Tazewell County is joining two other Illinois counties in allowing concealed carry. That’s as the state waits for Governor Pat Quinn to decide what he’ll do with legislation that would allow people to carry concealed guns.
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeal ordered Illinois to allow concealed carry. Tazewell County State’s Attorney Stu Umholtz released a statement Friday saying he won’t prosecute residents who carry a firearm outside of their home. He says he recognizes the federal appeals court has extended the state’s deadline to have a concealed carry law, but he says he can’t ignore its ruling that “blanket prohibition” on concealed carry is unconstitutional.
“If I were to charge someone with a violation of the law that’s been ruled to be unconstitutional, I would place both myself and my county taxpayers in jeopardy of paying damages in a civil suit.”
Umholtz says anyone wanting to carry a concealed firearm still has to have a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification card. The State’s Attorneys in Madison and Randolph Counties have also said they will not prosecute residents who have guns in public.