Illinois is the last remaining state in the nation that does not allow for some form of concealed carry. On December 11, the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals declared unconstitutional the state's restrictions on carrying a firearm in public. It gave the Illinois General Assembly a 180-day deadline, or until June 9, to change the law.

 

“The negotiations I lead will respect firearm owners’ constitutional protections as interpreted by the Supreme Court and lower courts, and it will acknowledge the fact that there are many law-abiding Illinois gun owners who legitimately wish to use guns for sport and self-protection,” Sen. Raoul said in a statement. “At the same time, we will also acknowledge the alarming prevalence of gun violence and the need to keep guns out of the hands of those most likely to use them for harm.”