Yesterday, with the federal court deadline for enactment of concealed carry legislation fast approaching, Governor Pat Quinn (D) issued an amendatory veto on House Bill 183. This legislation was introduced and passed by the state legislature last month in an attempt to comply with a ruling from the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit on December 11, 2012, that invalidated Illinois’ total ban on carrying firearms for self-defense. Governor Quinn’s irresponsible amendatory veto, if allowed to stand, would impose some of the strictest concealed carry laws in the nation and make a mockery of the serious issue of self-defense in Illinois. The Illinois Legislature is set to return for a special session on Monday, July 8 and will consider overriding Governor Quinn’s Amendatory Veto.
As it stands now, Governor Quinn’s Amendatory Veto makes the following changes to HB 183:
- Limits individuals to carrying a single handgun with a single magazine and no more than ten rounds of ammunition.
- Changes the definition of “concealed” to specify a handgun must be completely concealed as opposed to concealed or mostly concealed.
- Bans carry in any place that serves alcohol – except private clubs and residences – and therefore nullifying the “restaurant carry” provisions in the bill.
- Inverts the “no carry” posting, meaning that carry will only be permissible in places that post it is OK to carry a concealed firearm.
- Allows employers to ban firearms on their property and negate the safe harbor provisions.
- Removes the ability of individuals to get out of their vehicle and store their handguns safely in the trunk of their vehicle.
An override has been filed by House Bill 183’s sponsor, Representative Brandon Phelps (D-118). With an overwhelming majority voting to pass House Bill 183 at the beginning of June, the override that would reject Governor Quinn’s Amendatory Veto is expected to pass.
Your NRA-ILA will continue to update you as more information becomes available.
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