Illinois Rep. Brandon Phelps, a Democrat from downstate Harrisburg, speaks to fellow lawmakers while on the House floor during session in Springfield. Illinois lawmakers in the House are pushing forward with concealed carry gun legislation. Phelps is the sponsor of the bill. A December federal court order that called the ban unconstitutional set a June 9 deadline for rectifying the problem. Illinois is the nation's lone holdout on concealed carry and with a ruling by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in hand, the NRA and gun owners were riding high at the end of 2012. Five months later and less than 30 days from the deadline, answers continue to prove elusive.

Associated Press

State Sen. Kwame Raoul, a Chicago Democrat, ask questions during a Senate Executive Committee hearing at the Capitol in Springfield. There are fewer than 30 days to go before a judicial deadline for developing a framework allowing public weapons possession in Illinois. A December federal court order calling the ban unconstitutional set a June 9 deadline for rectifying the problem. Raoul is refining an earlier concealed-carry proposal, which drew gun-owners' derision last month, and discussions with Senate Democrats could yield consensus ready for a vote in the next few days, a spokeswoman said.

Associated Press