Du Quoin offices will have 'No Weapons' stickers in windows in coming months

Whether you have a concealed carry gun permit or not, Illinois law says you can't carry a concealed weapon into places like the Du Quoin Public Library, city hall or onto local school property and college campuses.

In fact, the law says you can't carry a concealed weapon into a bar or restaurant where more than 51 percent of the business' income is generated from alcohol sales.

"We're had one training meeting with David Searby (assistant state's attorney)," said Du Quoin Chief of Police Jamie Ellermeyer. Searby is local law enforcement's authority on the subject. "We will have others."

Ellermeyer said that concealed weapons will be banned from all city-owned offices and facilities. As gun owners take their concealed carry courses and Illinois State Police begin issuing permits under the new law, his department will ramp up education efforts.

Du Quoin District 300 Supt. Dr. Gary Kelly said "no weapons" signage conforming to state police regulations will be posted at building entrances with larger signs posted at the entrances to parking areas. He said the district has a zero tolerance weapons policies. He adds that makes it unlawful for a football fan to have a concealed weapon under the seat of his or her car or truck in the high school parking lot during a Du Quoin football game.

"The chief and I have had this conversation and he concurs," said Dr. Kelly.

Searby told the newspaper Friday that businesses like Walmart, restaurants, professional offices and retail stores will decide themselves if they will allow concealed weapons on their property. Illinois law demands, however, that if you are not going to allow weapons in your business the entrance must have the Illinois State Police "no weapons" decal or sign posted.

The Illinois State Police concealed carry website has a link to a sign like the one above that you can download and print: . https://ccl4illinois.com/ccw/Public/Signage.aspx

Searby said with respect to homeowners, you can opt not to allow concealed weapons at your place of residence and you DO NOT need a sign on your door. You just need to convey that message to family members, friends and visitors.

Searby said that, generally, concealed weapons are banned on college and junior college campus properties. He said the major exception is if you are attending a firearms training session. Then, the gun must be cased and unloaded while you transport the weapon from your vehicle to the site of the training.

The Illinois concealed carry law was passed in July and allows anyone with a Illinois Firearm Owner's Identification card - already required to purchase guns or ammunition here - to get a concealed-carry permit for $150, subject to various restrictions.

The Land of Lincoln had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the new era of concealed-carry and only did it due to a federal court order that forced legislators to craft a law allowing the practice.

Starting Jan. 5, people began applying online and, assuming they pass the background checks, undergo 16 hours of training, provide fingerprints and photos and fork over the required fees, the first ones should be issued by the middle of next month.

Roughly 11,000 applications were in the works in the first few days.

The rules are uniform across the state; residents of Cairo in the far south will have the same rights and restrictions as those who live in Chicago. No one is allowed to pack heat in schools, courts, prisons, casinos, public parks or any restaurant that gets more than half its revenue from the sale of alcohol. Sports stadiums, libraries, amusement parks and zoos are also no-go zones.

Once a complete application is submitted, the Illinois State Police have 90 days to issue, or deny, a permit. They are expecting a flood of them, between 300,000 and 400,000 in the first year alone, according to State Police estimates.

While they have to administer the new rules, it is clear that some members of the Illinois law enforcement community are not entirely happy with the concept.

Officers say it can potentially increase the danger when police respond to domestic disturbances or traffic stops but noted that officers are already trained to assume "there is a weapon in every encounter they have."