Illinois Lawmakers Don’t Want To ‘Wait And See’ With Concealed Carry
From the Springfield State Journal-Register
Illinois lawmakers are wasting no time in attempting to make changes to the state’s barely 7-month-old concealed-carry law, weeks before even the first batch of permits are sent out to approved applicants.
Several bills filed would roll back restrictions to a law that many see as the strictest of its kind in the country.
A trio of bills introduced by Sen. Kyle McCarter, R-Lebanon, would allow concealed carry in public parks, on Cook County Forest Preserve lands and on public transportation. Two of those bills — the ones concerning carrying in public parks and on public transportation — have mirror bills in the House.
McCarter said he wants to allow concealed firearms in public transit systems because otherwise, in high-crime areas, criminals could target citizens they know aren’t carrying guns.
“It’s not right to set citizens up to where they can’t protect themselves,” he said.
Other efforts to ease restrictions in the law include Forsyth Republican Rep. Bill Mitchell’s legislation that would require applicants to undergo eight hours of firearm training instead of the 16 hours currently required by law, and one from Benton Democratic Sen. Gary Forby, whose bill would allow carrying concealed weapons in hospitals and mental health institutions.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Springfield State Journal-Register
Illinois lawmakers are wasting no time in attempting to make changes to the state’s barely 7-month-old concealed-carry law, weeks before even the first batch of permits are sent out to approved applicants.
Several bills filed would roll back restrictions to a law that many see as the strictest of its kind in the country.
A trio of bills introduced by Sen. Kyle McCarter, R-Lebanon, would allow concealed carry in public parks, on Cook County Forest Preserve lands and on public transportation. Two of those bills — the ones concerning carrying in public parks and on public transportation — have mirror bills in the House.
McCarter said he wants to allow concealed firearms in public transit systems because otherwise, in high-crime areas, criminals could target citizens they know aren’t carrying guns.
“It’s not right to set citizens up to where they can’t protect themselves,” he said.
Other efforts to ease restrictions in the law include Forsyth Republican Rep. Bill Mitchell’s legislation that would require applicants to undergo eight hours of firearm training instead of the 16 hours currently required by law, and one from Benton Democratic Sen. Gary Forby, whose bill would allow carrying concealed weapons in hospitals and mental health institutions.
Read more in our daily News Update...