Illinois House overrides Quinn’s gun veto

[DonP]

4. General Assembly overrides governor's veto of concealed carry bill

Quinn's veto over ridden in both houses; House 77 Yea/31 Nay; Senate 41 Yea/17 Nay.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-illinois-concealed-carry,0,4356935.story

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois today became the last state in the country to legalize the concealed carry of guns after both the House and Senate rejected Gov. Pat Quinn’s attempt to rewrite the compromise bill.

The action by the Democratic General Assembly was a major repudiation of the actions of the state’s Democratic governor. Supporters of the compromise legislation accused Quinn of engaging in re-election politics rather than negotiating with lawmakers when the bill was crafted. Illinois has been the only state that bans so-called concealed carry — but faced a court-mandated deadline of today to enact regulations after a federal appellate court ruled the state's prohibition unconstitutional.

Quinn, trying to build grassroots support for his rewrite over the last few days, alienated many lawmakers — including gun-control advocates who were part of the negotiations — by accusing the General Assembly of caving to the interests of the National Rifle Association. Sponsoring Rep. Brandon Phelps, a Harrisburg Democrat, accused Quinn of using the governor's amendatory veto powers to tighten the restrictions as a move aimed at bolstering political support for re-election among city and suburban voters who support gun-control.

Many lawmakers expressed their anger at Quinn as they voted today.

“I think he needs to learn how to count,” state Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, said of Quinn. “Anyone who doesn’t understand that we’re going to run this bill over his objections doesn’t understand government.”