State Lawmaker Offers Olympic Support In Exchange for Gun Law
Rep. Brandon Phelps With various proposals for a concealed carry law languishing in the state legislature, one downstate rep is suggesting a quid pro quo with Chicago-area lawmakers. Rep. Brandon Phelps (D-Harrisburg) has suggested that downstate lawmakers would throw their support behind Chicago 2016's request for more state funding if support for a concealed carry law came from Chicago-area lawmakers, who usually oppose such measures. Phelps has also suggested Chicago lift its handgun ban so Olympic shooting events could be held here, but the Chicago 2016 bid has shooting events slated for Aurora where there would be no trouble with anti-gun laws. Said Phelps, "We want something in return. We’d like to have concealed carry or something like that in return. They are going to have to change their laws to allow shooting in Chicago. Right now you can’t even own a handgun in the city of Chicago." Phelps also suggested some of the shooting events be moved: "We’d like them to bring the shooting events down to Sparta," where there is a state-funded shooting complex. [Trib, Daily Herald]