemeanor involving violence in the last 10 years. In addition, applicants cannot be free on bond or have any outstanding warrants, and they also cannot have a history of mental illness or disease.
Illinois and Wisconsin are the only two states in the U.S. that do not allow some form of concealed carry. Wisconsin is working on similar legislation.
Stephenson County Sheriff David Snyders is the co-chairman of a special subcommittee that is advising the Illinois General Assembly on the proposed concealed-carry law. He is one of 13 Illinois sheriffs serving on the subcommittee, which was created by the Illinois Sheriff’s Association.
Snyders Monday reaffirmed his support for the legislation. If approved by the Illinois House, the concealed-carry law would move on to the Senate.
“I’m disappointed it didn’t pass,” Snyders said. “Hopefully, it will come up again. ... The majority of law enforcement, in general, favors this legislation.”
Constitutional Right
To Sacia, law-abiding citizens should have the right to exercise their right to bear arms, as is guaranteed to them by the Second Amendment. He said states that allow residents to carry concealed weapons tend to be safer, and that the criminal element obtains their firearms illegally.
“Its time has come,” Sacia said of the law. “There is substantial evidence that when law-abiding citizens have the right to carry a firearm, you are in a safer society.”
The law has met its fair share of opposition, primarily from Chicago area legislators, the Illinois Governor’s Office, and the Illinois State Police, Sacia said.
Innocent Bystanders
State Rep. Monique Davis, D-Chicago, said she has many concerns about the concealed-carry bill. One of her chief worries is that it could result in more innocent bystanders being hurt during a shooting incident. If a criminal opens fire in a crowd, and several law-abiding citizens fire their guns at the criminal, it may increase the number of injuries that occur, Davis said.
Before such a law were passed, Davis said she would like to see police receive additional training about how to deal with an armed citizenry. Also, the gang problem in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs needs to be addressed before concealed carry is allowed, she said.
“I’m (worried) about unintended consequences,” Davis said, adding that Chicago and downstate Illinois have very different cultures when it comes to firearms. “Downstate, kids grow up with guns and they don’t shoot each other. They hunt. It’s not the same in the city. ... I absolutely support children in Chicago learning what a gun is and what its parts are.”
State Police
Captain Scott Compton of the Illinois State Police confirmed Monday that his agency has come out against the concealed-carry bill, under the direction of Gov. Pat Quinn.
http://www.journalstandard.com/highlight/x837707757/Concealed-carry-bill-on-hold-Gun-legislation-fails-to-get-House-votes
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