Abstract
The Conceal and Carry law refers to the law that allows citizens who legally own weaponry to carry them outside the confines of their homes. It comes amid the Illinois state ban of conceal and carry law. The courts of appeal ruled that the ban was unconstitutional and instructed the legislature to provide for the law. It is the popular belief among the citizenry that conceal and carry would be able to address crime problems in Illinois or to the least mitigate the occurrences and hence effectively reduce the levels of gun violence and other related crimes. The law also comes to make sense of the permission to own guns. Otherwise confining the owned guns to the homes does not address the intended purpose and ends up defeating the concept of the right to self defense which is granted by the Constitution. In the long run, the duty to provide security remains with the state and it is up to them to ensure public safety.
Conceal and carry law allows citizens to carry weaponry especially guns outside the home, that is, in public places. The law finally got the approval of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeal after the Illinois State alleged banned it. It is the contention of this paper that the Conceal and Carry law is beneficial and shall act towards the reduction of crime in the State of Illinois.
With the increase in the rate of gun violence, it is popular opinion that conceal and carry shall be effective in containing and mitigating the levels of gun violence. It was the position of the National Rifles Association that the Second Amendment included the right to poses guns outside the homes. Indeed, it has also been posited that permitting the ownership of guns and then going to the extent of restricting the use within homes defeats the whole concept. Enough evidence also exists that gun violence continues to shore up despite the ban of the carry and conceal law. In fact, it is expected that the numbers of victims of gun violence would reduce with the reintroduction of the carry and conceal law.
According to the National Institute of Justice, the numbers of gun violence has been on the increase. Analysed statistics show that in 2005, 11346 persons were killed in gun violence while another 477040 were hurt in similar cases of gun violence within the same year. The succeeding year, 2006, the statistics indicate that the guns accounted for 68% of murders, 42 % of robbery offences and 22% of aggravated assaults on the citizenry. This has continued to increase as we over the years. In fact, attesting to the gun violence Vice President Joe Biden has in the last few months commissioned to lead the reform on gun violence laws. However, what Biden and his group are offering is the tightening of the gun laws. This could also include a ban on conceal and carry law. It is essential to appreciate that while gun violence is on the rampage and needs fixing, the statistics from the Justice Bureau indicate that on the household property crimes and burglary, a continued escalation of firearm theft. Between 2005 and 2010 alone, the statistics indicate that 172040 firearms were stolen in burglaries and another 60320 firearms stolen in other household crimes. This could only portend worse times for the citizenry. As the citizen is convinced to keep his gun at home, the offenders continue to equip themselves with ammunition. This trend needs to be reversed and Illinois being among the contributors to the national statistics should assume responsibility and take steps to defend its citizenry. In that light, self defense need to be enhanced through a responsible citizenry. One can then charge that conceal and carry law if implemented with responsibility should lead to the reduction of crime in Illinois. In addition, the knowledge by potential offenders that the citizenry could be loaded with weaponry could serve to avert their potential criminal activity. An offender will be stopped by the thought that their target could be armed. The duty to defend the citizenry, protect life and ensure stability remains with the state. However, this does not disengage the public from indulging in activities deliberately designed for their own protection. The citizenry must be allowed to play a fundamental role in this regard.
The approach in conceal and carry law looks at the expediency and urgency that often faces the citizens in situations that put their life in danger. It is accepted by all that no single citizen should take the law in his hands. However, at times situations occur where the police are far and for expediency and urgency action needs to be taken immediately. Such situations have characterised the national landscape both in old and recent history. Just a few months ago, a student descended in a school in Michigan killing a number of children. The president, a native of Illinois, in his national address on the event was seen fighting back tears. This illustrates how deep gun violence is a problem in the nation. The onus lies on both the Federal government and the state governments to contain the situation and convince Americans that security would be assured at any time in any place. This process is slow, bureaucratic and painful for a citizenry that has seen worse times. In that regard, Illinois Courts has set the right path by standing by conceal and carry law. Other states and the federal government need to follow suit and develop a set of legal, political and economic infrastructure that would contain gun violence and improve the security situation at the domestic level.
In conclusion, conceal and carry law would serve to increase the citizenry feeling as to public safety. It will also serve to warn the offenders of possible reaction with fire from the public upon unprecedented attack. It is hoped that the citizenry will use the law responsibly for the common good of the public.
References
Langton , L. (2012, November). Firearms Stolen during Household Burglaries and Other Property Crimes, 2005–2010. Bureau of Justice Statistics.
National Institute of Justice. (2010, October 26). Gun Violence. Retrieved March 19, 2013, from National Institute of Justice: http://www.nij.gov/topics/crime/gun-violence/welcome.htm
Neil , M. (2012). 7th Circuit Strikes Illinois Concealed-Carry Ban, Gives State 180 Days to Revise Gun Law. ABA Journal.
Neil, M. (2013). Appellate decision striking Illinois concealed-carry law won’t be reviewed by full 7th Circuit. ABA Journal .
