A few months ago the US Court of Appeals for the 7th
Circuit reviewed two cases that were similar in their merits. One was a case by a party named Moore and the other by a party named Shepard. In
essence the argument was concerning the complete ban by the State of Illinois with
regard to the carrying of ready-to-use firearms for self defense by the average
citizen. Frequently people have thought
it was about concealed carry however the issues were far deeper than manner or
method of carry.
This decision really has nothing to do with concealed carry. It has everything to do with removing a
complete ban of the right to “bear” arms "ready-to-use" in the public
way by the private citizen for defensive or other lawful purposes. Presently in Illinois there is a complete ban
on a fundamental right to bear arms
that are loaded and ready-to-use in the public way. The complete ban has been struck down and left to
the legislature to decide in what “reasonable” manner they will “allow” the
“bearing” or carrying of firearms ready-to-use.
There may also be some restriction allowed for so called “sensitive”
places such as schools. I repeat the
decision made NO DISTINCTION as to whether the form of carry was open or
concealed that I could see.
