Concealed carry licenses in the mail

By Jamey Dunn 

Approved Illinois residents will soon be able to start carrying guns in public.

The Illinois State Police announced today that 5,000 concealed carry licenses have been approved. They have begun printing and mailing licenses as of today. The state police say residents could begin receiving licenses as soon as Monday.

Applicants are required to pass background checks and complete a 16-hour safety course, including a live-fire exercise. Licenses cost $150 and are good for five years. After five years, licensees must reapply and take a three-hour training course. So far, the state police have received more than 50,000 applications since they began taking them in early January. Supporters of the law say they are happy to see that the police are issuing licenses even earlier than expected. “The state police have done a fantastic job. ... We thought we’d be three months before we’d get a permit out. So they’re going to get these permits out a little early,” said Benton Democratic Sen. Gary Forby, who was a sponsor of the concealed carry legislation.

Law enforcement officials can object to applications, and so far the state police have objected to about 800. So far, none of those objections have been appealed. The state police plan to deny about 300 applications after they go through one final review process to ensure that the applicants are indeed ineligible.

Harrisburg Democratic Rep. Brandon Phelps, who also sponsored the law, urged gun control advocates and gun rights advocates to hold off on pushing for changes to the concealed carry law until it has been effect long enough to evaluate. “Let’s take a deep breath. Let’s try not to beat up this bill,” he said. “Let’s see how it works.”

State police say they need more funding for concealed carry

By Meredith Colias 

The state police say they will need additional money and staff to oversee a new concealed carry law in Illinois.

In December, the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals invalidated an Illinois law banning residents from carrying concealed guns. The law was the only one in the nation. The court gave the state 180 days to pass new legislation. In addition to their other duties, the state police approve Firearm Owner Identification [FOID] applications for prospective gun owners. Under legislation currently being considered, the state police would also issue concealed carry permits. Under the proposals, applicants would pay fees for their permits, creating a funding source for administering the program.

Hiram Grau, director of the Illinois State Police, estimates his agency will need at least 60 staff members and a minimal $25 million in additional funding to devote to administering a concealed carry system in the state. “While our numbers and personnel are dwindling, our responsibilities are growing,” Grau said during an Illinois House hearing today.

Rep. John Cavaletto, a Salem Republican, said he wanted to help the state police as much as possible, but money is tight under the current budget situation. “When you're dealing with X amount of dollars, X amount of dollars is all you've got,” he said.

The Illinois State Police is asking for nearly $383.6 million for Fiscal Year 2014 operations. The number is down slightly from the $383.8 million the state police estimates it will spend in FY 2013. Grau said he planned on instituting three new cadet classes. He estimates seven to nine cadets from a class of more than 40 would be used to police some high crime areas in cities such as Chicago and East St. Louis.

State police consolidation would have upfront costs

By Ashley Griffin

The Illinois State Police are weighing a consolidation that could result in the layoffs of dozens of communications personnel.

Under Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget plan, the state police would consolidate its 20 communications centers down to four centers. In a committee hearing Wednesday afternoon, state police Director Hiram Grau testified that the agency now has the technology for such a reduction. “I should tell you that the Illinois state troopers have been considering [consolidation] since 1995. Back then, the technology wasn’t there, but today, the technology is,” Grau said. “Based on the technology that’s available, we need to make sound decisions and operate as fiscally responsibly as we can. So we looked at the technology, and we think we can consolidate from 20 communications centers down to four. We’re asking for the approval and the money to make that happen.”

But the move will not result in immediate savings. Grau said the consolidation of the centers could cost the state nearly $13 million in capital funding upfront but would save the state money in the long run. The plan would come with up to 40 layoffs among the current 150 communications personnel but would not leave any districts without communications services. Although some layoffs may occur in communications departments, Grau said that two new cadet classes to train state troopers would be added later this year and another one is anticipated for early 2013. They would be funded from general revenue funds.

However, some argued that it is essential to have communication staff who know the area they cover. “Some of the things our telecommunicators say why we should have 20 dispatch call centers are that they know their district, they know the terrain, they often take calls from people driving through the area on the interstate who don’t know where they are. Being familiar with the area, telecommunicators can help them identify their location, so the police can respond,” said John Coleman, who said he spoke on behalf of the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees.

Coleman said communications workers sometimes assist callers who need help if a state trooper is not immediately available. “With the short staffing, there are not always officers available in the headquarters when people come to look for help, so its usually the telecommunicators when there is no officer there who can keep the headquarters open and get a quick response from someone who is in trouble.”

But lawmakers said the state’s current budget situation puts such consolidations on the table. “I don’t think individual troopers probably are wanting to see their local radio centers closed. However, in these economic times, I think everyone can understand the efficiencies of doing that,” said Rep. Jerry Mitchell, a Republican from Sterling.