The Illinois House completed eight hours of debate on the contentious issue of public gun possession by adopting a comprehensive plan long pushed by advocates.
The 67-48 vote in favor of Rep. Brandon Phelps's amendment doesn't mean concealed-carry got House approval. The Harrisburg Democrat's plan was one of ten amendments added to a bill allowing concealed gun carrying a federal court says Illinois must adopt by June.
The lengthy discussion was part of a seldom-used process set up by House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Critics, mostly Republicans, say debating multiple amendments led to a confusing hodge-podge of conflicting provisions.
"We tried to figure out what Madigan was doing," Republican State Rep. Mike Bost says. "We stopped at 14 (amendments). We actually took amendment 14 and then jumped to 27 because we were dragging out the debate from the Republican side of the aisle."
Bost says they were stretching the debate out because many of the amendments were too restrictive.
"If all of the 17 that hadn't been passed (were passed), other than a field, maybe, in Washington County, there would be nowhere to carry if you had a concealed carry permit."
It was unclear when the House would take a final vote on the issue.
(Information from the Associated Press was used in this article. All rights reserved.)
(Information from the Associated Press was used in this article. All rights reserved.)
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