Mother of slain NIU student: Cops should decide permits
The Associated Press February 19, 2013 4:36PM
Updated: March 21, 2013 6:37AM
SPRINGFIELD — The mother of a Carpentersville student who was one of the five victims killed in shootings at Northern Illinois University five years ago is asking lawmakers to let local police decide who gets permits to carry concealed weapons.
Mary Kay Mace told the Illinois House Judiciary committee Tuesday that local law enforcement officials know their citizens and should be able to deny gun permits even if background checks don’t show any problems.
Mace is the mother of 19-year-old Ryanne Mace, one of five students who were fatally shot on the DeKalb campus in February 2008.
A federal court has given Illinois until June to enact a concealed carry law as a Second Amendment right.
The committee will hear more testimony Friday about guns in Chicago.
