I Think It'd Take a Miracle in Illinois, but Who Knows ?

I Think It'd Take a Miracle in Illinois, but Who Knows ?
I 'm no expert. David


SPRINGFIELD --
Votes Wednesday on two proposals failing to impose new gun restrictions
in Illinois may point to increasing support for concealed carry of guns
in the General Assembly.

“I still feel very good about it,” said Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg,
sponsor of a House concealed carry bill. “We’ve been asked by some
Cook County legislators about maybe making some deals.
“I really believe we’re close to 70 (votes). We’re getting there all the time.”

Phelps said he hopes to call his measure for a vote in the coming weeks.
Because a concealed carry proposal would override municipalities’
home-rule authority, it will take 71 votes to pass the House,
as opposed to a simple majority of 60 votes.

The two measures that failed in the House Wednesday, House Bills
1855 and 203, would have imposed penalties on gun owners
who didn’t promptly report lost or stolen firearms and would have
limited Illinoisans to one gun purchase per month.

In both cases, more than 65 lawmakers voted "no."

“I hope they’re willing to deal,” Phelps said.

The bill to require gun owners to report a lost or stolen firearm
within 72 hours was sponsored by Rep. Edward Acevedo, D-Chicago,
who sponsored the theft reporting proposal, said he doesn’t think
concealed carry has the votes to pass. However, he said he might be
open to allowing something similar in areas outside of Chicago.

“I would consider it in certain parts of the state, but not in all parts
of the state -- for instance, Chicago,” he said.

The sponsor of the measure to restrict purchases, Rep. Will Burns,
also a Chicago Democrat, said the vote showed where people line up
on concealed carry, too.

“What’s particularly troubling to me
is that I feel that the National Rifle Association has taken
an absolutist interpretation of the Second Amendment,” Burns said.

Opponents of both bills said they would be ignored by criminals
and hurt only law-abiding citizens.

[All emfasis has been added by David.]