Quinn, Emanuel Lambast Federal Court Ruling On Concealed Weapon Ban
By Chuck Sudo in News on Dec 13, 2012 9:20PM
Gov. Pat Quinn said he hoped the Illinois General Assembly could craft legislation allowing for concealed carry of firearms in Illinois that contains reasonable limitations within the time frame established by a federal appeals court ruling earlier this week, while Mayor Rahm Emanuel criticized the ruling as “wrongheaded.”
Earlier this week the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Illinois’ ban on concealed carry unconstitutional and gave the General Assembly 180 days to draft legislation allowing for concealed carry. Gun control advocates urged Quinn and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to appeal the ruling. Quinn said he would leave the decision to appeal up to Madigan but stressed that any concealed carry legislation must include limitations. National Rifle Association spokesman Todd Vandermyde said his gun rights lobbyists would hold firm on a variety of points regarding new legislation but indicated they would be willing to work with Quinn “for a reasonable solution and policy on right to carry.”
Quinn reiterated his wish for a ban on assault weapons in Illinois.
Back in Chicago Emanuel said the appeals court was “out of touch” and said he would continue to fight for a concealed carry ban in the interest of public safety.
“This ruling runs counter to not only common sense but what every police chief in the country thinks, which is we should not allow more guns on the street. It’s wrong-headed. They need to start spending a little more time in the real world and understand that their opinions have consequences to the people of Chicago,” the mayor said.
“I do not think you should be undermining our law enforcement community and our residents with a ruling that creates more potential for violence and makes the job of keeping our communities safer all that much harder.”