Court: Out-Of-State Residents Can Bring Guns Into Illinois
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CBS/WBBM) -- A controversial state Supreme Court ruling says people who can legally carry guns in other states can bring their firearms into Illinois.
The court ruled Thursday in favor of an Indiana man who was arrested with a gun in the closed backseat arm rest of his car.
Leonard Holmes was arrested in May 2005. He had a permit to carry a concealed firearm in Indiana, but was charged with felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon because he lacked a Firearm Owners Identification card and did not have the gun in a case.
The Supreme Court ruling says a license is not required to transport a gun into Illinois.
A bill that would allow Illinois residents to carry concealed weapons is also pending in the state House of Representatives.
Last month, the House Agriculture Committee passed a concealed carry bill by a vote of 12-2. But the committee is dominated by downstate pro-gun rights lawmakers, and the bill must pass the full state General Assembly.
Last year, long-standing handgun bans in Chicago and Oak Park were rendered unenforceable by the U.S. Supreme Court. The City Council quickly passed the new ordinance to replace the gun ban, which ordinance limits gun purchases to one per month, bans gun shops in city limits and prohibits gun owners from stepping outside their homes, even onto their porches or garages.
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