Illinois has about six months to write a law, giving people the right to carry a concealed weapon. A U.S. Appeals court calls the state’s conceal carry ban unconstitutional. Richard Pearson of the Illinois Rifle Association says this is a big win for the people of Illinois.
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Lawmakers could pass the bill as early as next month if they wanted to do so. A bill is already drafted but State Representative Brandon Phelps says it will likely be changed, removing some of the restrictions on where people can and can’t carry. He says they’ll still show respect for certain places but it’s too soon to tell what will and will not be left in the bill.
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The current proposal also requires strict background checks and training for people seeking to buy a gun. Those safety standards will likely stay in the bill. Governor Quinn and state officials can appeal the ruling. Mercer County voters overwhelmingly approved a concealed carry advisory referendum last month 5,718 to 1,583.