By IPR/Williams
Springfield, IL – Wisconsin lawmakers are poised to pass a law this spring that would allow carrying concealed weapons. That would leave Illinois as the only state in the country that prohibits the practice.
Southern Illinois state Representative Brandon Phelps of Harrisburg says he wants Illinois to follow the lead of other states. Legislation has been filed in Illinois to lift the ban. He says any concealed carry law would have restrictions.
"Criminals are always going to have guns so if you allow concealed carry it's not going to be the Wild West," says Phelps. "I mean there's a lot of things that you have to do before you're able even to get a concealed carry permit."
That could include being licensed as well as additional training.
But opponents say gun violence in bigger cities is reason enough not to relax the law. They say allowing people to holster handguns in public could lead to an upswing in violence, because weapons would be too accessible. Those who want the law changed say it will serve as a deterrent to crime.
