Article Options

Gun laws might not see much change this year

by Mike Riopell, the southern springfield bureau

Tuesday, March 11, 2008 11:09 PM CDT

SPRINGFIELD - The issue draws the ire of thousands on either side, but lawmakers acknowledge that the political realities of Springfield mean changes in state gun laws could be tough to make happen this year.

Tuesday brought thousands of activists to the Illinois State Capitol asking lawmakers to resist putting more restrictions on gun ownership. They also called for laws that would allow private citizens to carry concealed weapons.

Dustin Meier of Decatur said he hoped the marching mass of activists got lawmakers' attention.

"It's kind of a visual aid," he said.

State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, was among lawmakers addressing a crowd on the Capitol steps that was organized by the Illinois State Rifle Association.

Brady said the differing opinions among lawmakers could leave them locked in a stalemate.

"It's not going to be an easy year," he said.

Many lawmakers who represent areas dealing with gun violence in Chicago or other urban areas have tended in the past to propose gun control measures and oppose the idea of concealed carry.

Legislation pending in the General Assembly includes proposals for more licensing requirements and a ban on assault weapons.

At direct odds with those gun control proposals are lawmakers who represent farmers and hunters who use guns regularly.

State Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, is among a handful of lawmakers pushing to give Illinoisans concealed carry rights. Another backer of concealed weapons, state Rep. Aaron Schock, a Peoria Republican and candidate for Congress, was not on the House floor Tuesday.

"It's an ongoing war," Bradley said.

The "war" is complicated by Gov. Rod Blagojevich's veto power. The Chicago Democrat favors gun control, and overriding him takes a two-thirds majority of lawmakers.

There is little doubt about the governor's position on concealed carry laws.

"As the governor has said before ? allowing more people to carry concealed weapons would be the wrong way to go in Illinois," said Blagojevich spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff.

"We need to balance the right of sportsmen and hunters to legally own guns with the need to help law enforcement and protect the public from gun violence," Ottenhoff added.

Illinois State Police spokesman Scott Compton said his department has opposed concealed-carry proposals in the past because training levels required for a private citizen to use a weapon wouldn't near the training officers get.

Compton said officers are trained on both how to use a gun, and when it's appropriate to do so.

"It's something we practice on a continuous basis," he said.

A group of mostly female concealed carry supporters delivered a memo to Blagojevich's office asking him to support it. But the governor has been a critic of concealed carry in the past.

mike.riopell@lee.net / (217) 789-0865@lee.net / (217) 789-0865