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Pat Quinn Concealed Carry: Illinois Governor To Take Action On Gun Bill Tuesday

Gov. Quinn Takes Action On Concealed Carry After Delay
Belleville News-Democrat
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Gov. Pat Quinn will make a public appearance Tuesday in Chicago to take action on a bill that would allow Illinoisans to carry guns in public.

The fact that he's holding the event in Chicago probably means he'll veto the bill or use his amendatory veto powers to rewrite the bill, making it more stringent. Opposition to a concealed-carry bill is centered in crime-weary Chicago, while support for such a bill has flourished downstate.

Quinn, a gun-control advocate, has not said publicly what he'll do with the bill, but insiders expect him to issue some type of veto. During an appearance Sunday on a Chicago television station, he said carrying a gun in public is "a prescription for danger," and added that he's "never, ever been excited about this idea" of concealed-carry of weapons.

Illinois faces a July 9 deadline to legalize carrying of weapons in public after a federal appeals court found Illinois' ban unconstitutional.

This spring, the legislature approved a concealed-carry compromise bill, outlining rules for who can get a concealed-carry permit and where a gun can be carried.

One of the architects of the bill, Rep. Jerry Costello II, D-Smithton, said he expects Quinn to issue some type of veto "for political reasons." Costello last week said a veto by Quinn would "only demonstrate his disregard for the constitution and the democratic process in general."

Another author of the bill, Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, on Monday told the Chicago Tribune he expects Quinn to make a number of changes to the bill, making it more strict. For example, Quinn might change the bill to prohibit carrying guns in establishments that sell any alcohol at all. Currently, the bill prohibits carrying in establishments where alcohol accounts for a majority of sales.

The governor also could transpose a section of the bill that prohibits carrying guns inside businesses that post no-guns-allowed signs, making it permissible to carry guns only in places that post signs saying it is OK to carry a gun.

Phelps said Quinn is trying to appease Chicago voters as he prepares for a re-election bid.

"He's simply playing politics with this, that's all he's doing," Phelps said. "It's a double standard. What kind of message is he sending when he walks around with armed security guards but he won't let people exercise their constitutional right to protect themselves or their family?"

Phelps said the House and Senate probably can put enough votes on the bill to override a veto.

Experts argue about what happens if Illinois doesn't have laws in place by the deadline. Gun-rights advocates say it would mean any gun could be carried anywhere. Others say it would allow local municipalities to adopt carry laws.

Quinn's event Tuesday is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago. ___

(c)2013 the Belleville News-Democrat (Belleville, Ill.)

Visit the Belleville News-Democrat (Belleville, Ill.) at www.bnd.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services

Before You Go

Pivotal Moments In The Federal Gun Control Debate
1981: The Attempted Assassination Of President Ronald Reagan(01 of10)
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on March 30, 1981, President Reagan and three others were shot and wounded in an assassination attempt by John Hinckley, Jr. outside the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. Reagan's press secretary, Jim Brady, was shot in the head. (credit:Ron Edmonds, AP)
1993: The Brady Handgun Violence Act (02 of10)
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The Brady Handgun Violence Act of 1993, signed into law by President Bill Clinton, mandated that federally licensed dealers complete comprehensive background checks on individuals before selling them a gun. The legislation was named for James Brady, who was shot during an attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan in 1981.
1994: The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act(03 of10)
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The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1994, instituted a ban on 19 kinds of assault weapons, including Uzis and AK-47s. The crime bill also banned the possession of magazines holding more than ten rounds of ammunition. (An exemption was made for weapons and magazines manufactured prior to the ban.)
2004: Law Banning Magazines Holding More Than Ten Rounds Of Ammunition Expires(04 of10)
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In 2004, ten years after it first became law, Congress allowed a provision banning possession of magazines holding more than ten rounds of ammunition to expire through a sunset provision. Brady Campaign President Paul Helmke told HuffPost that the expiration of this provision meant that Rep. Gabby Giffords's alleged shooter was able to fire off 20-plus shots without reloading (under the former law he would have had only ten).
2007: The U.S. Court of Appeals For The District Of Columbia Rules In Favor Of Dick Heller(05 of10)
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In 2007 The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled to allow Dick Heller, a licensed District police officer, to keep a handgun in his home in Washington, D.C. Following that ruling, the defendants petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case.
2008: The NICS Improvement Amendments Act(06 of10)
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Following the deadly shooting at Virginia Tech University, Congress passed legislation to require states provide data on mentally unsound individuals to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, with the aim of halting gun purchases by the mentally ill, and others prohibited from possessing firearms. The bill was signed into law by President George W. Bush in January of 2008.
2008: Supreme Court Strikes Down D.C. Handgun Ban As Unconstitutional(07 of10)
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In June of 2008, the United States Supreme Court upheld the verdict of a lower court ruling the D.C. handgun ban unconstitutional in the landmark case District of Columbia v. Heller.
Gabrielle Giffords And Trayvon Martin Shootings(08 of10)
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Gun control advocates had high hopes that reform efforts would have increased momentum in the wake of two tragic events that rocked the nation.In January of 2011, Jared Loughner opened fire at an event held by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), killing six and injuring 13, including the congresswoman. Resulting attempts to push gun control legislation proved fruitless, with neither proposal even succeeding in gaining a single GOP co-sponsor.More than a year after that shooting, Florida teenager Trayvon Martin was gunned down by George Zimmerman in an event that some believed would bring increased scrutiny on the nation's Stand Your Ground laws. While there has been increasing discussion over the nature of those statutes, lawmakers were quick to concede that they had little faith the event would effectively spur gun control legislation, thanks largely to the National Rifle Association's vast lobbying power.Read more here: (credit:AP)
Colorado Movie Theater Shooting(09 of10)
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In July of 2012, a heavily armed gunman opened fire on theatergoers attending a midnight premiere of the final film of the latest Batman trilogy, killing 12 and wounding scores more.The suspect, James Eagan Holmes, allegedly carried out the act with a number of handguns, as well as an AR-15 assault rifle with a 100-round drum magazine.Some lawmakers used the incident, which took place in a state with some of the laxest gun control laws, to bring forth legislation designed to place increased regulations on access to such weapons, but many observers, citing previous experience, were hesitant to say that they would be able to overcome the power of the National Rifle Association and Washington gun lobby. (credit:AP)
Sikh Temple Shooting(10 of10)
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On August 5, 2012, white supremacist Wade Michael Page opened fire on a Sikhs gathered at a temple in Oak Creek, Wis., killing six and wounding four more before turning the gun on himself. (credit:AP)
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