Rowes say right to carry vote likely to pass soon

Mike and Valinda Rowe, local Second Amendment activists, report that a vote may be imminent on HB148, the family and personal protection bill which recognizes the right to carry a firearm for personal protection.

Having just returned from a five day blitz of right to carry town hall meetings in the Chicago/Cook County area, and keeping in close communication with the bill sponsors, the Rowes expect a vote in the House of Representatives within the next two weeks.

"We don't need everyone to vote for the bill," said Valinda Rowe. "Rep. Brandon Phelps of Harrisburg, and chief sponsor of the bill, believes he is only a couple votes short of the super majority of 71 needed to pass the bill.

"We have been targeting those districts which have representatives who appear to be on the fence about this issue. It was a grueling schedule but we have good folks from Second Amendment Sisters and the ISRA joining us at the town hall meetings. We work so well together it's like they have become like family."

The Rowes said they have been hearing good things from the State Capitol in Springfield since their return. They are very optimistic at this time that the bill can pass the House and things appear to be shaping up in the Senate as well. If the bill get this through both houses in May, the right to carry lobby will be ready to go for the override of the governor's promised veto in the fall veto session.

"Nothing is a slam dunk at this point, but things are looking very good for our side right now," Valinda added.

Lawsuits challenging the state's ban on carrying a firearm for personal protection are making their way through the federal judicial system. Both the Second Amendment Foundation case on behalf of local plaintiff Peggy Fechter and IllinoisCarry.com (Moore vs. Madigan) and the NRA lawsuit on behalf of Mary Shepard from Anna (Shepard vs.` Madigan) were both dismissed in federal district court and have been appealed to the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, the court which handed out a stinging ruling against the city of Chicago's ban on gun ranges in the Ezell vs. Chicago lawsuit.

The oral arguments for the Shephard and Moore case will be heard Friday, June 8, and a ruling can be expected sometime in August.

"When Valinda and I started pushing the right to carry issue several years ago, we had legislators literally laugh at us and say 'never in Illinois.' Well, they aren't laughing now," Mike Rowe said. "It has been a long hard battle and we are ready for a victory. We just hope it comes this year."

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Rowes say right to carry vote likely to pass soon