Amendatory Veto Expected In Illinois (Updated)

Gov. Pat Quinn (D-IL) is expected to issue an amendatory veto of the Illinois carry bill HB 183. Looking at the LiveStream of the event which starts at 11am CDT, it is packed with little kids holding “Moms Demand Action” posters and other anti-gun propaganda.

On the IllinoisCarry.com forum, Todd Vandermyde has posted his expectations of what the amendatory veto will contain. They include:

The Governor is rumored to be making several changes to the bill which would include:

• · Limiting individuals to carrying a single handgun with a single magazine and no more than 10 rounds of ammo.
• · Changing the definition to where the handgun must be completely concealed as opposed to concealed or mostly concealed
• · Banning carry in any place that serves alcohol except private clubs and residence. This would nullify the restaurant carry provisions of the bill.
• · Inverting the no carry posting to make carry permissible only in places that post it is OK to carry a concealed firearm
• · Allowing employers to ban firearms on their property and negate the safe harbor provisions.
• · Remove the ability of individuals to get out of their vehicle and store their handguns in the trunk of their vehicle

Look for the Legislature to move to override the veto when they come back the 8th or 9th.

 Rep. Brandon Phelps (D-Harrisburg) expects the veto to be overridden.

State Rep. Brandon Phelps, a Harrisburg Democrat, said the governor’s office told him Quinn will sign an amended bill Tuesday — seven days before a July 9 deadline to legalize carry of weapons after a federal appeals court found Illinois’ last-in-the-nation ban unconstitutional.

Phelps said he was not told what will be changed but said he likely would try to override any amendments to the hard-won compromise.

 I’ll have more as it is announced.

UPDATE:  As expected, Quinn issued an amendatory veto of  HB 183. He noted that he still objects to the decision of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Shepard v. Madigan and Moore v. Madigan.

Quinn said that HB 183 has “serious flaws” and that he is proposing some “commonsense” revisions under his power to issue an amendatory veto. They include most of what Todd Vandermyde had said would be coming.

They are in order from my notes:

1. Ban on carry in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol
2. The bill’s limits on home rule regarding “assault weapons” (sic) would be removed. corrected
3. Changes the posting requirement from requiring business owners to post if carry is banned to one in which they would post if allowed.
4. Employers can ban firearms in employee cars in their parking lots.
5. A concealed carry permit holder would be restricted to one firearms with one 10-round (maximum) magazine.
6. Would mandate that the Illinois State Police have more access to mental health records to prevent those who with a “clear and present danger” of having a permit.
7. Absolute concealment is required.
8. The Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board would be subject to both the Open Meetings Act and the state’s Freedom of Information Act.
9. Would require immediate disclosure to law enforcement if you are carrying concealed.

Quinn blamed the “errors” in the bill on the “hurried” process which was the fault of the National Rifle Association.

Quinn’s letter to the legislature announcing his amendatory veto is found here.

He announced a new state funded website called Keep Illinois Safe which will have more information on his veto. The website is now live and it can be found here.

The rest of the news conference consists of gun prohibitionists prattling on about “gun violence” (sic) and I have stopped watching.

UPDATE II: The full text of Quinn’s amendatory veto including the actual changes is now on the General Assembly’s website. It is located here. The bill has now been placed on the House calendar.

UPDATE III: Reaction from the Democrats in the Illinois State Senate on the Illinois Senate Democrats webpage to the amendatory veto is uniformly critical of Quinn. I am actually surprised at this uniformity but note that Cook County senators have not yet been heard from.

Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) “I am disappointed—but not surprised—Governor Quinn waited so long to veto concealed carry while he tried to score political points. Even though he has put lawmakers in a difficult position, I am optimistic that we will be able to override his veto and finally get a law on the books.”

Senator Bill Haine (D-Alton) “I would hope that we quickly get this matter before the General Assembly and have an opportunity to override the veto, allowing the State Police to begin the conceal carry process for trained, law-abiding citizens.”

Senator Mike Jacobs (D-Moline) “I recently signed a letter with my colleagues asking Governor Pat Quinn to act on House Bill 183. I am disappointed in the governor’s action to veto the bipartisan concealed-carry measure passed by the General Assembly in May. We need a concealed-carry law that applies to all gun owners equally, regardless of where you live.”

Senator John Sullivan (D-Rushville) “I’m disappointed but not surprised with the governor’s actions today on the concealed carry legislation. He has ignored the will of the people, the courts and the General Assembly. I will work strenuously to see that the veto is overridden so Illinois, even though last to do so, will finally allow concealed carry.”

 UPDATE IV: Rep. Brandon Phelps (D-Harrisburg) has filed a motion in the House to override Gov. Quinn’s amendatory veto.