New law will allow Missourians to carry guns in Illinois

Missourians with concealed-carry gun permits in their home state will now be able to carry in Illinois under a law finalized Tuesday, but the law states they will have to apply first.

Illinois lawmakers and Gov. Pat Quinn struggled during the last month to agree on legislation that would allow the carrying of concealed weapons, and the ban finally was lifted Tuesday.

The state was court-ordered to lift the ban, the last one in the country, after it was found unconstitutional.

Some amendments may later be proposed, but as the law stands, those who are 21 or older and have passed a background check, completed 16 hours of firearms safety training and possess a valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card may obtain a concealed-carry permit for $150.

Under the ban, concealed-carry permits from any state were not recognized in Illinois. But according to Union County Sheriff David Livesay, many prosecutors chose to honor the court ruling that deemed the ban unconstitutional and chose not to prosecute valid permit holders even before Tuesday's final legislative approval.

Now that the law has changed, Livesay said the state is "in limbo."

"Right now, I don't know exactly what will be required as to obtaining a permit and what role the sheriffs will play," he said. "We're waiting for the rule book to be changed."

Livesay said he hopes to receive new guidelines quickly, as officials are expecting to see more than 300,000 applicants for concealed-carry permits in

Illinois.

People from other states who have concealed-carry permits also may have to apply to carry in Illinois. Missouri law automatically recognizes permits from other states.

But Natalie Bauer, communications director for Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, said in an email that under the new law, it fell to the Illinois State Police to "establish a process for nonresidents to apply to carry a concealed gun in Illinois."

The law also says applications from nonresidents that reside in "any state or territory of the United States with laws related to firearm ownership, possession, and carrying, that are substantially similar to the requirements to obtain a license under this Act," will be allowed.

Livesay said he has been a longtime advocate of concealed-carry and does not expect to see any major problems once it's allowed in the state.

"I believe the citizens have that right," he said. "I don't think there will be any rash of crimes after it's allowed."

For neighboring Missouri, the new law will have little effect. According to Nanci Gonder, spokeswoman for Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster, the state will recognize valid Illinois permits.

"The law is automatic," she said. "Missouri law already recognizes all valid permits from any state."

Capt. Ruth Ann Dickerson of the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department said if someone from out of state were pulled over with a concealed weapon, that person would be asked to show a valid permit.

"We would check it pretty much like we would check a license," she said. "As long as it's valid and they're not causing any problems, everything's fine."

srinehart@semissourian.com

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