Mar 11, 2009 1:37 pm US/Central
Illinois Gun Lobbyists Rally For Concealed Carry
Proposal That Would Have Permitted Concealed Weapons In Illinois Was Defeated In State Senate Committee
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CBS) ―
Even as thousands of gun owners rally in Springfield, their leaders concede there's little chance of major firearms legislation passing this year.
Instead, they're trying to build toward a future vote on a "concealed carry" law that would let Illinoisans carry guns in public.
Illinois and Wisconsin are the only states without a "concealed carry" law.
The National Rifle Association and the Illinois State Rifle Association hope Illinois will approve the idea eventually, but they don't expect quick action. This year, their focus is on blocking gun-control measures, such as restrictions on who can sell guns and how many people can buy.
Views on gun control tend to depend more on geography than party in Springfield. But most of the top lawmakers are from Chicago and they support gun control.
On Tuesday, the gun lobby's efforts were stymied with the defeat of Senate Bill 1976, which would allow county sheriffs to issue concealed carry permits to qualified gun owners. The idea was voted down by members of the Senate Public Health Committee, which is dominated by Chicago-area lawmakers.
State Sen. John Jones, a Mount Vernon Republican who sponsored the proposal, said he wasn't surprised by the rejection, given the makeup of the panel. Concealed carry efforts have long been supported by downstate lawmakers, but opposed by Chicago-area lawmakers.
The Senate's action makes passage of three similar bills making their way through the Illinois House doubtful. Jones said even if those proposals win House approval, they'd likely go nowhere in the Senate.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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