Please read the below Chicago Tribune article and pass to OTHERS in the community.
By Monique Garcia
It was a history-making year at the Illinois Capitol, with lawmakers legalizing gay marriage, allowing medical marijuana for those with chronic illnesses, permitting concealed handguns and approving major changes to the government worker pension system.
But those high-profile measures represent just a handful of new laws to be put on the books, with more than 200 rules and regulations set to take effect Jan. 1. The laws will affect everything from how students are taught sex education in public schools to who can use a tanning bed to how dogs can be legally tethered outside.
"Obviously, pension reform was the big issue and I think nothing else even came close to that in terms of the importance to the people of this state," said Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno of Lemont. "But I think a lot of the legislation we undertook really reflects the concerns of the day. They are all issues that across the country are very timely right now."
Carrying concealed firearms
After a hard-fought battle, Illinois residents can begin applying for permits to carry concealed guns in public starting Jan. 5. Legislators estimate there will be up to 400,000 applicants.
Illinois is the last state in the nation to approve public possession of a concealed weapon. However, once permits are issued, around 90 days after the application, individuals face another challenge: figuring out where it's legal to carry a firearm and where having a gun could land them in jail.
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