Sunday Comic: Will Concealed Carry Be Good for Illinois?

Residents of our state will soon have the right to carry concealed weapons in public, but that doesn't mean safety is guaranteed.

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William

12:15 pm on Sunday, May 12, 2013

Wow...change your name to delusional. So you think the guy on the right should say..."whoa buddy...I'm calling the police...you better be worried" Even the police don't agree with you. I'm calling you out, ignorance is not an excuse despite what the liberals are telling you.   more ›

Patch on Politics

Guns in Public Places: Where Do You Stand?

On Feb. 19 and Feb. 22, the state will stage public hearings to discuss a new concealed carry handgun law for Illinois.

Gun control hearings will convene before an Illinois House committee later this month, says Speaker Mike Madigan, and there will be much talk about a new concealed carry law. One hearing will take place in Chicago on Feb. 22, at the Michael A. Bilandic Building in Chicago. The other will be in Springfield on Feb. 19 at the Capitol. “In light of events in recent months in Illinois and in other parts of the country, it’s appropriate and necessary that we give a full vetting to proposed state legislation on this matter," reads a statement from Madigan. "These hearings will provide an opportunity for gun-safety advocates, gun-rights supporters and members of the law enforcement community to offer their views and argue their cases to …

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Patch Poll: Tell Us What You Think about More Gun Control Laws

The debate has been charged as restrictions on certain types of guns, background checks for gun buyers and other gun-related issues come under scrutiny.

With the battle over gun control issues heating up, we're wondering where you fall on some of the key points being debated. The 2nd Amendment right to bear arms was written at a time when American colonists were under oppression, were anticipating a war to win freedom from a tyrannical government and carried weapons that could fire just one shot before having to be reloaded with gun powder. Nearly 240 years later, weapons can be loaded with magazines containing 10 or more rounds, can automatically fire bullets in fast succession and, in some cases, can literally spray hundreds of rounds in a matter of seconds. When they fall into the wrong hands, the destruction of human life can be devastating, as was the case just months ago with the …

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Letter: Vote 'Em Out — Not Shoot 'Em Out

Send letters to the editor to Shannon.Antinori@patch.com.

Let’s get real: It’s time American society recognizes that lack of meaningful regulation with respect to the AVAILABILITY of certain types of guns and ammunition is a major contributing factor to shooting deaths. Even the majority of National Rifle Association members favor sensible measures to keep assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, body armor-piercing, jacketed and hollow point ammunition out of the wrong hands.  They know that NRA president Wayne LaPierre’s remedy of more guns is patently absurd!  He is little more than a well-compensated lobbyist for the gun and ammunition industry, who disguises his venality with rants about “Second Amendment remedies” and the necessity of  having “good guys with guns” to protect our civil …

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Gun Control: Where Does Your Congressman Stand?

Patch contacted 10 newly elected representatives to find out what they plan to do to help curb gun violence in our country in the wake of last week's mass killing in Newtown, CT. Those who actually wanted to discuss the issue say it's time for a change.

When members of the 113th Congress take their seats in January, one of the top items on their agenda very well could be a new look at federal gun control laws.  In the wake of the Newtown, CT, tragedy of one week ago today, President Obama on Wednesday set a January deadline for his administration to "create concrete proposals" to curb gun violence in the United States. Obama also called on Congress to reinstate an assault weapons ban that expired in 2004 to "pursue the possibility of limiting high-capacity ammunition clips" and to "close a gun show loophole that allows people to purchase firearms from private dealers without a background check."  What will come of this renewed debate is yet to be seen, but what is certain is that …

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