Concealed carry referendums pass | News

ROCK ISLAND, Ill.--Voters in Rock Island, Mercer, Warren and Henry counties came out on Tuesday in overwhelming support of the conceal and carry advisory referendum question proposed to them.

In the last U.S. state where carrying concealed weapons is illegal, more than two-thirds of voters in nine counties voted in favor of allowing residents to carry concealed weapons.

Out of 62,242 votes cast in Rock Island County, 35,715 voters, or 57 percent supported the proposition.

In Mercer County, 6,373 voters, or 78 percent, supported conceal and carry, and 1,789 were against it.

In Henry County, 16,526 voters, or 73 percent, supported the advisory referendum, and 5,974 voted against it.

The measure was supported in Warren County by a count of 73 percent to 27 percent.

Gun proponents have argued in favor of concealed carry for personal protection. Opponents felt that guns would not solve anything.

“More guns on the streets will not make us safer,” argues Colleen Daley of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence.

“There’s absolutely no reason to have guns on the streets. The fact is if you have a gun, you will use a gun. If you don’t have a gun, you won’t use a gun.”