Ilinois Faces Deadline for Concealed Carry Gun Law [Video]

Illinois is the only state with a total ban on allowing gun owners to carry their weapons in public. But a federal court recently threw out this law as going too far, and violating the Second Amendment. Now, the Illinois legislature has a looming deadline to pass a concealed carry weapon statute that’s less restrictive. With the strong emotional differences in the fight over guns, state lawmaking has become a house divided.

Sheila Simon

Lawyers.com supervising producer John McCarthy’s presents the views of multiple people critical to the debate, including Illinois Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon. The daughter of Illinois Senator Paul Simon says the opinions on gun laws in Illinois are so polarized that she organized a firearms working group to help get the statute drafted.

She sees how people feel about gun ownership frequently reflects differences in rural and urban lifestyles and concerns.

NRA spokesman Todd Vandermyde emphasizes the right to own a firearm is a fundamental constitutional right, not a privilege to be meted out by bureaucrats.

Illinois State Representative Chris Welch, a task force member, says he respects the Second Amendment but the law must balance this with public safety.

Limitations on concealed carry weapon permits involve the following:

• Defining who qualifies for a permit
• Screening out people with mental issues
• Identifying where permit holders can and cannot carry concealed guns
• Requiring training

Chicago Chief of Police Garry McCarthy says no compelling evidence shows that more guns increase public safety. However, not everyone agrees with the city’s top cop. And this division may require more than just doing the math.