October 4, 2023 8:48 am CDT
Illinois Republican congressmen differ on national concealed carry reciprocity
SPRINGFIELD/WASHINGTON (Illinois News Network) — Members of Illinois’ Republican congressional delegation differ on whether every state in the nation should accept other states’ concealed carry permit holders.
The so-called Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act passed the House earlier this month. The measure would allow law-abiding citizens with a concealed-carry permit in one state to carry in another state without breaking the law.
“There are different requirements for drivers and driver training for each individual state, but that doesn’t mean you can’t drive through a different state with the license you have,” Davis, R-Taylorville, said.
U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam, who lives in densely populated Wheaton, said he supports gun owners’ rights, but this bill went too far.
“You could have a situation where there’s no requirements whatsoever to get a concealed-carry permit in another state and then that concealed-carry permit holder would be allowed to carry in Illinois,” Roskam, R-Wheaton, said. “It just didn’t make any sense to me. I opposed it. It passed nevertheless.”
Davis said following the mass shooting incident he was trapped in this summer, this issue is personal for him.
Davis was on a baseball field at the time U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana, and four others were shot and injured. Scalise has recovered from his injuries. The gunman in that incident was killed on the scene by a security detail who was there only because of Scalise’s position as majority whip and third-ranking GOP congressman.
States across the country have a web of different requirements for concealed-carry licensing that Davis said the reciprocity bill would fix while not having an impact on Illinois’ strict concealed-carry training standards.
Illinois was the last state to get concealed carry after being mandated by the courts following round after round of legal losses. The state’s concealed-carry law doesn’t recognize any other state’s concealed-carry permit holders.
The measure has been sent to the U.S. Senate.
U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, who represents a more rural area in central Illinois, said the bill is similar to drivers license reciprocity.
“There’s a reason why many of us that were on the baseball field in Alexandria, Virginia, in June weren’t able to carry our own protection,” Davis said. “It’s because of the differing laws between Washington D.C. and Virginia and how you get that firearm from Point A to Point B.”
The Center Square -- formerly known as Watchdog.org and the Illinois News Network -- and their reporters represent 18 states across the United States as the taxpayers' watchdog, exposing the way government really works.
Some rights reserved 2017-2023 by Heartland Newsfeed, a subsidiary partnership by Heartland Internet Media Networks and Heartland Media Group of Central Illinois LLC. Content published by Heartland Newsfeed staff is covered by the BipCot NoGov license. This allows use and re-use by anyone except governments and government agents. License on record. JNews theme designed and developed by Jegtheme.
