 State Reps. Adam Brown, R-Decatur, and Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, are
co-sponsors of
House Bill 148, which creates the Family and Personal Protection
Act and establishes statewide standards for the issuance of permits
to carry concealed firearms in Illinois.HB 148 passed the House
Agriculture & Conservation Committee on a vote of 12-2.
"I will always support the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding
gun owners," Brown said Tuesday. "Today's passage of concealed carry
is the first step towards protecting the rights of citizens to
defend themselves against violent crime. Downstate legislators need
to stand up to the Chicago politicians and demand that our
constitutional rights be upheld."
Illinois is one of only two states that do not have any
procedures in place for law-abiding citizens to apply for
concealed-carry permits.
In 2008's Heller Decision, the U.S. Supreme Court recognized gun
ownership as an individual right. Last year, the Supreme Court
overturned Chicago's long-standing gun ban. Mitchell believes the
recent rulings by the Supreme Court have improved the political
landscape in Illinois toward a concealed-carry law.
"The Supreme Court reaffirmed our Second Amendment rights,"
Mitchell said. "If 48 other states can have responsible
concealed-carry laws, so can Illinois. People should have the right
to defend themselves and their property from criminals. But the way
our law is now, the criminals are the only ones with guns. That's
unacceptable to me."
HB 148 is now on its way to the full House of Representatives for
further debate and a final vote.
[Text from file received from
Rep. Bill
Mitchell] |
