School Shootings Add New Context to Ill. Gun Debate

" Will the Newtown, CT school shootings have an effect on Illinois leaders' approach to gun legislation?

" Gov. Pat Quinn may have provided the first clue in his response to Friday's shootings that took the lives of 28 people, mostly children. Here's a portion of a statement Quinn's office released Friday afternoon:

"It is the foremost duty of government to protect public safety, especially the safety of children and students. As governor and as a parent, I intend to spearhead passage of strict laws that will protect our children and the people of Illinois from gun violence."

The shootings occurred the same week the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Illinois' ban on concealed carry weapons.

Lawmakers have 180 days to come up with a law legalizing the concealed carry of weapons.

Quinn said earlier this week that he would leave the decision whether to appeal the ruling up to Attorney General Lisa Madigan, but is in favor of instituting "reasonable restrictions," such as denying guns to people with mental illness and a complete ban on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines "

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