As state lawmakers approach the deadline to produce a new law allowing concealed carry, a new poll shows Illinoisans' support for gun control is strong — and surprisingly consistent across the political and geographical spectrum.
Perspectives on gun control tend to fall along the dividing lines of downstate voters versus Chicago metro area and suburban residents.
The Sun-Times, however, reports a recent poll commissioned by the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence reveals that by a ratio of 4-to-1, voters were more likely to elect legislative candidates who backed strong gun-control measures.
A lobbyist for the National Rifle Association in Illinois was dubious of the findings from the poll — which included votes from gun owners.
With roughly eight weeks until the state hits the concealed carry law deadline, the Tribune notes passing any sort of measure tightening or loosening gun restrictions has been a historically tough slog in the Illinois legislature.
Lawmakers have been scrambling to determine specifics for the new law, including a "may/shall" issue delineating who is allowed to carry concealed weapons, where concealed weapons may be carried, what kind of training would be required of carriers — and what to do about Chicago's stalwart resistance to the change.
In a separate report, the paper breaks down the odds for the various measures under consideration, including the likelihood of a state-wide assault weapons ban and penalties on failing to report guns as lost or stolen.
While Illinois remained the last state in the nation to have a ban on concealed carry, WBEZ reports gun rights advocates have long-wielded a secret weapon of their own to help win — or at least maintain status quo — the gun regulation battle.
Wednesday morning, a bipartisan collection of U.S. senators announced a compromise on a measure to expand background checks for gun buyers, a move that aligns with many voters in the recent Illinois poll.
More than 94 percent of both Republicans and Democrats expressed support for criminal background checks on every gun sale.
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