WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderBoone County Board Votes on Resolution to Support Concealed Carry

Boone County Board Votes on Resolution to Support Concealed Carry

By Inggrid Yonata

BELVIDERE -  Boone county is the latest to take up the issue of concealed carry.   Board members approved a symbolic resolution in support of it.   Just like in Winnebago County, the issue of concealed carry has come up several times in Boone County.   On Wednesday, it joins 77 other counties that have stated their support for the house bill on concealed carry in Springfield.

The Boone County Board Members hope the vote they made will have an effect at the state level.   Head of the County's Public Safety Committee, Dana LaPier said,  "This is merely a symbolic resolution to support that."  Two board members are opposed to supporting concealed carry.  

Boone County Board Chairwoman Catherine Ward said, "Some of them believe that [they] are in favor of [owning] a weapon, but they're not in favor of a concealed weapon. That was the reason for some of them. And also our sheriff has said he has some concerns about how this would be handled and to make sure we do it in the right way."

Chairman Ward said the issue is no doubt a tough one for many people but she believes passing the concealed carry will give families a way to defend themselves against criminals.  "If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. And I think that's probably a very accurate statement." she said.

The Public Safety Committee plans to talk about whether to pass more than just a symbolic resolution in a meeting after Labor Day.