The Illinois Senate Executive Committee voted down a so-called compromise concealed carry law passed by the House on a 6-8 vote Tuesday. The Committee also approved its own version of the plan that would keep local gun ordinances intact.
Majority Democrats on the committee drove the 10-6 vote in favor of the bill by Sen. Kwame Raoul. Raoul said he doesn't know how many votes he has on the floor or when he'll call the bill. The legislation doesn't include a provision that overrides all local ordinances on firearms -- such as Chicago's assault-weapons ban.
That's the hallmark of a proposal the House passed overwhelmingly just last week. The Senate panel defeated that plan Tuesday. Sen. Don Harmon, an Oak Park Democrat, says such a pre-emption is ``a bridge too far.'' Raoul's measure also prohibits carrying guns wherever alcohol is served for consumption.
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn says Senator Raoul's legislation provides a reasonable framework that would protect critical gun safety ordinances across the state. Last week Quinn, vowed to fight the House plan when it reached the Senate.
A federal appeals court gave Illinois until June 9 to adopt a concealed-carry law.
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The bills are HB183 and SB2193.
Online: http://www.ilga.gov.
