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| Reported First on WGIL: Sheriffs Association Wants Concealed Carry Law in Illinois |
The Illinois Sheriffs' Association wants otherwise law-abiding citizens to be able to carry a concealed weapon for protection. The group recently passed a resolution encouraging lawmakers to consider the idea, and they will mail their letter to the entire legislature.
Greg Sullivan, executive director of the Illinois Sheriffs' Association says Illinois and Wisconsin are the only two states where concealed carry isn't allowed. Sullivan says a concealed carry law doesn't mean citizens should get involved in things they’re not supposed to.
"Let the police handle it. We're trained to handle it," Sullivan said. "But the truth of the matter is, we don't have police officers on every corner. And we react to crime. We don't necessarily -- we try to prevent crime; but nine times out of ten, we're reacting to a crime."
Sullivan says if a law is passed, he wants permits to be state-issued, but also wants citizens to apply to their local sheriff's office first. That way, officers will be able to catch an unqualified applicant quickly.
Sullivan has said he has studied crime trends in states both before and after they have passed concealed carry legislation, and say there has almost always been a reduction in such crimes as robberies and assaults after citizens have been allowed to carry the firearm. He says homicides aren't likely to decrease because if someone wants to kill a person, they won't be too concerned if they are carrying a weapon or not. Sullivan says there's always a liability involved with owning a firearm. |
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| 02 10 09 by Newsroom |
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