Certified instructors in Illinois who are teaching that state’s new course to obtain a concealed carry license (CCL) got an early start on their applications, since the statute requires that instructors must qualify for a carry license.
Richard Pearson, executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association, told TGM that he expects the state police to start issuing CCLs in February, after the first wave of citizens has gone through the required class and applied for their licenses.
According to the Illinois State Police, there are approximately 2,000 certified firearms instructors on the agency’s concealed carry website. Pearson said he is one of them.
The agency anticipates as many as 400,000 license applications in 2014.
Instructors began accessing the website in mid-December, essentially to test the system and ensure its ability to handle the anticipated traffic volume.
