 Two concealed carry proposals,
House Bill 112 and
House Bill 148, did not surface for debate in the House
Agriculture and Conservation Committee as planned for the past two
hearings. But similar proposals will be grouped together for a
committee hearing next week in a larger room, where a large turnout
is expected.State Rep. Patrick Verschoore, D-Rock Island, said he
expects "standing room only" for next week's meeting.
"According to the (chairwoman), there were several gun bills, and
she wanted them to try and consolidate some of those bills, because
the (House) speaker is asking us to kind of condense our bills if
that's possible," Verschoore said, "because there is going to be a
lot of discussion on the budget this year, and there isn't going to
be a whole lot of extra time for bills."
Several lawmakers in both the House and Senate have introduced
similar proposals to allow people the right to carry concealed
firearms in public.
Verschoore, vice chairman of the Agriculture and Conservation
Committee and a co-sponsor of a concealed-carry proposal in the
House, said he believes this might be the year the measure is
approved.
"I am thinking that it might have a possibility of passing this
year, talking to the people who are pushing the bill. So we'll see,"
Verschoore said.
State Rep. Donald Moffitt, R-Gilson, also a member of the
committee, agreed.
"I feel confident there is more than 60 votes," Moffitt said.
"There might even be 71 votes, and if there are 71 votes in favor,
then I think it has an excellent chance that this could be the year
-- I think, stronger chance now than in recent years."
Previous attempts to pass the legislation failed to garner the 71
votes needed to pass the Illinois House.
The proposals call for county sheriffs to have the authority to
issue permits to allow the possession of concealed firearms. To
receive a permit, an applicant must be at least 21 years old and
must complete background checks, provide a full set of fingerprints
and complete live-fire training exercises.
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State Rep. Jason Barickman, R-Pontiac, a member of the committee
and a co-sponsor of HB 148, said he supports the Second Amendment
right allowed in the Constitution, "the right of the people to keep
and bear arms."
"For the government to impose upon all of us, the people, a
restriction on a constitutional right, certainly to me, seems
unacceptable," Barickman said.
Illinois and Wisconsin are the only states that do not allow
their residents to carry concealed firearms. The U.S. Supreme Court
last year ruled Chicago's handgun ban unconstitutional.
State Rep. Norine Hammond, R-Macomb, said she expects spirited
debate on the issue in light of the Supreme Court's decision.
"I think Illinois is ready for concealed carry. We're one of two
states that don't have concealed carry," she said. "I think many
people realize it's time."
Barickman said he is "very optimistic" there will be enough votes
for concealed-carry proposals to pass committee next week.
"I am optimistic that when (House) Speaker Madigan calls this
bill for a vote, I think the votes are there," Barickman said. "Then
the questions become: What does the Senate do (with) this bill, and
what does the governor do?"
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By DIANE S.W. LEE]
Illinois Statehouse News reporter
Melissa Leu contributed to this report.
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