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Schock introduces bill to make concealed carry legal

Posted January 23, 2008 10:00 pm

Meagan Sexton

Carrying a concealed firearm would be legal in Illinois under legislation state Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, has proposed.

Schock, a congressional candidate, recently introduced the Family and Personal Protection Act, which would require individuals to complete a training course in handgun use, safety and marksmanship before they could receive a permit to carry a concealed firearm in the state.

The proposed legislation, House Bill 4544, also would require an applicant to be at least 21 years old. Anyone convicted of a felony or with a history of mental illness, addiction or habitual alcohol use would be prohibited from obtaining a permit.

"I believe we are behind the times in being one of the last few states in the country to do this," Schock said. "There have been a number of constituents that have contacted my office wanting to carry a firearm for their own personal protection.

When states have implemented the conceal-carry law, their crime rate has decreased."

Forty-eight out of 50 states have some kind of provision allowing concealed-carry gun privileges, Schock said.

Chris Boyster, downstate director of programs and services for the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, said one of the major arguments against concealed-carry legislation is the false sense of security it provides.

"2007 was one of the deadliest years involving gun violence," Boyster said. "We have more firearm death and injury than any other industrialized nation on the face of the earth."

Schock, however, said overall interest in concealed-carry laws is increasing among his central Illinois constituency, as well as statewide.

Last month, Chad Hjortshoj, an auxiliary police officer with the Creve Coeur police department, retrieved a pistol from his vehicle's glove box and shot twice at a carjacker who had beaten a woman in the parking lot of a Peoria shopping center.

Schock said no particular incident influenced his decision to propose the legislation.

"Personal safety is on the minds of people, not only in my community of Peoria, but throughout the state," he said. "This is becoming an increasing priority for people. I am hoping that we will be able to give this right to our citizens, as 48 other states have already done."

Steve Brown, spokesman for House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, said there is little chance Schock's legislation would be called for a vote. Brown said that if Schock has any "innovative ideas" that would make the bill appeal to lawmakers who oppose concealed-carry laws, it might advance.

Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville, said he supports Schock's proposal but "would be surprised if it sees the light of day."

"This bill immediately becomes a lighting rod and a very emotional issue for legislators that is seldom debated rationally or calmly. There is generally a lot of screaming back and forth," he said.

One of the biggest stumbling blocks, according to Black, is a generational difference in how people view firearms.

"A lot of these young suburbanites don't like guns and don't see anything wrong with saying you can't have one," Black said. "All the gun laws in the world don't seem to stop people from shooting at each other in big cities."

Boyster said that, every year, some kind of concealed-carry legislation is proposed.

"I think it's a battle we are continuously having to fight," he said.

Meagan Sexton can be reached at (217) 782-6882.

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