Illinois Becomes Last State to Legalize Concealed Carry

Today the Illinois legislature overrode Gov. Pat Quinn's veto of a bill allowing state residents who comply with certain objective standards to carry concealed fireams. Illinois, the last state to impose a blanket ban on concealed carry, is complying with a December decision in which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit said that policy violates the Second Amendment. Under the new policy, which will take effect in nine months or so, people 21 or older who have state-issued firearms owner identification cards can obtain licenses to carry concealed weapons provided they have clean records and complete 16 hours of training.

That is known as a "shall issue" policy, as opposed to a "may issue" policy, which gives local law enforcement officials broad discretion to reject applications. Eight states have such a discretionary policy. Of the rest, 39, now including Illinois, have "shall issue" laws, while three states do not require permits for concealed carry. The new law gives the Illinois State Police six months to make applications for concealed-carry licenses available. It has to issue a license within three months of receiving a valid application, so it could be nine months before the first Illinois gun owner is licensed to carry.

Previous coverage of concealed carry in Illinois here.

[Thanks to Jason Imboden for the tip.]

Comments

[Auric Demonocles]

while three states do not require permits for concealed carry

Vermont is almost as cool as alt-text.

[Live Free or Diet]

I enjoyed just seeing the Airweight .38 Centenial pic. Hope the guy has a pocket holster.

[Generic Stranger]

It's actually four - Alaska, Arizona, Wyoming and Vermont. Also, I think another state has or is about to go constitutional carry; can't remember which one, though.

[Pwyll]

Arkansas went CC just this month, making 5.

[Spoonman.]

And they were just 12 hours away from completely unregulated concealed carry. So close.

[DaveSs]

Not entirely.

While a logical person would assume that since the State cannot enforce a ban on carrying a firearm, municipalities also cannot enforce bans.

Cook County had an ordinance ready to go that would effectively ban carrying without an impossible to get permit.

[Scarecrow Repair]

Still would need the FOID, that wasn't voided as part of the court decision.

[Auric Demonocles]

Recently some European argued with me that the US should just implement strict gun control because it's been proven to work. I cited Chicago as proof that strict gun control has been proven not to work, so he then said you can't count that because the US as a whole doesn't use strict gun control. Apparently an area larger than England banning all carrying doesn't count. I fear he's going to have a heart attack when he finds out how loose the state has gotten.

[SIV]

When was the last time Hawaii issued a carry permit to a "civilian"?

[AlgerHiss]

Or California...or New York, especially that sewer they refer to as NYC...or any of the other "may issue" states.

[H. Protagonist]

Getting a sheriff to sign off in California isn't that hard, except for in the areas where almost everybody lives.

[R C Dean]

Under the new policy, which will take effect in nine months or so, people 21 or older who have state-issued firearms computer owner identification cards can obtain licenses to carry concealed weapons cell phones provided that have clean records and complete 16 hours of training. Open carry of cell phones is still illegal

Two Constitutional amendments guaranteeing basic human rights, yet two completely different standards.

Seriously, though, what is the justification for 16 hours of training? How is it not obviously nothing more than a burden and deterrent to the exercise of the right?

[Auric Demonocles]

Because guns are icky. It's not like it's voting. If it's voting and you say someone has to go to the DMV to pick up a free ID you are obviously going over the line.

[Auric Demonocles]

Oh, or an abortion clinic.

[Invisible Finger]

You call it a burden and deterrent. Illinois calls it a jobs program.

[sam the man]

So many god damn unnecessary regulations. All in the name of "public safety" just like they did to the medical marijuana bill. Fuck Quinn.

[anon]

Suggested alt-text: I have something in my front pocket for you.