Voters get say 'concealed carry' question

EUREKA -- Voters in 14 Illinois counties will have a chance next month to let Springfield know what they think about citizens' right to carry concealed firearms.

The referendum will ask whether the state should enact so-called "concealed-carry" legislation.

The referendum is advisory only. Voters will not be deciding whether individual counties should adopt those rights, but whether state legislators should bring the issue to a vote.

Advocates of the legislation say such a law is long overdue in Illinois, which is one of only two states that haven't passed some form of the statute.