The week in Springfield:

House Agriculture and Conservation Committee Chairman Brandon Phelps asked us to holds our bills as he had a full agenda and needed to move other controversial issues out. We’ll make a run at things there next week.

HB-6123 by Osterman the “gang” was not called in the House Criminal Committee, it could be called next week (Thursday).

Two other Osterman bills are posted for hearing in the House Executive Committee, Wednesday at 9:00 AM; HB-5480 no private transfers of handguns. HB-5849 redefines what a case is for transporting a firearm. HB-5495 One handgun per month is also up .

In the Senate SB-3632 and SB-3709 Kotowski have been assigned to the Criminal Law Committee. They are posted for next week. We’ll see if they get called or not.

In the Senate SB-3510 would allow states attorney’s to carry a firearm. The bill has been assigned to the Public Health Committee. There are a few more gun bills out there, but these are the ones we need to keep our eyes on for the moment.

I would expect that these bills are heard in Committee this week as things are progressing and in light of the McDonald oral arguments, we have seen the City trying to ramp up their PR war against the court case. Since most of these will take place a day after orals, it would appear that they still want to be seen as relevant.

Focus on your legislators, and call them regularly. We can have a  good year and stop these bad bills while still making progress on reform issues for the right to keep and bear arms.