Illinois Passes Concealed Carry Law

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**Dreadclaw69**

http://news.yahoo.com/ill-legislature-passes-concealed-carry-law-212037634.html

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois would become the last state in the nation to allow the public possession of concealed firearms with a bill approved Friday by the state Legislature.
A 89-28 vote by the Illinois House on Friday —the last day before lawmakers adjourn their spring session— sealed a hard-fought compromise worked out after a federal appeals court ordered in December that Illinois drop its ban by June 9.
The legislation now goes to Gov. Pat Quinn, a Chicago Democrat who has not indicated whether he'll sign it.
The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in December that Illinois' ban on the public possession of concealed weapons is unconstitutional. All 49 other states allow concealed carry, though some have stricter regulations than others.
Illinois' compromise measure reflected the division between gun rights advocates across the state and gun control supporters in Chicago, which is battling a surge in gang violence and murders since last year.
An early proposal to allow for concealed carry sought to eliminate all local gun ordinances, including Chicago's ban on assault weapons. But that provision was opposed by Quinn, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and other Chicago Democrats.
The negotiated settlement approving concealed carry would allow local governments to retain their own rules. But it would block them from creating new rules for transporting guns and assault weapons restrictions.
Sen. Kwame Raoul, a Chicago Democrat and supporter of tighter restrictions, conceded ground on carrying guns in establishments that serve alcohol. Residents would be allowed to carry guns into restaurants and other business that serve alcohol if liquor comprises no more than 50 percent of their sales.
Chicago Democrats would have gotten all of what they requested in terms of specific gun-free zones, including mass transit buses and trains, schools, other government buildings, parks, hospitals and street festivals.
But Rep. Brandon Phelps, a southern Illinois Democrat who sponsored the House proposal, was able to keep in a provision making automobiles a "safe harbor" — meaning a secured gun could be kept in a car, even if it's parked in a prohibited place.
___
The bill is HB183
Online: http://www.ilga.gov

**Jihadin**

Didn't some police chief in Chicago say your off better armed to defend yourself then wait for police to show up? Then the Mayor "flamed" the police chief...and we find out later the Mayor got his arse beat on the street?

**Dreadclaw69**

That does ring a bell

**Ahtman**

Jihadin wrote:
Didn't some police chief in Chicago say your off better armed to defend yourself then wait for police to show up?

I know President Obama said something like that when he was out in one of the mid-west states, or maybe Iowa. I would look it up, but I'm incredibly lazy.

**Jihadin**

Same here....debating to paint white wings or black wings on my barely started Blood Angel Cpt......chest piece....

**MrMoustaffa**

Good for Illinois, this has been a long time coming.

Although I have a bad feeling Chicago will make residents jump through ridiculous hoops in order to obtain their license.

**d-usa**

What's the possibility that they will honor out-of-state licenses? Would love to be able to visit my family there without having to lock up my guns.

**MrMoustaffa**

d-usa wrote:
What's the possibility that they will honor out-of-state licenses? Would love to be able to visit my family there without having to lock up my guns.

I would say somewhere between slim and none.

**djones520**

d-usa wrote:
What's the possibility that they will honor out-of-state licenses? Would love to be able to visit my family there without having to lock up my guns.

I'm not seeing anything on that just yet. If I wasn't leaving here in a few months, I'd definitely go home to Michigan to get my CCW, since their requirements aren't as strict as these will be. I read something like a 16 hour course will be required.

**d-usa**

MrMoustaffa wrote:
d-usa wrote:
What's the possibility that they will honor out-of-state licenses? Would love to be able to visit my family there without having to lock up my guns.

I would say somewhere between slim and none.

That's what I am expecting...

**Kilkrazy**

How can one publicly possess concealed weapons? It is a contradiction in terms.

**Ahtman**

d-usa wrote:
MrMoustaffa wrote:
d-usa wrote:
What's the possibility that they will honor out-of-state licenses? Would love to be able to visit my family there without having to lock up my guns.

I would say somewhere between slim and none.

That's what I am expecting...

Wait, are you saying you had the fortitude to travel to Ill. before without being armed? You are a brave, brave man, especially considering it was to visit family.

**Hordini**

Kilkrazy wrote:
How can one publicly possess concealed weapons? It is a contradiction in terms.

By possessing a concealed weapon while in public.

**Ouze**

Kilkrazy wrote:
How can one publicly possess concealed weapons? It is a contradiction in terms.

