The full 7th Circuit Court ruled yesterday (2/22/2013) that it would not overturn or even hear an appeal of the lower courts finding that the Illinois total ban on Concealed Carry is unconstitutional. The result was to cause the speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives to schedule hearings next week on competing bills to allow some form of CCW in Illinois as well as some anti-gun bills unrelated to CCW. The conventional wisdom is there will be a law signed and sent to the governor in March.
Since there are competing CCW bills, it is likely that the Democratically (read: Chicago/Cooke County) controlled House will opt for the most restrictive CCW law they think they can get away with. While HB 997 (the NRA backed bill) is the one we hear the most about, (and is a SHALL ISSUE bill), there are MAY ISSUE bills expected to be offered as well. Also, depending on the house rules that govern debate, HB 997 could be amended.
If a MAY ISSUE bill is adopted, it would most likely be along the lines of the infamous New Jersey law which is virtually the same as no right to carry CCW at all since it is virtually impossible for the average citizen to get a CCW permit in New Jersey.
Since MAY ISSUE has been stuck down in Maryland by the Federal courts as infringing on the Second Amendment, any similar Illinois law would mean the fight for a real CCW law in Illinois could continue for many years until the Supreme Court rules on the Maryland case. (An affirmative ruling upholding the lower court's finding in that case would finally release the long suffering New Jersey citizens from bondage as well as all the other MAY ISSUE states, but it will probably be a long time before the Supreme Court hears anything having to do with that particular issue.)
In summary, I think (hope) most of us here on the forum are united in wanting the citizens of Illinois to get a decent CCW law. But unless they bury their representatives with emails supporting HB997 in the next week, they may end up with little more than a hollow court victory for many years.
Since there are competing CCW bills, it is likely that the Democratically (read: Chicago/Cooke County) controlled House will opt for the most restrictive CCW law they think they can get away with. While HB 997 (the NRA backed bill) is the one we hear the most about, (and is a SHALL ISSUE bill), there are MAY ISSUE bills expected to be offered as well. Also, depending on the house rules that govern debate, HB 997 could be amended.
If a MAY ISSUE bill is adopted, it would most likely be along the lines of the infamous New Jersey law which is virtually the same as no right to carry CCW at all since it is virtually impossible for the average citizen to get a CCW permit in New Jersey.
Since MAY ISSUE has been stuck down in Maryland by the Federal courts as infringing on the Second Amendment, any similar Illinois law would mean the fight for a real CCW law in Illinois could continue for many years until the Supreme Court rules on the Maryland case. (An affirmative ruling upholding the lower court's finding in that case would finally release the long suffering New Jersey citizens from bondage as well as all the other MAY ISSUE states, but it will probably be a long time before the Supreme Court hears anything having to do with that particular issue.)
In summary, I think (hope) most of us here on the forum are united in wanting the citizens of Illinois to get a decent CCW law. But unless they bury their representatives with emails supporting HB997 in the next week, they may end up with little more than a hollow court victory for many years.