Forewarned is Fore-armed: Concealed Carry Moves Forward

By Karl Klockars in News on Feb 19, 2009 7:40PM

Take a look at everyone around you. Think of your co-workers, your fellow commuters, the guy next to you at the bar tonight. Do you want him or her to be carrying a gun? If you do, you're a step closer to having your hopes become a reality: The Illinois House moved a concealed-carry bill forward yesterday with a vote of 11-1.

Called the "Family and Personal Protection Act," House Bill 245 would allow the Illinois State Police to issue permits which would allow citizens to carry "a handgun carried on or about a person completely or mostly concealed from view of the public, or carried in a vehicle in such a way as it is concealed from view of the public." What's really interesting: seven of the bill's eight sponsors are Democrats. Like Henry Gibson from Laugh-In used to say: Veeeeeery Eeeeeentresting.

Here's our favorite part:

Applicant shall affirm under oath "I the undersigned state, under oath and subject to the penalty of perjury, that I am not a streetgang member as defined in Section 10 of the Illinois Streetgang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act, and I will not join or become associated with a criminal streetgang.

...Pinkyswear, cross my heart, Scout's honor, not a gang member. Promise. Guns, please!

Mayor Daley and other virulently anti-gun Chicago legislators will surely raise holy hell about the bill, especially in the wake of the overturning of the DC gun ban. Another feather in the cap of the bill - the Illinois Sheriff's Association is all about it as well. Interestingly, gun stores within the state already offer concealed-carry classes. GAT Guns in Dundee offers monthly classes to become qualified for the Utah concealed carry permit, with the option to pick up the Florida permit as well. In the event of the passage of this bill, will those gun owners be upset to have to re-up the permit fees for the same info? You bet. And they've got guns.

"Killing People is Rude" by Swanksalot.