How concealed carry law will affect Chicago neighborhoods

How concealed carry law will affect Chicago neighborhoods

WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.

Illinois residents could soon be able to carry concealed weapons. While gun-control advocates are preparing to fight the recent court ruling, some question how Chicago neighborhoods with high crime will adapt.

Englewood has one of Chicago’s highest murder rates. The police department grapples with containing gun violence there.

Juandalyn Holland is executive director of Teamwork Englewood, a community nonprofit.  She said most residents are concerned about random gun violence. But she doesn’t think the end of the state’s ban on concealed weapons will increase the volume of crime.

“The issue is how do we stop crime, not how do we stop people from carrying weapons,” she said. “Because I don’t think people are going to walk around like it’s Lone Ranger and Tonto just shooting people.”

Holland said the crime problem stems from people who illegally own guns. She said so far in Englewood there hasn’t been any buzz among neighbors about the court overturning the ban on concealed weapons.