Posted: Nov. 6, 2012 9:16 pm Updated: Nov. 20, 2012 10:15 pm

By STEVE EIGHINGER

Herald-Whig Staff Writer



Glenn Sanders believes a message was sent loud and clear to Illinois politicians when Adams County voters overwhelmingly approved a measure asking voters if they want the state to allow residents to carry concealed weapons.



Sanders, president of the Mississippi Valley Hunters and Fishermen's Association, now hopes those politicians begin to listen to their constituents.



"They need to know (the majority of) citizens support this issue," Sanders, a retired Illinois Conservation Police sergeant, said.



Such a measure is non-binding, since no local law can override state law. However, Sanders believes with 78 percent of almost 30,000 votes cast favoring concealed carry, that kind of result should carry an exclamation point.



"That is even higher than I expected," Sanders said. "I was looking for around 65 percent to 70 percent."



There were 22,994 votes in favor of concealed carry and 6,681 against.



Illinois is the only state to have an all-out ban on concealed weapons. Adams was one of nine mostly rural counties — out of 102 counties in the state — that had such a measure on the ballot.

Advocates of concealed carry are hoping to build pressure on legislators to support the issue. The Illinois House last year voted down a bill that would have legalized concealed weapons, but the vote was close. Gun-rights advocates believe the ballot measures are a good way to pressure lawmakers to try again.



"It's not a matter of keeping the issue front of the voters, it's a matter of keeping it front of the politicians," Sanders said. "This should send a message to Springfield."



The fight promises to be an uphill battle since Gov. Pat Quinn is pushing for even tighter gun-control laws and vows to veto any would-be legalization of concealed carry.



This is not be the first time that Adams County has shown support for concealed carry. The Adams County Board approved a resolution in support of concealed carry legislation in May 2011. It was forwarded to Quinn, House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton.



— seighinger@whig.com/221-3377