llinois Concealed carry gets new push

SPRINGFIELD — With the help of a new freshman class and a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, the hotly contested measure that will allow people to carry concealed firearms might have a chance of winning approval this year.

On Tuesday, the Agriculture and Conservation Committee sent the proposed legislation, House Bill 148, to the full House for debate.

State Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, who sponsored the measure, said approval is long overdue.

"The city of Chicago is behind the eight ball, so to speak, and they know they aren’t going to be able to stop people from using their Second Amendment right — and it’s a right, not a privilege," Phelps said.

The bad news is Gov. Pat Quinn will stomp on this so fast your head will spin.