Illinois lawmakers face a quickly approaching deadline to ratify new concealed carry legislation before the state’s concealed carry ban, which was enacted earlier this year, expires in June.

Illinois is the only state without a concealed carry law.

The federal court gave Illinois 180 days to draft legislation concerning a concealed carry law.

If a law is not passed by June 10, anyone will be allowed to carry a concealed weapon virtually anywhere in Illinois.

Following recent shootings, notably in Aurora, Colo., and Newtown, Conn., Gov. Pat Quinn said he is ready to enact new legislation concerning concealed carry.

“(We have to) listen to what people are saying all over our state, all over our country,” Quinn said at the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence rally in Springfield on Thursday. “It’s time for gun safety legislation.”

Last week, House Bill 0148, a bill on concealed carry, was not passed by the Illinois House. 

Christopher Dayton, Illinois student senator and senior in LAS, said this bill was offered and sponsored by Republicans and would have few restrictions, so everyone eligible to own a gun could carry a concealed weapon.

Dayton said the more important bill that is still being considered is House Bill 1155, which is a Democratic bill sponsored by Speaker Mike Madigan, D-22. Dayton also said he thinks it has the highest probability of being passed.

House Bill 1155 contains more restrictions concerning where someone can carry a weapon, but Dayton said it is not as specific as some would prefer. For example, under this bill, a location such as Newman Residence Hall, 604 E. Armory Ave., would be seen as an apartment in the eyes of the law. If this law is passed as is, anyone eligible to own a gun would be legally able to bring a firearm into the dorm. The same detail is needed when considering fraternity and sorority housing.

“You’re introducing firearms into a very volatile area, where we know for a fact alcohol consumption is very high, emotional tensions run high, class stresses and possibly the use of illegal narcotics,” Dayton said. “While I fully believe in the individual’s right to own and carry a concealed weapon, we (need to) prevent it from being done in an atmosphere that could pose harm to others.”

One of the facets being debated is the idea of limiting high-capacity magazines that can be bought. This would limit the amount of bullets that can be fired at one time, which would limit the number of victims in a shooting.

“If (the concealed carry policy) is enacted into law, then we’ll react to it,” said Skip Frost, deputy chief of University Police. “I can’t see it changing the policy on campus where guns and weapons basically are prohibited (unless) you have the written authority of the chief of police.”

Frost said that local police have been in contact with other large public universities, like those in Wisconsin, about new policies when the concealed carry law is ratified. 

Officials at the University of Wisconsin-Madison posted signs clarifying that students cannot carry weapons near locations like the student union and other common areas.

“It’s as simple as if they raised the speed limit to 45 mph instead of 35 mph on campus,” Frost said. “Would it be safer? Probably not, with all the skateboarders and bicycles and those walking around campus, that would be a bad move.”

Before the June 10 deadline, if no concealed carry law is passed, every eligible citizen of Illinois can carry a firearm to any location, whether it is a rifle, pistol or other weapon.

Dayton said he thinks House Bill 1155’s lack of specifity needs to be changed. The bill could be rewritten in order to provide a framework that would allow certain locations to determine whether they would allow concealed carry, he said.

“What will best fit for downstate Illinois will not fit for Chicago. What best fits for the University of Illinois will not necessarily match up with what will be best for Western or Southern or any other colleges in this state,” he said. “We need to make sure that every single area can have their own governing principle on (concealed carry).”

It is still unclear whether Illinois will ratify a legislation before June 10, but Quinn said new legislation is necessary.

“We’re tired of going to funerals,” Quinn said. “We’re going to do something.”

Brittany can be reached at [email protected].

Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the state’s concealed carry ban ends June 10.  Beth Chapman, assistant to Rep. Brandon Phelps who is sponsoring the concealed-carry firearms bill, said a June date hasn’t been officially confirmed. The Daily Illini regrets the error.