Illinois becomes 50th state to allow concealed weapons
(CNN) - Illinois became the last state in the nation to allow the carrying of concealed weapons in public on Tuesday.
Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat, vetoed the legislation, but the Illinois General Assembly overrode the governor. The law allows the state to distribute permits for the carrying of firearms in public if applicants meet certain requirements.
The law's passage comes amid a national debate over new gun control measures in the aftermath of December's deadly shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. President Barack Obama, who represented Illinois in the U.S. Senate and was a state lawmaker there, has pushed for tighter controls on guns.
Quinn said he tried to block the law for the safety of the people of his state.
"It's very, very important that we protect the people," Quinn said. "I think the legislation today does not do that. It has shortcomings that will lead to tragedies."
One state representative, Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, criticized Quinn for vetoing the bill, saying, "I think it is grandstanding for the governor."
Regarding his fellow lawmakers, Phelps said, "I got to say good things about my colleagues for trying to get something passed."
Illinois is now on par with other states when it comes to broadening its right to bear arms, though Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel says his city needs tighter gun control laws.
"Having effective gun control is essential to providing safety around the city," Emanuel said at a Tuesday news conference. Stressing that Chicago laws on guns need to be different than those around Illinois, Emanuel said that "gun control is essential."
Chicago has suffered from rampant gun violence in recent years.
In Chicago you have to have a permit to purchase a weapon, pass a background check, endure a waiting period, pay a registration fee every three years and there is a limit of 12 rounds on magazines. I believe Chicago is fairly strict when it comes to gun control. Yet there has been "rampant gun violence" there in recent years.
What am I missing from the gun control advocate point of view that is supposed to negate the rampant problem?
"Having effective gun control is essential to providing safety around the city,"
Yeah, because it worked so well in the past.
Ironically, this may help the violent crime problem by making fewer victims.
It's about time! Although CCW is next to impossible in a handful of other communist states like NJ, NY, etc..
The events in Florida should teach us that there is one thing worse than being shot by a bad man, It is being shot by a volunteer watchman. People who look down on others, who train to kill and make a point of being super vigilant are preventable accidents waiting to happen.
I've been a resident of IL for nearly 30 years, not counting my time in the service, and have had a CCW permit which was valid for 34 states. i am glad that we are finally moving in what i believe is the right direction.
Dick Durbin's head must be exploding about now!
Great, if elected, she can quit another job when she get bored with it.
The Illinois General Assembly deserves a gold star for throwing off the single-minded opinion of the Governor. Good job people.
Clearly a lack of firearm regulation is the reason for the crime rate in Chicago.
"Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat, vetoed the legislation..."
Democrats really do have nothing but contempt for the people of this country. A far as they're concerned, we're all no better than particularly thick-witted children.
I wonder if Quinn has armed bodyguards when he goes to Chicago...
Gun Nation Under God !
Liberty and Justice for Few .
I really have heard it all. If gun owners are so law abiding why do they need to carry a gun let alone a concealed gun.
The stand your ground and concealed gun carry laws are return to the days of the wild and woolly west when law and order was minimal and we did not have local law enforcement nationally and an FBI and Homeland security.
Murder or attempted murder ( or even shooting to seriously injure) is a crime whether its committed by a criminal or a so called law abiding citizen.
Just for fun ( picture this) there are 100's of on a street all gun toting law abiding citizens and we all thru an up market jewllery shop window see three guys with guns and the guy behind the till with his hands held high. The reality it turns out is two are criminals and one a law abiding citizen ( actually non uniformed shop security guard customers did not like to see Uniformed armed staff). Hero one from outside walks in and shoots the law abiding citizen ( shop guard) first, the two criminals one goes behind the counter grabs the store owner but as he does so Hero one shoots injuring both owner and criminal and the other criminal runs and gets away. Shop owner dies because the bullet severs the main artery in his left arm and he bleeds to death before the ambulance and police arrive and criminal 1 is severely wounded but eventually recovers. meanwhile hero's 100 are all drawing their concealed weapons and shouting drop your gun or I'll shoot. They have just seen a crime and they have no idea where criminal 2 went or whether they may have had accomplices outside in a get away car or elsewhere.
I hope y'all feel safer, me I am going to country with some common sense that does not allow ordinary citizens to carry a weapon especially a concealed weapon and restricts stand your ground to the defense of your own home.
My god when a police office kills a criminal he has to jump thru a thousand hoops and an investigation to justify his act.
American gun laws are a disgrace to what we call a civilized nation.
Regards,
Hodgson.
Quinn is right. Its not by accident that news from US these days are filled with stories on gun crimes. Sec. Kerry have even mentioned the effects on people going to study in US. The Americans dont like gun control, they dont want surveillance in security, they rather prefer big budgets on crime investigation, as well as contemplating the proposal of taking guns to kindergarten schools. Its left to be seen how far these 'rights' are beneficial to the society, moreso, without taxes from the rich.
No amount of gun laws would prevent the rampant gun violence in Chicago. Thank goodness the legislators saw fit to override Quinn. Maybe they will have the same common sense to deal with the financial deficit.
Pass total gun-ban laws. Don't be stupid.
Shame on the Gov to veto the bill. Thankfully it still passed. Time and time again, armed citizens are proven to help prevent Crime. From the women that protected her kids, to the man that saved lives by shooting the bad guy. All gun control does is prevent legal citizens from protecting themselves. Criminals do not follow laws, so gun control does nothing to prevent crime, it just increases crime.
looking more like afganistan
I`ve said it before and I`ll say again this issue is done. Even in a top liberal state we are seeing the trend of pro gun rights. Watch the murder rate fall in Chicago.
Hodgson, that little scenario you pictured has NEVER ever played out. Yet it what you gun-grabbers always like to say will happen. LIve in reality. It will not become the "wild west"
Every time CCW was passed it has ALWAYS been accompanied by a reduction of violent crime.
If any state needed it, Illinois did. Chicago is a scary place to be.
If us pro gunners are as violent as you anti gunners say we are, then there would be none of you left. Please don't let the door knob hit you in the rear when you leave the country.
Yes! Finally someone writes about laksaboy.