1 Front Volume 140 No. 21
Friday, July 19, 2013
The Tonica News
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Legislature passes concealed carry law New law overrides Quinn’s line-item vetoes By Goldie Currie Shaw Media Services
Editor’s note: This is first in a two-part series on the new concealed carry legislation. HENNEPIN – On July 9, Illinois became the last state in the nation to allow a gun owner to carry concealed weapons, after the Illinois General Assembly voted to override Gov. Pat Quinn’s amendatory veto of House Bill 183. The Senate vote was 41 yeas to 17 nays with Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) voting in favor of the override. The House vote was 77 yeas to 31 nays with Rep.
Frank Mautino (D-Spring Valley) also voting in favor of the override. In a statement on the concealed carry override, Quinn expressed his disappointment. “Despite my objections, members of the General Assembly surrendered to the National Rifle Association in the waning days of session and passed a flawed bill that allows people to carry guns in establishments that serve alcohol and allows people to carry unlimited guns and high-capacity ammunition magazine,” he said. After Quinn took amendatory veto on the bill last week, he released revisions to what
he called a “flawed bill that jeopardized public safety.” “We will keep fighting for these critical provisions that will save lives and establish a better, more responsible concealed carry law in Illinois,” Quinn said July 9.
What does this mean now? In order to take part in the new concealed carry law, a person must be 21 years old, have a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification Card and be issued a license by the Illinois State Police. The State Police have been given six months to make applications for concealed
carry licenses and must issue a license within three months of receiving a valid application. To be granted a license, a person must complete firearms training. Stipulations on the ability to carry a concealed weapon are: A person cannot have a background of being convicted of a misdemeanor involving a threat or violence within five years of applying for a license; have a record of two or more DUIs or drug violations; cannot be a subject of a pending arrest warrant; and cannot have a record of court-ordered treatment for alcoholism, alcohol detoxification or drug treatment within the five years of applying for the license.
An applicant must also pay $150 for a new license or a renewal of a license. According to Section 65 of the bill, some areas will automatically be prohibited of a concealed carry. A licensee cannot carry on several properties including school property grounds or child care facilities; government grounds; before a circuit court, appellate court, Supreme Court or building under control of the Supreme Court; in jails and prisons; hospitals and mental health facilities; on public buses and trains; at a public playground; in public libraries; amusement parks; or property grounds owned by a college or university.
Speed limit increase? By Ken Schroeder news@tonicanews.com
OTTAWA — Get ready to push the accelerator a little further. The Illinois General Assembly has passed Senate Bill 2356 to Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk, which would increase speed limits on Illinois’ rural freeways and certain highways from 65 miles per hour to 70 miles per hour. According to the Illinois General Assembly website, the bill would provide the maximum
speed limit outside an urban district for any vehicle to be 70 miles per hour on any interstate highway, as well as on all or part of other highways designated by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The affected highways would need to have at least four lanes of traffic and have a separation between the roadways moving in opposite directions. The proposed law does have an opt-out ordinance option for urban counties.
Not everyone thinks this is a good idea. “I don’t agree with it, and as a company, we don’t agree with it,” said Martin Wiesbrock of Wiesbrock Trucking in Leonore. “Higher speeds are just harder on brakes; they’re harder on equipment; and there’s more chances of an accident or problem at higher speeds. The governors on our trucks are set at 62 mph, and they’re going to stay there.”
See Speed limit Page 2
Quinn signs new voting bill for 17-year-olds By Ken Schroeder news@tonicanews.com
CHICAGO – Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation earlier this month that will increase access to democracy across Illinois by giving 17-yearolds the ability to vote in primary elections if they are 18 years old by the general election date. “Our democracy is strongest when more voters raise their voices at the ballot box,” Quinn said. “This new law will encourage young adults to take on their civic duties as soon as posVol. 140 No. 21 One Section - 8 Pages
sible and make their voices heard in all Illinois elections.” House Bill 226 amends the Election Code by revising the qualifications of voters. The bill allows a 17-year-old the ability to vote during a primary election if he or she will be 18 years old on the date of the immediately following general election. According to FairVote, 20 other states permit 17-year-olds to vote in the primary election. LaSalle County Clerk JoAnne Carretto has been watching this bill.
Carretto was concerned of possible stipulations or issues that would cause her office to have to print different ballots or handle the registration of the 17-year-olds differently, but that turns out not to be the case. “It only applies in even year elections,” she said. “Coming up March 18 of 2014, any person who is 17 who will be 18 by Nov. 4 of 2014 can be eligible to register and vote at that primary.”
See Voting Page 2
Tonica News photo/Ken Schroeder
Focusing on 4-H Claire Stillwell of the Bailey Creek Kids 4H group waits to show her mini lops senior doe during the LaSalle County 4H Fair in Ottawa. See more photos from the 4-H fair on Page 8.
Inside Out & about Images from the LaSalle County 4-H Fair
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