CCW Setback!

dd

<br />
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]

[size="+0"]ISRA-Supported HB0997 held for consideration after not getting a super-majority[/size][/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]<br />
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois House tonight defeated a concealed weapons proposal favored by gun rights advocates, a setback that could spur negotiations toward finding common ground with lawmakers who back gun control. <br />
<br />
The legislation represented a signature showdown in the critical gun debate that is in the spotlight this spring because a federal appeals court has set an early June deadline for Illinois to put in place a concealed weapons law. <br />
<br />
Under the proposal, guns could have been carried on mass transit buses and trains but banned from taverns, schools, casinos, stadiums, child-care facilities, universities and government buildings, including courthouses, legislative offices and the state Capitol. <br />
<br />
Rep. Brandon Phelps, the legislature’s leading concealed carry advocate, challenged his colleagues to vote for what he viewed as reasonable parameters on where people could carry guns in public, who is allowed to carry, who decides whether a person is eligible and how much training should be required. <br />
<br />
“This could be our last chance,” Phelps said, saying he had made changes to address numerous concerns of gun control lawmakers. “We keep giving and we keep giving and we keep giving.” <br />
<br />
But the Phelps legislation needed to reach a three-fifths level of support because he is seeking to have a uniform state law that supersedes tighter home-rule ordinances desired by Cook County, Chicago and other large cities in Illinois. That meant it needed 71 of 118 lawmakers to vote in favor. The measure got 64 votes, however. Another 45 House members voted against and four voted present. ... <br />
<br />
Read the whole story in Chicago Tribune. The bill is held for consideration and could be called for another vote.<br />
<br />
Posted Fri Apr 19 03:44:31 CDT 2013<br />
[/font] <br />
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]

[size="+0"]Concealed Carry Sparks Heated Debate[/size][/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]<br />
SPRINGFIELD -- Debate over concealed carry of guns in Illinois erupted on the floor of the general assembly in Springfield Wednesday, and Representative Mike Bost of Murphysboro was right in the middle of it. <br />
<br />
The debate was over a concealed carry bill and amendment that would include the words "may issue" a concealed carry permit instead of "shall issue." Some house members, including Bost, think that little change in words would be a huge change in meaning. <br />
<br />
"You bring a whole bill that has questions whether it is even constitutional," said Bost. <br />
<br />
Republican Representative Mike Bost took issue with granting local police the discretion to allow concealed guns. <br />
<br />
"This is not the bill everybody has talked on, everybody wants to see out here," said Bost. "It is a ploy." <br />
<br />
Bost and others believed that wording would severely limit access to concealed carry permits. <br />
<br />
However, when Democrat Representative Scott Drury of Highwood got up, the argument became even more heated. ... <br />
<br />
Read the whole story @ WSIL TV. <br />
<br />
Posted Thu Apr 18 13:06:38 CDT 2013[/font]