The argument regarding guns, people and their second amendment rights continues. This debate specifically considers whether in the state of Illinois qualified gun owners can carry a concealed firearm outside their homes. The legislature voted against stricter controls regarding a concealed carry firearm bill.
Gov. Pat Quinn is at one end of the spectrum and against him apparently is the entire legislature, who voted down his veto. He comments that concealed weapons are a bad idea in light of the kind of crime that has been happening across the country. He also felt that special registrations and controls were needed to make sure that people with any sort of mental issues wouldn’t have access to guns or concealed firearms, which could be carried in public. But he was voted down. He commented that this was an issue of common sense, and that the legislature wasn’t standing with the people of Illinois on this issue. The Governor aimed to tighten the regulations of concealed publicly carried firearms, but the house voted against him, 77-31, and the senate voted against him 41-17. The governor was completely without support.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno of Lemont, said this won’t be the last time we discuss this issue. Chicago democrat, Kelly Cassidy, a gun control supporter, said, “most likely we’ll be back fighting over changes in the new law.” Oak Park democrat, Sen. Don Harmon, commented, “Lawmakers can and should add more protections to when and how people can carry guns in public places. I believe in give-and-take and compromise, but we can’t bargain away the safety of our families.”
Governor Quinn finally commented, “A week ago I issued a mandatory veto for conceal and carry. Today was a bad day for public safety in Illinois. Unfortunately the general assembly did not adopt what I proposed, and overrode my veto. We’re going to have to fight ever harder to get [the amendments] adopted one by one by this legislature because that’s what makes common sense to the people of Illinois.”