Chicago group rallies for stricter gun control laws

Dozens of people rallied in front of the Thompson Center in downtown Chicago last month to ask the Illinois Attorney General to fight a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning the state’s concealed gun ban.

The rally was sponsored by the Stop Concealed Carry Coalition, a group fighting for stricter gun laws.

Lee Goodman, a coalition member, appealed directly to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

“Lisa Madigan has a job to do, and she is the only one who can do it,” Goodman said. “She took an oath to uphold the laws of Illinois.”

The people at the rally held up posters reading, “APPEAL CONCEALED CARRY.”

“If we think we have a problem in Chicago now, imagine what it would be like if concealed carry were to pass,” Goodman said.

The U.S. Supreme Court in Moore v. Madigan ruled in December that it was unconstitutional to ban the right to carry a concealed weapon. Illinois lawmakers have until June 8to legalize concealed carry of firearms.

“I saw a lot of dead bodies,” said Garrett Evans who was shot in each of his legs. “People I know got shot and killed.”

Lori Kyling, a lawyer, said guns ruin someone’s life in a split second.

“You can’t reverse your decision or rethink about it once you’ve shot someone,” she said.

Both Evans and Kyling attended the rally in support of renewing the ban.

Illinois is the only state left that does not allow people to carry concealed weapons. Even with that said people still think that the ban should take place.

“The ban is necessary,” Kyling said. “Even if 49 of states have it, we should still ban it.”

Not everyone agreed.

The “crime rate is high, so I believe that we should carry guns around for self-defense purposes,” said Johan Barrientos, 20, a consolidation energy representative, who was at a nearby McDonald’s eating lunch.

Barrientos said he would feel safer with a gun and thinks that younger people such as himself should have a self-defense weapon at hand.

His colleague, Shaya Clark, 18, said people should be able to have guns.

“I feel that if you’re in danger and you call 911 they might take to long to respond having a gun can potentially save your life at a moments notice,” he said.

Madeline Reynolds and Glenn Minnis Contributed to this story.