Concealed carry effort in Illinois

Today I came across this posting on www.passconcealcarry.org from back in July. How strange that I didn't receive this information from the Illinois State Rifle Association or the McHenry County Right to Carry Assn. or the NRA, all three of which I am a member.

"Jul 20, 2012 8:39 p.m.   (FEATURED STORY)
  Months before this massacre in Colorado, a legislative task force began studying whether Illinois should allow residents to carry loaded handguns. FOX Chicago News has exclusive details of the draft report prepared for the task force. Sources said it concludes that licensing some residents to carry loaded guns would not increase violence.  A poll done for the legislative task force found overwhelming support for concealed carry in suburban Cook County. In Chicago, 54 percent back the right to pack.
  State Rep. La Shawn Ford, who represents a west side neighborhood with more than its share of crime, is also chairman of a 13-member General Assembly task force that is studying what would happen in Chicago if concealed carry was legalized.  "The report shows it will not be a dramatic impact," Ford said. Still, Ford said he'd vote against a pending concealed carry proposal unless it's amended to ban the sort of high-capacity, rapid fire weapons used in the latest massacre in Colorado. 
Rep. Brandon Phelps (D-Marion), the bill's chief sponsor told FOX Chicago News he may call it for a vote on August 17. "They've tried everything else there. I think that city officials in Chicago and in Cook County should try this," Phelps said.  The National Rifle Association and other gun rights groups hope federal courts will soon force Illinois to let residents carry loaded firearms. It's the only state without any sort of concealed carry licensing procedure."

The effort to get a concealed-carry law in Illinois lacks grass-roots organization. The NRA has a lobbyist. ISRA has a lobbyist or two, one of whom might also be the NRA lobbyist.

But a lobbyist isn't going to persuade the Cook County Democrats who are blocking concealed-carry for the entire state.

What is needed is Voice from the neighborhoods of the Cook County Democratic legislators who are blocking concealed carry.

Rep. Brandon Phelps (D-118th District (Harrisburg, Ill.)) is doing a great job holding HB 0148 together and ready for a vote. Rep. Jack Franks (D-63rd District (Woodstock, Ill.) signed on as a co-sponsor of Phelps' bill and voted for passage in May 2011.

But about a dozen Cook County Democrats (maybe more, since the General Election earlier this month) need their arms twisted, and that twisting can come only from the constituents in their districts. But we, outside those districts, can help by educating those residents about concealed carry and getting them to contact their elected representatives.

Onesies and twosies won't do it. Effort and Organization are needed. Feet on the ground in those districts are needed. Even in the War Zone in Chicago. Is there a place where we can rent body armor to go and knock on some doors?