Office Shooting Has Some Calling For More Weapons
Mike Parker, CBS Chicago
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Advocates Renew Effort For Concealed Gun Law
(CBS) CHICAGO A gunman's rampage at a downtown law firm last week has gun advocates renewing an old push for a change in Illinois law.
As CBS 2's Mike Parker reports, some people say more weapons will actually reduce crime.
A gun rights group says the victims of Friday's tragic Loop shooting rampage might still be alive if law abiding citizens were allowed to carry concealed weapons. Richard Pearson of the Illinois State Rifle Association believes armed office workers, might have stopped it.
"If a person had concealed carry, a lot of people might be around that would be near enough to prevent such a thing," Pearson said.
Pearson says the three men who died Friday were shot like "fish in a barrel."
"Which means the fish don't have a chance, because those workers were absolutely defenseless," he said.
Pearson's group proposes an Illinois concealed carry law that would allow people to carry guns after they undergo firearms training, and pass an FBI background check. Then they would get a state license to be armed at all times.
The Illinois group says with more guns, crime would go down. It has happened, they say, in other states.
But a member of the gun control group, The Brady Campaign, disagrees.
"In all those places where we've seen this, we've seen concealed carry permit holders that have become criminals because they act on impulse," said Jennifer Bishop.
"We do not need anyone else carrying guns whether they're licensed or not," added state Sen. Mattie Hunter.
A concealed carry bill could come before the state legislature next year.
Will Governor Blagojevich work against it, or even veto such a bill if it passes? The governor declined to talk about it Tuesday.
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