Court Won’t Reconsider Illinois Concealed Carry Ruling

A federal appeals court on Friday rejected Illinois' request to reconsider a ruling that found the state's concealed carry weapons ban is unconstitutional.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan asked the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to consider the case after a three-judge panel in December gave lawmakers until June 8 to legalize the concealed carry of firearms.

John Boch is the president of the Champaign-based group, Guns Save Life. Boch said Chicago’s strict gun rules and heightened violence are a testament that additional gun regulations don’t work.

“It’s not rocket science," he said. "Gun control costs lives. It increases violent crimes. It makes our families less safe, and allowing good people to carry firearms lawfully reduces violent crimes and makes our families safer.”

It’s unclear if Attorney General Lisa Madigan will appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.

A statement from her office said it is critical that the legislature continue to work to enact a concealed carry law that will protect public safety.

"Although the 7th Circuit rarely grants rehearing en banc, it was important to ask the full court to reconsider its opinion," according to the statement.

Illinois and the District of Columbia are currently the only places in the U-S that don’t allow people to be armed in public.

Meanwhile, members of the Illinois House Judiciary committee met in Chicago on Friday for the second hearing this week on crafting a concealed carry law.