With recent news that the governor of Illinois will veto any attempts to pass a concealed carry bill in Illinois, I feel it’s only appropriate to give my idea of the top 10 reasons why Illinois should enact a concealed carry program. At the end of the post there is a poll where you can express your opinion about Illinois getting a concealed carry program. Also, please feel free to comment below with your opinion.
- Concealed Carry is a Constitutional Right! It’s crazy to me that there’s any discussion at all about whether carrying a concealed and loaded firearm is a Constitutional right. Think how our forefathers must be rolling in their graves with the way things are today in the U.S. government. It blows my mind that the nation’s highest court can be split 5/4 on what the 2nd amendment means.
- Safety. Let’s face it, an armed society is a polite society. Is there any doubt that gun control measures just don’t work? Have the measures over the last 20 years really done anything to reduce gun violence. The fact of the matter is that gun control only affects law abiding citizens.
- Generating Revenue. Take the Utah permit…there are over 250,000 people who have a Utah Concealed Firearm permit. The Utah permit is $65 to get – so if my math isn’t off that’s $16,250,000. Florida charges $117 for their permit. In such a down economy, it’s hard to believe that a governor would turn away another means of generating revenue for the state.
- Improve responsible gun ownership. After training nearly 3,000 people how to carry a concealed and loaded firearm, I have strong feelings that every single gun owner should receive training on how to properly use their firearms. Having a concealed carry program is a marvelous way for the state of Illinois to implement a high quality, highly useful training program. For those that are concerned about people carrying concealed and loaded firearms, they should realize that concealed carry programs also include mandatory training and understanding on the use of force in self-defense. Personally, I feel that every citizen should know and understand self-defense law.
- Increase safe gun handling. This is really just a continuation of the previous point. Carrying a concealed firearm is not just about carrying, think about how much better it would be for society if every citizen took the time to understand the fundamentals of safe gun handling – here’s the safe gun handling lecture from a recent class on youtube.
- Deter crime. Let’s hear it…how many gun control measures from the past have actually decreased crime? All we have to do is look across the pond to the U.K. to see how ineffective gun control measures have been. Bad guys will start to think twice about pulling a gun when others start lawfully carrying concealed and loaded firearms.
- Encourage a civil society. Similar to deterring crime, my experience has been that when you know that the other guy you’re talking to might be carrying a firearm, you’ll be much more likely to treat him with a little respect.
- The rest of the nation isn’t wrong in having CCW programs. There’s a reason why the rest of the nation allows for concealed carry – people have a right to defend themselves.
- It’s what people in Illinois want. I’ve taught courses all over the state of Illinois and nearly every class has been filled to capacity! People in Illinois want concealed carry so badly that they are willing to pay for a permit that is only valid when they leave the state.
- It’s the right thing to do. This probably sounds silly but I wish that politicians would stop playing politics on this issue. For once, politicians should do what’s right. Concealed carry programs don’t put firearms in criminal’s hands. You have to be a good, clean citizen in order to qualify for a concealed carry permit.
There you have it. In my opinion, those are the top 10 reasons why Illinois should enact a concealed carry program. What do you think? Cast your vote below and make a comment.
Every other state has some form of conceal carry, i wonder when politicians and law makers are going to realize that its not the law abiding citizens that are going around killing people in the city of chicago, those firearms are unregistered and come off the black market. Its rediculous that now off duty prison gaurds can conceal to protect themselves, but the everyday citizen like myself are thrown to the wolves
Yes they should.It is our right to carry and I honestly don’t get where these polititions think they have a right to go against our constitutional rights.
The question is,Why cant the people in Illinois protect themselves,I totally believe we need concealed carry badly,Peoria is a shooting gallery for the ceiminals,They are the only ones with protection
Can the other 48 states be wrong?…I dont think so…they agree with the intent of the 2nd ammendment
There is a saying that My Father has said since I was little(and before). “When they outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns.”
1. lord knows Ill. can use the permit fees
2. I live in a rual area very close to a federal prison
3. I live in Texas 5 months a year where the carry laws are very liberal (Ill. could take a lesson from Texas)
4. For the life of me I can’t understand why Ill. dosn’t want it’s citizens to be able to protect themselves from the criminals that pray upon us.
5.last but not least ( guns don’t kill people, people kill people)
We need a ccw law, that way criminals will think twice before they run up on you,knowing that ILL. has one!
I love this! It’s just like that saying that if guns kill people then pencills cause misspelled words!
That’s a great saying! I think I’ll incorporate that one.
Illinois is anti-conceal carry? No suprise coming from a state that has the highest fuel prices in the nation. Quinn must be for that!
If the Governor veto’s the law, the state legislature should simple de-fund his personal security detail. That way, he can feel as helpless as the rest of us while helping to balance our state budget.
Once again Chicago politics rule the entire state. Our Governor’s reasons for his promise to veto are completely unfounded. It appears he wants a state that is attractive to all elements of the criminal society. Hang out the WELOME sign to all the bad guys.
i surely dont need to have the greedy goverment officials telling me that i dont need a gun to defend my home family and self when the cops dont ever get there in time to do it for me i am writing this as a person that has been chargred with unlawful use which the state droped after opening their eyes and seeing that i was defending myself and without the gun i was carring illeagly i wouldnt be here now so with or with out their permision i carry all the time i figure its best to be judged by twelve (12) than to be carried by eight (8) my forefathers put it in black and white on the constition who needs any other polition to say its ok
Hopefully the senator who sponswered the carry bill will have the super majority of votes he needs to keep Quinn from being able to veto,He needs 71 votes,and thinks he has enough,I think they are voting today,5/5/11.
I am a LAW abiding citizen with a carry n conceal out of stata license.So when i travel i CARRY.NOT IN ILLINOIS where i live I CANT!I have been a victim of street violence 2 times!ALMOST DIED TWICE!BecauseCRIMINALS ARE NOT LAW ABIDING CITIZENS!The illinois officials DONT live on my streets so they dont need personal protection,they have POLICE around ALL THE TIME!WE DESERVE THE RIGHT TO PROTECT OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILIES!!!!
I find it truely amazing that these guys that are surrounded 24/7 by armed guards that we pay for think that the rest of us should be left unprotected.
to luke , I am a prison guard and i can tell you that off duty prison guards can not carry conceiled weapons in illinois. you are misinformed. i agree that illinois should pass conceil & carry law. many inmates have told me that they would think twice about robbing someone if they thought they had a gun. only law abiding citizens can get a permit. criminals already have guns, and they know the law protects them.
I left Illinois for this very reason. Chicago and Rockford are filled with out of control street gangs that are heavily armed. The police I knew had no problem with a law abiding citizen carrying a gun. For the most part the crime is out of control as the left wing liberals push socialism and pander to the “poor unfortunate” criminals.
Ironic, isn’t it?
49, now. Illinois: WAKE UP! ! !