Local elected officials sign in support of concealed carry
Online Staff Report
Rockford Tea Party has collected more than 4,000 signatures — including those of local elected officials — in Winnebago County in support of a concealed carry ordinance.
Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey (I), Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen (R), numerous aldermen from both political parties and Winnebago County Board members have all joined in the effort to see some kind of provision in Winnebago County for concealed carry.
Concealed carry refers to carrying a handgun or other weapon in public in a concealed manner. No federal law addresses the issuance of concealed carry permits, although 49 of 50 states have passed laws allowing citizens to carry certain concealed firearms in public. Illinois is the only state without such a provision.
The Rockford Tea Party has asserted that state law in Illinois contradicts the Illinois Constitution. The group is seeking to have a concealed carry ordinance enacted on a local level in Winnebago County.
Rockford Tea Party Co-Coordinator Bob Mlsna said: “We believe the state law contradicts the Illinois Constitution. Law-abiding citizens should have the ability to protect themselves and their families from criminals.”
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution reads, “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”
The Illinois Constitution, in Article 1, Section 22, says, “Subject only to the police power, the right of the individual citizen to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”
Posted July 6, 2012
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9 Comments
Were do youbsign
that’s what I want to know, where do I sign ?
I am glad to see our elected people finaly get on board with “Concealed and Carry” in Illinois. It is sad that we in Illinois are so far behind the rest of the country. If we could get a different govenor, move chicago out in the middle of the lake, and get rid of the speaker of the house, we will have “Concealed and Carry”. I hope I am home when they come to get my guns.
John Reif
Carrollton, Illinois
Way to go! I hope I am home when they come to get my guns.
John Reif
Carrollton, Illinois
Where do I sign also.
John Reif
Carrollton, Illinois
My apologies our website is http://www.keepandbear.org
Hi. Wanted to let everybody know we will continue to hit public events with the petition. We’re going to let every Winnebago resident get a chance to sign.
The petition is also available at Bullet Stop Gun Shop on Harlem Road in Loves Park.
On-line signing is available on http://www.keepandbear.org (although I prefer pen to paper)
where do I sign as well?
It’s about time. Forty-nine states aren’t wrong. Responsible concealed carry is a right and a privilege. As with driving you should have the right to apply for a license, and for the inexperienced, gun safety courses are a good idea, too.