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House Committee Approves Concealed Carry; House Vote Expected Friday

A measure that would allow Illinois residents to carry concealed firearms is heading to the House floor after lawmakers approved it in committee Thursday morning.

The legislation prohibits concealed-carry in many public places, like public transit, sports arenas, schools, and street festivals. Some of these have been sticking points for gun-rights advocates, who would prefer universal carry.  The legislation would also eliminate local gun laws. Democratic Representative Brandon Phelps of Harrisburg says one, statewide law would make it easier on gun owners: “If Representative Bost and I are going to go to Wisconsin goose hunting, we’re traveling in our car, we’re not going to know from one town to another what’s expected of them. And they get pulled over or get a flat tire, and they find out their gun is transported illegally; they go to jail. We just don’t think that’s right.”

The measure comes two weeks before a June 9 deadline set by a federal appeals court for Illinois to enact concealed carry.  But the elimination of local rules would also strike down bans on assault weapons, like the one in Cook County.  Tom Vanden Berk of the Gun Violence Prevention PAC says the plan overrules local laws such as Chicago's assault weapons ban.      Chicago Democratic Rep. Ann Williams says the court ruling only applies to concealed carry and should not interfere with other laws.

Concealed carry applicants would pay 150-dollars for a permit. Applicants who are denied permits because local law enforcement says they're dangerous would be able to appeal to a seven-member review board .

The legislation is SB-2193
 

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