Federal Court Rejects AG Madigan's Hearing Request; Concealed Carry Ban Still Ruled Unconstitutional

By Chuck Sudo in News on Feb 22, 2013 8:42PM

A federal appeals court on Friday rejected a request from Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to hear an appeal of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court's December ruling declaring Illinois' concealed carry law unconstitutional. (read the ruling from the 10-judge panel here.)

The decision by the 7th Circuit Court said the state “failed to meet (the) burden” of public safety that inspired the law. Madigan argued the decision ran counter to concealed carry rulings in other federal courts and went beyond U.S. Supreme Court precedent. Madigan's next step—if she decides to appeal further—would be to the Supreme Court.

The 7th Circuit Court's ruling ordered the Illinois Legislature to craft a new concealed carry bill within the next 180 days. Hearings on the new bill began earlier this week with Todd Vandermyde, the National Rifle Association's chief Illinois lobbyist, calling for concealed carry on public transit in Illinois.