Judge Tosses Bid for Hastened Concealed Carry; Advocates Will Appeal

Gun-rights advocates who failed to sway a federal judge into allowing Illinois residents the opportunity to immediately carry concealed firearms in public are appealing that ruling.

Attorneys for Mary Shepard and the Illinois State Rifle Association on Monday asked the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit of Appeals to intervene.

U.S. District Judge William Stiehl on Friday tossed the lawsuit filed by Shepard and the rifle group, siding with the state in ruling it is moot.
 
Shepard and the rifle association had argued it was unconstitutional to make people wait months for the permit process to be outlined under the new concealed carry law that lawmakers passed July 9.

The state successfully countered that challenging the new law would require Shepard to file a new lawsuit.