Illinois lawmakers thought they were in the clear after meeting a federal court's deadline to pass a concealed carry law by Tuesday. But the Illinois State Rifle Association says that's not good enough.
The Rifle Association believes lawmakers did not meet their deadline because the state's ban on carrying guns outside the home remains in effect.
While concealed carry is officially the law in Illinois, it could be mid-March before a gun owner would actually and legally be able to carry their weapon in public. The new law gives state police six months to setup a permit system, then there's a 90-day application process.
The Rifle Association says that delay continues to deprive lawful gun owners of their constitutional rights.
Newly filed motions ask the U.S. District Court to allow people to carry by next Tuesday, July 16.
"Plaintiffs are not asking for an unfettered right to carry firearms in public," the court filings say.
But they want to be able to take them everywhere the new law would eventually allow them to go anyway.
The Rifle Association's action comes in response to Attorney General Lisa Madigan yesterday filing a motion of her own seeking to dismiss the court case that led to the federal court's order. Madigan says because Illinois now has a concealed carry law the case is moot.
