Debate in the Legislature? Imagine that!

Yesterday, the Illinois House of Representatives had something extremely unusual, a free and open debate on a topic of great interest, including votes on individual components of possible legislation.   It was about gun control and concealed carry of firearms, and was caused by a December Federal Court decision that invalidated the State's existing prohibition on concealed carry of firearms.  I am not a fan of Democratic Speaker of the House Madigan and can't know what his motivation was for the unusual debate yesterday, but it is a welcome breath of fresh air.  

The Republican Party's collective head exploded because it, in their words, was all a publicity stunt.  The Republican minority complained that it was a stunt designed to force legislators to reveal their positions to the public.   Imagine that??

""This is a political stunt," said Rep. Dennis Reboletti, R-Elmhurst, a former prosecutor. "It demeans this process."

A stunt?   Legislators debating a matter of great import and trying to determine, in public what provisions might have enough support to become law?   A stunt?  Apparently being a former prosecutor is not great preparation for being a legislator.

The legislators debating an issue, as opposed to backroom discussions that lead to a final bill to vote up or down at the last minute, is the way legislative deliberation is supposed to work.  The fact that is was so unusual is a damning commentary on how our State government normally operates (I hesitate to use the term "functions").   I can only hope that our esteemed State lawmakers liked the experience and demand similar behavior on subsequent issues.

NRA lobbyists and their sympathizers complained that the list of possible exemptions to allowing concealed carry was so long, there would hardly be any place left to carry a concealed weapon in Illinois.   Pardon me while I shed a tear.  If Illinois was the only State that did not allow concealed carry of firearms until the Federal Court ruled that could not continue, what's wrong with Illinois being the only State with a very long list of places that concealed carry is not allowed?   Nothing.  Schools, churches, mass transit, malls, stadiums, movie theaters, grocery stores?  What the NRA just does not understand is that a lot of Americans do NOT feel safer knowing their neighbors may be carrying a deadly firearm in his/her pocket.   They feel LESS safe knowing that the public, including unknowable numbers of hot-heads and unbalanced personalities, are armed to the teeth.

Democratic lawmakers voted in favor of prohibiting concealed weapons in places like casinos, libraries, hospitals, mental health centers, child care facilities, stadiums and amusement parks.

"When they get done with this, you won't be able to carry anywhere," said Rep. David Reis, R-Willow Hill, expressing a frustration among many gun rights advocates as they watched restrictions get piled on.

Mr. Reis, maybe that's exactly the point.