US House Committee Rejects Concealed Carry Amendment

A Congressional House Committee rejected an amendment on Monday night to give gun owners more rights in Illinois.

The proposal, pushed by five Republican congressmen in the state, would have updated legislation to allow concealed carry permit holders to bring their handguns across state lines.

As it stands now, the bill wouldn't apply to areas that bar concealed carry, like Illinois. Urbana Republican Tim Johnson, who is one of the backers of the amendment, addressed the House Rules Committee on Monday.

"This just puts us in the situation the same as any other state, and saves a lot of confusion and provides for uniform laws," Johnson said during a House Rules committee hearing. "I think it's extraordinarily important."

Cosponsors of the amendment included Illinois Republican Congressmen Bobby Schilling, Aaron Schock, Randy Hultgren and Adam Kinzinger. Even though the amendment didn't make it as part of the larger concealed carry legislation, Johnson said he plans to introduce the measure again.

Meanwhile, opponents of the bill say the concealed carry legislation would interfere with more stringent gun regulations that exist in other states. If the Republican-controlled House passes the legislation, it will likely face an uphill battle in the Senate where Democrats hold the majority.