Illinois lawmakers approved legislation that permits residents to carry concealed guns, which if signed by the governor would make some form of carrying a concealed weapon legal in all 50 states.
However, Gov. Pat Quinn has delayed approval or veto action in the measure.
Illinois has been the only state in the nation to ban most people from carrying a concealed gun outside the home and lawmakers are up against a deadline to approve a bill after a federal appeals court struck down that ban as unconstitutional.
The appeals court in Moore v. Madigan, supported by the Second Amendment Foundation, said the ban violated the right to bear arms under the US Constitution and gave Illinois until early June to pass a law that would meet constitutional protections.
In late May, the House approved a bill that included a clause that would have overturned Chicago’s ban on assault weapons, raising objections from senators, the city and governor.
Then a revised bill passed on May 31 with a 45-12 Senate vote and a 89-28 House vote that allows Chicago to keep its ban on assault weapons, but requires America’s third-largest city to allow citizens to carry concealed weapons.
If he signs it, Reuters news service said, the National Rifle Association would achieve a long-time goal of ending the Illinois ban and making some form of concealed carry legal in all 50 states.
The expansion of gun rights in President Barack Obama’s home state stands in contrast to efforts to put more controls on guns following the Newtown, Connecticut, school massacre last year.
The new measure bans guns in bars where more than 50% of sales are from liquor, as well as at festivals and in many other places including schools, child-care facilities, parks and government buildings.
by TGM Staff
