Tryon Votes to Override Quinn Amendatory Veto on Concealed Carry Bill

State Representative Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake) joined House colleagues from both sides of the aisle on Tuesday in overriding Governor Pat Quinn’s amendatory veto to House Bill 183, the concealed carry bill. The action made Illinois the last state in the United States to make concealed carry the law of the land.

“This was a very carefully-negotiated bill that showed true compromise between Second Amendment supporters and gun control advocates,” said Tryon. “The bill we passed in May included the most important items from both sides of the gun issue and created a framework where law-abiding Illinoisans could legally carry while certain areas like schools, university campuses, government buildings and parks remained gun-free zones.”

The 77-31 override vote took place on the final day of a window imposed by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which determined in December of 2012 that Illinois’ ban on concealed carry is unconstitutional.

Members of the House and Senate on Tuesday also considered House Bill 1453, a concealed carry trailer bill which would have made the following changes to HB183:

• HB 183 includes a requirement that a licensee must notify a law enforcement officer, upon request, that he or she is in possession of a firearm during any investigative or traffic stop. The trailer bill states the disclosure must occur immediately.
• HB 183 includes new mental health reporting provisions, including a requirement that law enforcement and school officials who find that a person poses a clear and present danger to him or herself or others shall report that finding to the Department of Human Services. The trailer bill would provide that law enforcement and school officials shall report directly to the State Police, rather than to DHS.
• HB 183 provides that a prohibited area must post signs indicating that carrying is prohibited. The trailer bill removes the signage requirement, except for (1) commercial private property designated by the owner as a prohibited area; and (2) an establishment deriving more than 50% of its gross receipts from the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on premises.

The amendment failed, and the concealed carry bill will stand approved as it was originally approved in May. “I didn’t have a problem with the first two elements of the amendment, but felt that dropping the signage restriction would have placed law-abiding gun owners at risk for accidentally breaking the law,” said Tryon. “The list of prohibited locations is lengthy and it is not something the average citizen could be expected to memorize.”