Illinois Democrat introduces CCW legislation!

[davepc]

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=2567&GAID=8&GA=94&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=18470&SessionID=50

Representative Brandon W. Phelps (D)
118th District

Creates the Family and Personal Protection Act. Establishes statewide uniform standards for the issuance of permits to carry concealed firearms in this State. Vests in the Department of State Police, the authority to issue concealed firearms permits to qualified applicants. Requires an applicant to complete a training course in handgun use, safety, and marksmanship. Also requires instruction in the law relating to firearm use. Requires an applicant to be at least 21 years of age. Prohibits an applicant who has been convicted of a felony or has a history of mental illness, addiction, or habitual alcohol use from obtaining a permit.

I only browsed the full text of the bill, but seems to be shall issue to boot.

Getting it on the Governors desk and signed is a whole 'nother ball of wax, but its nice to see a Democrat introduce legislation like this!

[Dr Batsen D Belfry]

1. I would add the requirement to carry insurance

similar to the way vehicles are handled.

This is a start.

DBDB

[MrSandman]

5. And exactly how would...

The cost of insurance be determined? I am sure the damages caused to others by CHL holders is insignificant.

If it can be shown otherwise, I would be interested.

[Dr Batsen D Belfry]

16. To be honest, I am not in the insurance business

so I am not sure.

All I know is you have to have proof of insurance before you can drive your vehicle legally, so why not require proof of insurance before you purchase your firearms license?

I am not saying it has to be a separate type of insurance, as most insurance companies have a rider for firearms.

Proof of a liability policy should suffice in most cases I would think, but as I said earlier, I am no expert.

DBDB

[slackmaster]

17. My homeowner's policy includes substantial personal liability coverage

In addition to fire, flood, etc. for the property.

The liability covers me in case through negligence I do something stupid and injure or kill someone who did not need to be injured or killed. That coverage follows me everywhere I go, and is superseded by another policy only when I am driving.

I told the insurance company that I have a valuable gun collection. The company said my firearms would be covered against loss just like any other personal items in the house. But if my collection ever exceeds a certain amount in value I should consider fully documenting and appraising the guns, so a rider could be added to my policy for a small additional premium. That would ensure full compensation in case they all get stolen or burned up.

There was no mention of paying a higher premium because I have firearms in the house, nor does the company offer a gun-free home discount.

On liability for carrying a weapon, that got some coverage in a self-defense course I took in December. All lecturers and instructors consistently told us that any time you use deadly force in self-defense, weapon or no weapon, you are likely to face a civil lawsuit and possibly criminal charges even when your actions are clearly justified. You can count on spending a lot of money on legal fees, possibly fines and judgements.

Most homeowners and renters (the wiser ones) carry homeowner's or renter's insurance that includes personal liability. A renter's policy paid out a small amount on my behalf about 12 years ago, when a child who was horsing sround in my rented yard, fell and chipped a tooth. I would gladly have paid the small sum out of pocket just to keep the peace even though IMO it was entirely the boy's own fault; but I was glad I had bought the insurance policy.

The self-defense instructors advised people who were being trained to use weapons to carefully review their insurance coverage. Nobody in their right mind would risk lising everything when protection is so cheap.

[MrSandman]

18. To insure the gunowner???

A pretty miniscule rate of accidents make insurance limited in value.

[Dolomite]

23. Most insurance contains 'willful tort' language

that would remove the insurance company from the picture totally if one person shoots another.

As usual, comparing cars to guns is nonsense.

[aikoaiko]

2. I hope that these restrictions are balanced with....

...more privelige. Specifically, they should allow the CCWs to carry everywhere.

Edited to add: After rereading the quote from the law, I hope they define their terms well (felony, history or mental illness, addiction, habitual alcohol use) otherwise there is a chance most Illinios may not be getting a CCW.

Proposed laws like this make me grateful to live in a shall issue state.

[RC]

3. Never know when one might need

a weapon in church or your kids elementary school to defend against the schoolyard bully.
Might come in handy in playing hero when preventing a hijacking of the plane you are on also. That would make me feel safe when Rambo is playing on the overhead screens.

Just think how much safer the world would be if we left the killing machines in the museums.

