Rockford Sun

An Illinois Senate GOP primary contender is calling out Illinois Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford's stance on concealed carry rights after a carjacking.

The Democratic Senate leader and her husband were victims of a carjacking on Dec. 21. She said her husband’s concealed carry license saved them as he fired on the attackers after the couple was separated, giving her cover to run away.

Lightford, who in 2013 voted against the state’s concealed carry act, praised the law.

“This is a typical response from another political super-elite who thinks it is just fine for her husband to conceal carry, but not for others to have the ability to protect themselves,” Eli Nicolosi, a Winnebago County Board Member, told the Rockford Sun.

He said Lightford and others who are anti-gun are controlled by something else.

“It shows that public policy in Springfield is more about emotion and the constricts of party politics rather than what is good for the people. Illinois was the last state to allow conceal and carry in the United States,” he said.  

The state has been the source of grief for those applying for concealed carry licenses. Last year, waits were reported to be over a year.

“For all intents and purposes, we really have no FOID Law. The law states that Firearms Owners Identification cards are to be issued within 30 days of application. The State of Illinois has been constantly denying the rights of individuals the ability to protect themselves,”  Nicolosi said.

While the FOID wait has been cut, Nicolosi and others suggest repealing the law altogether to allow for all law-abiding citizens to conceal carry.

“I would love to see that happen and honor our 2nd Amendment rights, but with a Democrat supermajority in the Legislature and Democratic governor in place, it will be very tough to push through," he said. "In the City of Chicago, they have focused on guns, but prosecutors and judges in Cook County have been way too lenient with gun offenders who do not have a FOID card, even with felons who aren't even allowed to possess a weapon. Unfortunately, many of these offenders have been released early or get slapped on the wrist, and by the time you read about them again, they have shot someone. 

“The state needs to look into the FOID processing issue - fix it or remove it," he said.

Nicolosi will face off in the Republican primary versus Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford). 

“I absolutely support the 2nd Amendment and the rights of our citizens to protect themselves.  I will be vigilant in my opposition to any proposed laws that attempt to constrain those rights,” Nicolosi said.  

On his website, Syverson has also defended the rights of law-abiding gun owners.