Illinois conceal carry: Local cops can deny license without evidence or record

Illinois Review reports:

This holiday week, the Illinois State Police finally released the implementation regulations for the state's concealed carry law. In addition to a thorough background check and review of each applicant by the Department of Human Services and other agencies, Illinois State Police will make the information available to all local law enforcement agencies - giving any officer a chance to object to a particular citizen's application.

“What we’re looking for from those agencies is non-arrest data, things that would be in their internal record systems that may illustrate why the person should not carry a firearm,” said Colonel Marc Maton of the Illinois State Police.

Republican state Rep. Dwight Kay said he’s concerned the additional review would cast a suspicious light on an applicant without hard evidence or record of an arrest.

“Why is this needed if, indeed, there are numerous background checks done at various levels?” said Kay.

A local official's objection to a conceal carry license will be sent to the Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board - which makes the decision to deny an application. It’s a panel made up of seven people appointed by Governor Quinn, who has consistently oppossed the right to carry a concealed weapon.