July 31, 2013: We previously reported that a motion had been filed in Illinois Federal court challenging Illinois’ new concealed carry law on the basis that the 270-day period set by the statute for establishing the permitting program extended Illinois’ unconstitutional prohibition on concealed carry. The motion was filed as a part of the original lawsuit which resulted in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals finding that Illinois’ complete ban on concealed carry was unconstitutional. On Friday, U.S. District Judge William Stiehl denied the motion and dismissed the case finding that the original lawsuit was moot and plaintiffs needed to file a new lawsuit in order to challenge the new law. The plaintiffs have already appealed Judge Stiehl’s ruling and the case now heads back to the Seventh Circuit.
Under Connecticut’s new gun laws, citizens must comply with all of the new permitting requirements by the end of the year. In order to meet that deadline, the bill required the new permits to be available no later than August 1 and earlier this week the state released the new permits. For more information on the Connecticut legislation click here. For more information on the permits and how to obtain them click here.
In North Carolina, Governor Pat McCrory wasted no time with the state’s new firearms law. Just two business days after being presented with the bill, the Governor signed the bill into law. The law becomes effective October 1, 2013. For more information, click here.