Bills that overrule home rule require a supermajority. This would include a carry bill with preemption. We could have had CCW for "downstate" (Illinoisspeak for the rest of Illinois) on a simple majority, and probably could have had it a long time ago.
Finagling on the part of the usual suspects cost some votes on last year's bill (or was it the year before), and it was withdrawn at the last minute lest it fail completely. End of session blew past without it being called again.
This time, we've got the 7th circuit's Moore vs. Madigan decision giving us some incredible leverage. They have to pass something, lest they blow past the June deadline and we get "wild!-west!-blood!-in!-the!-streets!". All we have to do is hold the line against bad bills. We have a good bill. A really nice bill -- I didn't see much in it to quibble about.
Illinoiscarry.com is the place to watch to keep up on goings on.
Scout, have I about covered it?
Yep, that's about it. There are a couple of minor things that I would like to see changed (carry in bars, and fewer restricted places). But over all
HB00997* is a great shall-issue bill that 1) removed a lot of the compromises that HB00148 (from last year) had in it; and 2) it takes a lot of good things from other states (that took them years and several steps to accomplish) in one final package. It currently has 47 bi-partisan co-sponsors. (Needs 71 votes to pass) and Mike Madigan is pissed
+. Got two e-mails today (one each from ISRA and IllinoisCarry.com) that he's going to introduce his own bill HB1155, that pretty much will be a "No-issue" carry bill. These morons just don't get it. They keep writing checks to SAF, Alan Gura, the NRA and ISRA (along with the plaintiffs) everytime the City (and now the state) tries "To be too cute by half" (Judge Rozner to City of Chicago Attorney during testimony in
Ezell)
*
Synopsis As Introduced
Creates the Family and Personal Protection Act. Provides that the Department of State Police shall issue a license to a person to: (1) carry a loaded or unloaded handgun on or about his or her person, concealed or otherwise; (2) keep or carry a loaded or unloaded handgun on or about his or her person when in a vehicle; and (3) keep a loaded or unloaded handgun openly or concealed in a vehicle. Prohibits the carrying of the handgun in certain locations. Provides that the license shall be issued by the Department of State Police within 30 days of receipt of a completed application and shall be valid throughout the State for a period of 5 years from the date of issuance. Provides for renewal of licenses. Establishes qualifications for licensees, certified firearms instructors, and instructor trainers. Provides for home rule preemption. Provides that the provisions of the Act are severable. Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Prohibits from inspection and copying information about applications for licenses to carry a handgun and about license holders contained in the database created by the Family and Personal Protection Act, except as authorized by that Act. Amends the State Finance Act and the Criminal Code of 2012 to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.
+ Mike Madigan is ticked off...
Why is Mike Madigan so ticked off? Quite simply, he’s ticked off because the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has told him plainly that the legislature must bow to constitutional authority – not to the whims of Mike Madigan. And we all know what a control freak Mike Madigan is.
No, Mike Madigan is no longer in control of the concealed carry debate. The courts have said once and for all that Illinois will join 49 other states in allowing citizens to carry defensive firearms.
The court has really ticked Madigan off...
Mike Madigan is so ticked off that he plans to introduce his own version of a concealed carry bill early next week. Of course, under Madigan’s carry bill, the only people who would be allowed to carry would be... um... nobody.
Although the details of Madigan’s concealed carry bill (HB1155) have not yet been released, those close to Madigan are saying that it will be the most restrictive concealed carry bill in the nation.
One insider termed Madigan’s proposal, “...the closest thing to no-carry at all.”
WHAT YOU MUST DO TO STOP MADIGAN’S INSULTING BILL
1. Beginning first thing Monday morning, call your state representative and politely tell them that you are a law-abiding firearm owner and that you oppose Madigan’s insulting HB1155 and that you would like them to vote against the bill.
2. Pass this alert on to all your friends and family members and ask them to call their state representatives as well.
3. Please post this alert to any and all Internet blogs or bulletin boards to which you belong.
If you do not know who your state representative is, please click the link below and you will be able to identify your representative and get their Springfield phone number.
The Illinois State Board of Elections has a new interactive search page here:
www.elections.state.il.us/DistrictLocator/DistrictOfficialSearchByAddress.aspx
So yes, even if you don't live here, feel free to call Madigan's office next week, every day. It's fun to hear the NRA/ISRA lobbyists tell stories of how the state Reps and Senators come to them to "Make it stop", with the phone calls and e-mails and they pull the bad bills.
![[popcorn]](http://www.armedpolitesociety.com/Smileys/default/mf_popcorn.gif "Popcorn")