I don't live in Illinois - I like about 10 minutes from the border, and go there for ribs - but this is generally how it works, certainly in Iowa.

Open Carry - does not require a license or permit, and you can carry a firearm in public so long as it is prominently displayed. Some states have it, some don't.

Concealed Carry - this is under a shirt or ankle holster or whatever. It requires a permit, the requirements for which are wildly varying from city to city even within a state, but it's usually a background check, fee, safety course, and approval from your local sheriff or what have you. Some places that ostensibly have CCW have sheriffs that will not sign off on them, or do so rarely (NYC) others are called "shall issue" jurisdictions, in which local law enforcement is required to sign them if all else is in order.

License to acquire: You can buy pistols and revolvers, but cannot equip them - you simple can transport them safely from your home to the gun shop, shooting range, whatever. Usually less requirements than a CCW.

So that is the difference between publically possessing, and publicly concealing.

Long guns, such as rifles, shotguns, etc do not, so far as I'm aware, require nearly any of those things nor generally a waiting period to buy. Again, it varies a lot from city to city.

**Witzkatz**

@Ouze's post - as an outsider, I have been wondering about one thing for quite some time...what is the actual benefit of having a CCW license compared to simply carrying your weapon openly? It sounds like it's more work and probably more fees, and as a result you get...what kind of benefit exactly? Or is it frowned upon in some areas to openly carry weapons and it's more of a social thing? Genuinely curious here.

**CptJake**

Open carry isn't allowed in many states, concealed carry is more common.

The benefit to concealed carry (in my opinion) is that I can be armed without attracting attention to the fact. The means folks I come into contact with, regardless of their opinion on guns, don't need to have a fit/get nervous because they have no clue I am carrying. BUT if stuff ever goes bad, I have a chance to defend my family and self.

Concealed carry also gives me flexibility in how I handle a situation. I choose to either let it be known I'm armed or not as a situation develops. No point in escalating if you do not need to.

**d-usa**

Witzkatz wrote:
@Ouze's post - as an outsider, I have been wondering about one thing for quite some time...what is the actual benefit of having a CCW license compared to simply carrying your weapon openly? It sounds like it's more work and probably more fees, and as a result you get...what kind of benefit exactly? Or is it frowned upon in some areas to openly carry weapons and it's more of a social thing? Genuinely curious here.

As said before. It varies by state.

Some states allow everybody to carry openly, but you have to have a license to carry concealed.

Oklahoma used to only have a license to carry concealed. Now instead of a "concealed carry" license we basically have a "carry license". If you are licensed you can carry both open and concealed. Businesses do have the option of prohibiting either, and a few businesses prohibit open carry so that other customers don't freak out about it.

My main reason for supporting open carry in Oklahoma was to make concealed carry easier. If you carry concealed and you are at Wal-Mart and bend over to get something on the bottom shelf you might end up having your shirt ride up your back and expose your gun. Under CC laws that would have been a crime, since you could be charged with brandishing. (you would need a cranky cop to charge you though). Our open carry law means that I don't have to worry about that now.

**Witzkatz**

Hm, allright, thanks for explaining.

**djones520**

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=183&GAID=12&GA=98&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=69231&SessionID=85

Link to the actual bill as it was passed.

**MrMoustaffa**

Witzkatz wrote:
@Ouze's post - as an outsider, I have been wondering about one thing for quite some time...what is the actual benefit of having a CCW license compared to simply carrying your weapon openly? It sounds like it's more work and probably more fees, and as a result you get...what kind of benefit exactly? Or is it frowned upon in some areas to openly carry weapons and it's more of a social thing? Genuinely curious here.

Some people freak out at the sight of a gun, or just don't like being around them. I can legally open carry all around town if I wished, but I don't, because people get freaked out about it. Unless you look like a cop or soldier off duty, it brings a lot of headaches. Plus, depending on where you live, cops who dont know the law might harass you over it, or arrest you for "disturbing the peace" or some other random offense. In other words, its a lot of headaches that I'd rather just avoid with conceal carry.

I'm just glad my state has it so that if I'm hiking I can just wear a holster, or so that if my shirt ever lifted up, I'm not getting charged with brandishing.

**Witzkatz**

MrMoustaffa wrote:
Witzkatz wrote:
@Ouze's post - as an outsider, I have been wondering about one thing for quite some time...what is the actual benefit of having a CCW license compared to simply carrying your weapon openly? It sounds like it's more work and probably more fees, and as a result you get...what kind of benefit exactly? Or is it frowned upon in some areas to openly carry weapons and it's more of a social thing? Genuinely curious here.

