3/09/2011

Right-to-carry law advances in Illinois

This isn't the first time that a right-to-carry law has gotten out of a committee in Illinois and it isn't the first time that there would be a majority in the legislature who would support the bill, but in the past the Democrat leaders have prevented a vote. Will they do the same this time? From the St Louis Post-Dispatch:

A measure that would allow Illinois residents to carry concealed handguns in public passed a legislative committee Tuesday, setting up what some proponents say will be a watershed debate on the Illinois House floor in the coming days.
The bill, if eventually passed by the House and Senate and signed into law, would put Illinois in line with Missouri and 47 other states that allow "concealed carry." Wisconsin, the only other state that doesn't allow concealed carry, allows "open carry," making Illinois a prime target for gun advocates.
"I believe we're behind the times," said state Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, sponsor of the bill. "To me, it's embarrassing."
In addition to the avalanche of states moving to concealed carry in recent years, proponents are bolstered by two recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions in favor of gun rights.
"The momentum has shifted," said National Rifle Association lobbyist Todd Vandermyde, after the 12-2 vote of the House Agriculture & Conservation Committee that advanced the bill. Vandermyde noted especially the fact that many major law enforcement organizations are now in favor of the change, which wasn't the case in the past. "The 'blue wall' is behind us now." . . .

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