Democrat House Speaker Michael Madigan announced today he will hold public hearings about how to deal with a federal court ruling that allows law-abiding Illinoisans to carry weapons.
“In light of events in recent months in Illinois and in other parts of the country, it’s appropriate and necessary that we give a full vetting to proposed state legislation on this matter,” Madigan said in a statement. “These hearings will provide an opportunity for gun-safety advocates, gun-rights supporters and members of the law enforcement community to offer their views and argue their cases to legislators and the people of Illinois.”
The hearings will be before a House judiciary panel Feb. 19 at the Capitol and Feb. 22 at the Michael A. Bilandic Building in downtown Chicago.
The December ruling by a federal appeals court in Chicago gave lawmakers 180 days to pull together a concealed weapons law rather than striking down the state’s ban outright. Attorney General Lisa Madigan, the speaker’s daughter, is asking for a rehearing by the entire U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
