Illinois and Wisconsin are the only states that don't have any sort of concealed carry law.  However Wisconsin does have an open carry law.  So that leaves Illinois as the only state that doesn't allow its citizens to carry a handgun for their protection.

Wisconsin passed concealed carry twice but both were vetoed by their former Democratic Governor Jim Doyle.  Hopefully, Wisconsin's new governor will be more agreeable to his state's citizens self-defense needs as the majority of the other states already do.

The Chicago area tends to have the most restrictive gun-control regulations in the state, and has fought the hardest against the option of law-abiding citizens having the right to legally carry a concealed handgun to protect themselves and their families.  Yet lowering crime rates by issuing nondiscretionary concealed handgun laws are greatest precisely in those urban areas like Chicago that have the highest crime rates, largest and most dense population, and having mass concentrations of minorities.  This shouldn't be too surprising since law-abiding citizens in these areas must fend for themselves to a great extent for protection.

Women and blacks tend to be the strongest supporters of gun control, yet both stand to gain the most from nondiscretionary concealed handgun laws in terms of reduced crime rates of murder and other crimes. Women tend to gain the most as a concealed handgun appears to be the great equalizer among the sexes.

Maybe if we had a concealed carry law in 2008, Cook County Judge Eileen Brewer wouldn't have been mugged and beaten by a thief who stole her purse just blocks from Barack Obama's home the night before the Presidential election.

The year before, former Senator Carol Mosley Braun, who lives in the same area, was mugged there also.  If these high profile people can't be protected, where does that leave the rest of us ordinary people? 

In 2007, legislation that would have allowed state's attorneys, Judges and public defenders to carry concealed firearms was defeated in the Illinois House despite 62 yes votes.  Most bills need 60 votes, but the House Democrats who controlled the chamber claimed it requires three-fifths approval or 71 yes votes.  They claimed this number is necessary because the normal 60 votes would limit the power of home-rule units of government.  The same controversial large number of votes would be needed for a statewide concealed carry bill.  Republicans disagree with the Democrats over the three-fifths vote for approval.  This legislation, if passed, would have allowed Judge Eileen Brewer to protect herself on the unsafe streets of Chicago.

Big City Chicago Democratic Machine politicians led and beholden to Mayor Daley are the main obstacle to passing concealed carry in Illinois. These same politicians have made a mess of Chicago by levying higher and higher taxes on it's citizens, waste, and widespread corruption.  Their control of the State Legislature, Governor's Office, and statewide elected offices, has produced similar results in running state government and has made Illinois the laughing-stock of the rest of the nation.

Most people who ask me why we don't have concealed carry in Illinois don't understand how difficult it is to pass it in Illinois with 68% of all our state lawmakers coming from the Chicago area, including the Governor, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House.  Maybe it is time to have term limits on the leadership positions as some of the other states have to break up the monopoly and diabolic control over the rest of us.

For far too long the citizens of Illinois have been denied the most basic of their unalienable rights -- the right of self-defense.  Any government that denies its citizens the means of self-defense is neither compassionate or protective, but barbarous.

Keep track of how your lawmakers vote on concealed carry this year and take appropriate action in the 2012 elections if you value your self-defense right.

Vote!



Jim Butler's Commentaries