League of Women Voters of Illinois^®

August 20, 2009

ISSUE: Gun Violence Prevention

ACTION NEEDED: Please use the following letter to send to Governor Quinn urging him to veto HB 182, a bill that would allow a person to carry concealed handguns into another person's home.
The LWVIL sent a letter to the Governor requesting him to veto HB 182 as a follow-up to a Will of Convention in June of this year.  Now we are asking you to send your own letter.

To email Gov. Quinn, use contact form at http://www.illinois.gov/gov/contactthegovernor.cfm

To send a letter by regular mail, use either one of the following addresses:

Springfield Office of the Governor 207 State House Springfield, IL 62706 Phone: 217-782-0244 TTY: 888-261-3336

Or Chicago Office of the Governor James R. Thompson Center 100 W. Randolph, 16-100 Chicago, IL 60601 Phone: 312-814-2121

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear Governor Quinn,

I urge you to veto HB 182. This bill would change Illinois law governing the concealed carrying of handguns and threaten public safety. Since 1961, Illinois has prohibited the carrying of concealed firearms outside of an individual's land, abode, or fixed place of business. HB 182 will allow a person to carry a concealed handgun into another person's home.

HB 182 would allow individuals to carry weapons, either openly or concealed, on the land or in the legal dwelling of another person as an "invitee" with that person's "permission." This bill does not establish how permission would officially be granted and does not clarify whether an individual is required to disclose to the inviter that he or she is carrying a firearm. Furthermore, law enforcement would have no discretion in determining who is fit to carry concealed weapons onto other people's property and would not know who is carrying them.

Bottom line - this is a bad law. Guns in the home increase the chances of homicide, suicide and accidents.

Again, I urge you to veto HB 182. This dangerous bill threatens public safety.

Sincerely,