Elmhurst, IL —

In light of an upcoming Supreme Court decision that might overturn the Chicago handgun ban, a gun-rights group stopped in Elmhurst last week to tell residents that allowing concealed carry of firearms in Illinois would be a proper next step.

Illinois Carry, a southern Illinois-based offshoot of the Illinois State Rifle Association that since 2004 has advocated for statewide permission of concealed carry of firearms, hosted about 300 guests March 4 at the Diplomat West Banquet Halls.

“We just want to get people informed,” Illinois Carry member Greg Powell of Hanover Park said. “We want to get some elected officials that will fight for our rights and want some good Second Amendment people down in Springfield.”

For Powell, it’s a matter of protection and reason, as Illinois is one of two states that do not allow some form of concealed carry.

“My biggest problem is I got a son who’s a junior in high school, he’s going to college here in another year and a half, and I don’t want to send him to a school in Illinois because he’s unprotected,” Powell said. “All the hoodlums, gang bangers, they just carry guns anyway. Why can’t we protect ourselves too?”

Powell said the McDonald v. Chicago Supreme Court case is the catalyst for activity in the Chicago area. IllinoisCarry will appear next at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles in April.

“This gun case is going to be one of the biggest deals in the United States,” Powell said. “I think the Chicago politicians are really running scared.”

IllinoisCarry participated with about 6,000 gun rights activists Wednesday for Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day in Springfield.

State Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-24th District, of Hinsdale introduced legislation in 1995 that would have allowed concealed carry with background check safeguards, but the measure failed in the Senate by two votes. However, he said the attitude toward concealed carry since has changed.

“Public opinion in the last decade or so has clearly shifted to an understanding of the need for self-defense and the experience is that crime goes down,” Dillard said. “We all benefit from concealed carry because criminals are always apprehensive that someone might be armed … concealed (carry) is a deterrent to crime but most importantly, it is a basic constitutional right.”

Despite support, Dillard said it’s not likely a concealed carry bill will pass through the state Senate.

“There’s nothing pending in the senate, and as long as you have Chicago machine Democrats in charge of both legislative chambers and Pat Quinn, the likelihood of having concealed carry in Illinois is rough,” he said.

Thom Mannard, executive director of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, disagrees.

“It’s one thing for people to say they have a right to have a gun in their home, we don’t disagree with that,” Mannard said. “But when you bring (guns) out on the street that becomes the community’s business. … I got a brother-in-law in Elmhurst, it’s not too dangerous in Elmhurst. If I went down his block, most people wouldn’t feel too comfortable with me carrying a 9mm with a 30-round magazine.”

Mannard disputes Dillard’s claims that there is growing support for concealed carry and that such a law reduces crime.

“It wasn’t because of a groundswell of support in any of these states,” Mannard said. “… Most of the people who get the permits are men who live in rural or suburban areas, it’s not like they’re major targets of crime. … There’s no proof that concealed carry has had a negative impact or positive impact on crime.”

Mannard also said suburban Republicans often join Chicago Democrats in their opposition to concealed carry.

“If they had the votes to pass the concealed carry bill last year, they would have called the bill in the House,” Mannard said. “People in the suburbs know generally they’re more than safe and don’t see more guns, particularly guns on the street, (improving) the safety of our suburbs.”

A state House bill that would allow state police to issue concealed carry permits to 21-year-olds who meet certain requirements passed a House committee this week.

SPRINGFIELD — A proposal pushed by state Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, was approved by the House Agriculture Committee on an 11-1 vote. Chicago-area lawmakers are likely to push back if it reaches the House floor.