Stateline Midwest ~ January 2013

Rep. Kelly Cassidy doesn’t have to go far from her office in Springfield to understand the deep division over gun control and gun owner rights in Illinois.

Her suite mate inside the state Capitol is not only a fellow legislator, but a fellow member of the House Democratic caucus. She represents a part of Chicago, he a part of downstate Illinois.

They respect one another and can find agreement on many issues, but not when it comes to what to do about the state’s gun laws.

“We live in two different worlds,” she says.

The U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 16 approved the first gun-related effort since the shooting of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in January. House Resolution 822 would create a national standard for the right to carry concealed firearms, effectively allowing nonresidents of a state to carry a concealed weapon as long as the person possesses a concealed weapons permit from any of the other 49 states.

Later this year, Wisconsin will become the 49th U.S. state that allows citizens to carry concealed weapons.  Now, 10 of the 11 Midwestern states are concealed-carry, "shall issue" states.

Later this year, Wisconsin will become the 49th U.S. state that allows citizens to carry concealed weapons.  Now, 10 of the 11 Midwestern states are concealed-carry, "shall issue" states.

A controversial new law in Florida has prompted doctors to go to court to overturn what they call a gag on any discussion of gun ownership with patients.

The Miami Herald reports that U.S. District Court Judge Marcia Cooke is expected to rule later this summer following a hearing on July 13.

“What I need to determine, is the legislation itself an unconstitutional burden on speech?” Cooke said during a Miami federal court hearing. “What can’t you do now that you could do before?”

A new "shall issue" law has taken effect in Iowa, while a court ruling in Ohio blocks cities from establishing local gun-control laws