Conceal Carry Bill Carries Illinois House, Senate

The Illinois General Assembly had until June 9 to create rules on carrying concealed weapons.

On Friday, lawmakers approved compromise legislation on who can carry concealed firearms and when they can be carried, with the House voting 89-28 to approve the bill and the Senate voting 45-12, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The legislation makes Illinois the last of 50 states to have some form of legal concealed carry. A federal court ruled late last year that Illinois’ ban on conceal carry was unconstitutional and mandated that the state institute a program by the June 9 deadline.

The legislation would ban concealed weapons in schools and on public transportation (including the CTA and Metra), along with government buildings, stadiums and casinos.

Under the plan, the Illinois State Police would be required to issue a concealed carry permit to gun owners with a valid Firearm Owners Identification Card who pass a background check, pay a $150 and undergo 16 hours of training.

Other provisions required gun owners to:

• Be at least 21 years old
• Not have any convictions for violent misdemeanors in the past five years
• Not have two or more DUI convictions in the past five years

• Rep. Tom Cross (R-Oswego): Yes
• Rep. Kay Hatcher (R-Yorkville) Yes
• Rep. Larry Walsh Jr. (D-Joliet): Yes
• Rep. Emily McAsey (D-Lockport): No
• Rep. Natalie Manley (D-Joliet): No
• Sen. Linda Holmes (D-Aurora): Yes
• Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood): Yes
• Sen. Pat McGuire (D-Joliet): Yes