Wednesday, March 09, 2011
 
sponsored by

Ready to pack a concealed handgun? Not so fast

Send a link to a friend

[March 09, 2011]  SPRINGFIELD -- Even though supporters may believe this is the year concealed carry will become law, it may take at least a year before Illinois residents can pack a pistol.

The proposal to allow Illinois residents to carry concealed firearms in public passed a House committee on Tuesday. But there are numerous hurdles to jump before people can start applying for permits, which would take six months to a year at the earliest, according to Richard Pearson, executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association.

"The (Illinois) State Police have to keep a file of everybody who has a concealed-carry permit, and so does the sheriff by his county," Pearson said. "And so all those mechanisms have to be set up. The instructors have to be qualified. The videotapes have to be made. There is a lot of work that goes into setting this up, so it is going to take a while to do this."

House Bill 148, sponsored by state Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Norris City, would authorize Illinois residents 21 and older to apply for permits to carry concealed firearms in public. Similar proposals were introduced in the Senate. The proposal will need approval from lawmakers in both chambers.

"Hopefully it would be effective immediately if the governor signed it," Phelps said. "Which would be maybe May or June, whenever, maybe July -- who knows when we get out of (session)."

Under the Family and Personal Protection Act, applicants will need to meet certain requirements, including possessing a valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card, providing a full set of fingerprints and a head-to-shoulder color photograph.

Both the Illinois State Police and county sheriffs would need to conduct background checks on applicants. The ISP would issue FOIDs, while the county sheriffs would issue new permits within 30 days of the application.

County sheriffs can reject or deny applicants even on the basis of calls made to the police, said Greg Sullivan, executive director of the Illinois Sheriffs' Association.

"Even if the applicant doesn't have a criminal history record, but they have numerous calls to their house for a domestic violence, for example," Sullivan said. "(County sheriffs) can object to the application and articulate their reasons. And for (those) reasons, the application could be denied."

[to top of second column]

Under the proposal, applicants would need to waive their privacy and confidentiality rights and take an oath that they will not join a "criminal street gang." Applicants would also need to pay $100 to complete eight hours of classroom instruction on handgun safety. They would also need to pass a written exam and live-fire training exercises.

"You have to go through the background check," Pearson said. "You have to pass the exam; it is a written exam -- a 100-question exam -- as it stands now. And you have to demonstrate marksmanship proficiency. And you have to have the right attitude. Any one of those things can prevent you from getting a permit."

A new permit will cost $100 and will be good for three years from issued date. Concealed-carry holders would need to carry their permits at all times. People would not be allowed to carry concealed weapons in stadiums, schools, bars, airports, churches and state government buildings.

Illinois State Police is not taking a stand on the proposal, even though officers will have to oversee training and conduct background checks. Spokesman Scott Compton said ISP's position may change once the proposal reaches the final stage.

Possible tweaks may be made to the proposal in the coming weeks.

"We just got to concentrate on the House, and look, we've got two Supreme Court decisions in our favor," Phelps said. "I think the time is now. I've never had the groundswell like it is right now. We've run this bill before, but never had the grass-roots effort that everybody wants to pass it now."

[Illinois Statehouse News; By DIANE S.W. LEE]

< Top Stories index

Back to top


 

News | Sports | Business | Rural Review | Teaching and Learning | Home and Family | Tourism | Obituaries

Community | Perspectives | Law and Courts | Leisure Time | Spiritual Life | Health and Fitness | Teen Scene
Calendar | Letters to the Editor