Citizens Suing Illinois Over Secretive Gun Panel
CHICAGO, IL – 194 Illinois residents are suing the state after being denied concealed carry permits by the state police in a review process shrouded in secrecy.
The state police insist that they are allowed to use a closed-door application process for reviewing concealed carry applicants and that the police are not required to inform applicants as to why they were denied permits unless the applicant obtains a court order compelling the answer.
When an application is denied, the state police send a letter saying that the review board “has determined by a preponderance of evidence” that the applicant poses a threat. Rejected applicants are referred to their local circuit courts in order to appeal the decision.
Even state representative Brandon Phelps, one of the concealed carry legislation’s sponsors, acknowledged in an interview with the Chicago Tribune that there are issues with the process. “Right now, they are too secretive, and that’s not the way we wanted it,” said Phelps. “We wanted them to be an extra layer of security to make sure people who don’t deserve a concealed carry license don’t get one.”
The panel reviewing applications allow for objections from local law enforcement authorities, and it should be no surprise that the majority of objections came Cook County sheriff Tom Dart, whose jurisdiction includes Chicago. 82 people were shot in Chicago over the holiday weekend, including an incident ended by a man with a legal concealed carry permit.
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