Concealed carry advocates continue efforts in legislature, courts

SPRINGFIELD -- The sponsor of a bill that would allow Illinois residents to carry concealed handguns is waiting for a task force to finish its work before calling the legislation for a vote.

Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, said lawmakers want to hear what the Firearm Public Awareness Task Force will say about the impact concealed carry might have on public safety. The House created the task force after Phelps' legislation, House Bill 148, was defeated.

The task force's deadline is Dec. 31, but Phelps said he is ready to call the bill for a vote if the legislature holds a special session to consider pension legislation or the fall the veto session.

"I want to make sure we have the votes. I think that our law-abiding gun owners want it to be done right," Phelps said.

The chairman of the task force is Rep. LaShawn K. Ford, D-Chicago, who voted "present" on HB148. Ford did not return repeated calls asking for comment.

Because it would overrule city laws on handguns, state concealed carry legislation needs 71 votes, a supermajority, to pass the House instead of the typical 60. In May, HB148 got 65 votes.

Phelps tried again to pass concealed carry this spring. But that measure was never voted on in the House.

Phelps said he is eager to try again because he believes the courts will eventually rule that carrying a concealed handgun is a constitutional right.

On Friday, the Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago heard the opening arguments in a lawsuit involving concealed carry, said Richard Pearson, executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association.

The case, Shepard v. Madigan, centers around a woman who was nearly beaten to death.

"She was fully qualified to carry a concealed firearm but she couldn't do it in Illinois," Pearson said. "As far as we're concerned, the Illinois legislature is putting everyone in danger because they won't allow concealed carry to go forward."

Phelps said his bill would create a concealed carry permit system with rules and regulations, which would not be the case if the courts declare it a constitutional right.

If HB148 was signed into law today, Illinois residents with a valid FOID card would have to apply for concealed-carry permits through the Illinois State Police. Permit holders would still be prohibited from bringing weapons into government buildings, schools, and sports facilities, as well as any private business that wishes to not have handguns on its premises.

"The law-abiding gun owners are the ones going to be applying for it," Phelps said. "You're going to have people who have FOID cards right now that are not going to be able to have a concealed-carry permit because there is going to be more checks. Sheriffs can say yea or nay."

David Thomas can be reached at (217) 782-6292.