Illinois House Passes Concealed Carry Bill

After months of negotiations and different pieces of legislation, the Illinois House of Representatives voted to pass concealed carry this morning, according to State Representative John Cavaletto (R-Salem).  The bill is Senate Bill 2193.

“We’re the last state to implement some form of carry law for firearms, but we’ve begun the process to rectify that.  Today’s vote finally broke down the wall that was preventing Illinois citizens from exercising their Second Amendment rights,” Rep. Cavaletto said.

Senate Bill 2193, which has bi-partisan support, sets the framework for concealed carry in Illinois.  A five-year license will be available for a fee of $150.  Applicants will be required to take 16 hours of training, including a Live Fire Exercise.  Carrying will be prohibited on public transportation, in State and local government buildings, schools, playgrounds, municipal parks, prisons, airports, nuclear facilities and in other areas defined in this legislation.

“This is a good bill that will put needed rules and regulations in place, but still allow everyone to have the freedom to truly exercise their Second Amendment rights the way the authors of the Constitution intended,” Rep. Cavaletto said.

According to Rep. Cavaletto, today’s vote was a victory many years in the making.

“Folks on both sides of the aisle have been working for years to get to this point.  There’s still work to be done to get it through the Senate, but I’m confident that if we keep fighting the good fight, we can ultimately push this bill over the finish line,” Rep. Cavaletto said.

Rep. Cavaletto said that there have been many different pieces of legislation being discussed this spring.

“There have been a lot of proposals put forth this spring, and some have been better than others.  This is a good bill that accomplishes a lot of what we wanted.  It simplifies our state’s gun laws and allows our residents to exercise their Second Amendment rights,” Rep. Cavaletto said.

Governor Pat Quinn and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel oppose the measure, but House Speaker Michael Madigan said proponents of a more restrictive measure that gives large cities the option for tougher rules didn't have the votes to get it passed.

Illinois is currently the only state in the nation without some form of carry law for firearms.  Senate Bill 2193 passed 85-30-1, and will now be sent to the Senate for consideration.  If passed, the bill will be effective immediately.