Senator supports court's ruling on concealed weapons

An area legislator says that action by the Illinois attorney general is an attempt to undermine a recent court decision regarding concealed weapons.

Earlier this month, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan requested a review from the entire 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on a lawsuit challenging the Illinois ban on concealed weapons. 

"Her goal in requesting the full-court review is to undermine the authority of a recent ruling which declared the ban unconstitutional," State Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton, said in a news release.

In December, a panel of three appellate court judges struck down the longtime Illinois ban by determining that its blanket approach was unlawful, Forby recounted.

The court gave lawmakers 180 days to pass legislation that authorized concealed carry in some form.

"But the attorney general is now asking that all 10 judges on the appellate court rehear the case, believing that the panel’s ruling 'goes beyond what the U.S. Supreme Court has held' and conflicts with decisions by two other federal appellate courts," Forby said.

 "The initial panel of judges determined concealed carry is long overdue and concluded the broad ban on carry in any form goes against the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution," he continued.

"We have waited for far too long for action on this issue. Rather than spending time and money that we don’t have on court battles after a decision has already been awarded, we should be focusing on passing a law that, for the first time, respects and recognizes the Second Amendment rights of Illinois residents.

 "We are closer than ever to coming up with a solution in this long battle for our right to bear arms. Although the action of the attorney general is a slight hindrance, I do not believe it will be effective at changing the court’s decision. 

"I plan to work to uphold the ruling of the appellate court and will continue to fight for the Second Amendment rights of Illinoisans."