Some people freak out at the sight of a gun, or just don't like being around them. I can legally open carry all around town if I wished, but I don't, because people get freaked out about it. Unless you look like a cop or soldier off duty, it brings a lot of headaches. Plus, depending on where you live, cops who dont know the law might harass you over it, or arrest you for "disturbing the peace" or some other random offense. In other words, its a lot of headaches that I'd rather just avoid with conceal carry.

I'm just glad my state has it so that if I'm hiking I can just wear a holster, or so that if my shirt ever lifted up, I'm not getting charged with brandishing.

Thanks for the further explanation. You see, I probably have a skewed view on this topic, I've been to America for a year, but mainly up in Milwaukee studying all the time. I kinda thought that since guns are such a common item in the US, with so many gun owners, people wouldn't be freaked out if other people carried them openly - but, as you stated, I guess that's not really the case, and I can totally understand that. I wouldn't be completely relaxed next to a group of strangers with pistols on their hips either, I guess.

**djones520**

Witzkatz wrote:

Thanks for the further explanation. You see, I probably have a skewed view on this topic, I've been to America for a year, but mainly up in Milwaukee studying all the time. I kinda thought that since guns are such a common item in the US, with so many gun owners, people wouldn't be freaked out if other people carried them openly - but, as you stated, I guess that's not really the case, and I can totally understand that. I wouldn't be completely relaxed next to a group of strangers with pistols on their hips either, I guess.

Just keep in mind that if you do see something like that, just keep relaxed. Most people with evil intent aren't going to be calmly eating at a diner with some pistols strapped to their waists. As a general rule of thumb criminals are going to try to not bring attention to themselves, unless their actually in the process of committing a crime.

**Vulcan**

For that matter, a criminal who INTENDS to use a gun is going to conceal it for the shock value of revealing it to the intended victim. That shock is usually good for a couple second's inaction, which allows the criminal to accomplish his goals with no effective resistance from the victim.

An openly-carried gun isn't a threat. It's a statement that I WILL defend myself if attacked.

**Grey Templar**

Vulcan wrote:
For that matter, a criminal who INTENDS to use a gun is going to conceal it for the shock value of revealing it to the intended victim. That shock is usually good for a couple second's inaction, which allows the criminal to accomplish his goals with no effective resistance from the victim.

An openly-carried gun isn't a threat. It's a statement that I WILL defend myself if attacked.

Yeah, and a concealed gun is a criminals worst nightmare.

If concealed carry is legal in a state, every criminal knows that robbing someone/some place is putting his life at risk.

An openly carrying person discourages crime in his immediate vicinity. A concealed carrying person discourages crime everywhere.

**Hordini**

djones520 wrote:
I read something like a 16 hour course will be required.

It looks like a 16 hour course will be required to get the first license, which is for 5 years, and a 3 hour course will be required to renew. Does any state have a training requirement longer than that? Ohio requires 12 hours, and I think some other states require 8 or 10. And of course a few states don't require a course at all.

**djones520**

Hordini wrote:
djones520 wrote:
I read something like a 16 hour course will be required.

It looks like a 16 hour course will be required to get the first license, which is for 5 years, and a 3 hour course will be required to renew. Does any state have a training requirement longer than that? Ohio requires 12 hours, and I think some other states require 8 or 10. And of course a few states don't require a course at all.

No, this is the longest. Which isn't surprising.

**Hordini**

djones520 wrote:
Hordini wrote:
djones520 wrote:
I read something like a 16 hour course will be required.

It looks like a 16 hour course will be required to get the first license, which is for 5 years, and a 3 hour course will be required to renew. Does any state have a training requirement longer than that? Ohio requires 12 hours, and I think some other states require 8 or 10. And of course a few states don't require a course at all.

No, this is the longest. Which isn't surprising.

I'm just pleasantly surprised they didn't pull out all the stops and make people take a 6-week course and charge $3,000 for it or something.

**d-usa**

16 hours is really not that crazy. 2 weekend days or 4 weeknight. A bit of a pain, but nothing that should keep anybody from getting one.

**djones520**

d-usa wrote:
16 hours is really not that crazy. 2 weekend days or 4 weeknight. A bit of a pain, but nothing that should keep anybody from getting one.

Availability of courses? Hunter Safety Courses are almost impossible to get enrolled in here.

**d-usa**

That's a separate issue of course, I was just talking about the requirement in general.