More than 6,400 Illinois residents sign petition to Gov. Quinn and General Assembly to stop passage of concealed carry in veto session

CHICAGO (November 23, 2012)--Community leaders, including Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin and Rev. Dr. Michael Pfleger, will announce the creation of the Stop Concealed Carry Coalition at an 11am press conference at the Chicago Temple on Monday. 

The Coalition, which includes Chicago and suburban community and faith-based groups and political leaders, formed to prevent the passage of any bill in the legislative veto session that begins November 27, or at any point in the future, that would legalize concealed carry of guns in Illinois. 

Illinois is the only state that does not allow people to carry concealed weapons. The National Rifle Association and other gun-industry groups are lobbying the Illinois legislature to pass a concealed carry bill as soon as possible. 

The Stop Concealed Carry Coalition has already gathered more than 6,400 signatures for a petition opposing concealed carry. The petition, directed at Gov. Pat Quinn and members of the Illinois General Assembly, was created on the website SignOn.org and states:

"We, the undersigned, oppose any 'Concealed Carry' legislation in Illinois that would allow people to carry concealed weapons in public, on their persons, in cars, buses, and trains, in houses of worship, schools, libraries, stores, shopping malls, movie theaters, restaurants, offices, and businesses, or anywhere other than in their own homes."

To read the petition, please visit: http://signon.org/sign/stop-concealed-carry.

WHO: Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin; Rev. Dr. Michael  L. Pfleger, Senior Pastor at St. Sabina Church; Rev. Norris Jackson, Jr., St. Paul A.M.E. Church; Mary Kay Mace, mother of Ryanne Mace (youngest victim in the 2008 mass shooting at Northern Illinois University); Rabbi Bruce Elder, Congregation Hakafa; other community, religious and political leaders.

WHAT: Press conference to launch Stop Concealed Carry Coalition, alliance of community leaders and groups to fight passage of concealed carry law in Springfield during legislative veto session that begins this week, and in the future.

WHERE: Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington St., Chicago, IL.

WHEN: Monday, Nov. 26, 11am.

For more information about the Stop Concealed Carry Coalition, or to schedule an interview, please contact Joanna Klonsky at 312-307-0840.