[davepc]

4. Ah the old "blood will run in the streets" argument

Too bad actual practice of shall issue CCW in 34 states has demonstrated that CCW does not, in fact, cause blood to run in the streets. Amature Dirty Harry's with poor judgment and worse aim do not suddenly engage in gunfights at random times during the day on public sidewalks.

If that's your strongest argument against it, you'll have to do better. Maybe find some facts to back up the assertions.

[aikoaiko]

6. Thats cool if you don't want to CCW into church or theatres

... but many of us who CCW would rather not have to leave their gun in their cars or at home in order to attend public places where CCW is banned by law.

My main point was that if you are going to limit CCW to a elite class of residents in your state, then at least give them the trust they deserve.

[MrSandman]

9. I believe the feds already...

prohibit firearms on planes/secure areas of terminals and in elementary schools. I could be wrong.

[RoeBear]

19. Feds have jurisdiction over airports...

...but not elementary schools. That said I think most states prohibit CCW in schools.

[MrSandman]

21. States have jurisdiction but risk loss of federal funding...

Gun-Free Schools Act


On edit: I know, only students, but I believe most states have included all non-LEO/security officers.

[RoeBear]

24. Well in Michigan at least

I can carry in my car on school property while picking up my child, with a CCW of course.

[Retired AF Dem]

11. Untill that day comes

I'm keeping mine.

[Massacure]

13. Humans are killing machines.

[slackmaster]

15. There is a movie depicting precisely the Utopia you describe here

Just think how much safer the world would be if we left the killing machines in the museums.

Demolition Man.

President Schwarzenegger and the sixty-third Amendment.

All restaurants are Taco Bell.

Fines for uttering profanity.

Everything that can hurt you is banned.

:crazy:

[davepc]

20. the quote isint from the law

its from the abstract of the bill

[Columbia]

7. Good luck Illinois

[davepc]

8. Govenor Blagojevich will never sign it

I'm just glad we have democrats fighting for it.

[anonymous44]

10. WOW, It's is a cold day in hell

I always thought we'd be the last to even introduce CCW legislation.
I still think this bill has no way to get passed. Introducing is a start though.

[oldfogey]

14. Having one set of rules

for everyone will never go over well with the general public. Suppose they amend this using the argument that it makes obtaining a firearm to easy in certain urban areas that exhibit high crime rates so that everyone will now have to jump through more hoops. It is another step toward taking them all away and forcing upon us what they (nat. govt.) deem acceptable. Having the rules decided upon by legislators and law makers that know each state and county is much better IMO.

[DonP]

22. It's been introduced for several years now.

CCW for Illinois has actually been introduced every year for about five years now. It always get's killed in committee and never makes it to the floor for a vote. It has been supported by a lot of "downstate" Democrats for years.

Unfortunately Friday afternoon Daley's latest bundle of gun control legislation was also quietly introduced, including State Licensing of Gun Stores (IMHO that makes it easier for Daley to put them all out of business).

Blagojevitch will probably sit quietly and hope nothing reaches his desk so he doesn't have to take a position. He's been very quiet on gun control related issues since his election. His pre campiagn proposal on raising the FOID card fee to $500 a year isn't mentioned in polite company around the governor anymore.

I think he was stunned at the difference in attitudes between the rest of the state and his North Shore neighborhood when he was campaigning. (and where he still lives, refusing to move to the state capital in Springfield. That also endeared him to the downstate Dem's).

[Fescue4u]

12. You mean Daley won't let Blagovich sign it

Never forget who really runs Illinois.

[davepc]

25. The bill got passed out of committee

and now is due to be debated on the floor of the House.

"I'm heartsick," said House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago), a major advocate of gun control. The NRA is on a "rampage" in Springfield, Currie said.

...

"If the legislature passed them, they're dead on arrival," said Abby Ottenhoff, Blagojevich's spokeswoman.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/nearwest/chi-0503090372mar09,1,2819186.story?coll=chi-newslocalnearwest-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true

Also it apprears that Representative Gary Hannig (D) is now a co-sponsor of the bill (HB2567)

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=2567&GAID=8&GA=94&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=18470&SessionID=50

[Dolomite]

26. Good luck!

Wisconsin is rooting for you.