The May defeat of concealed carry legislation left some Illinois residents upset.

U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren released a press statement addressing a letter he recently sent to Illinois lawmakers regarding concealed carry legislation.

In the letter, Hultgren pointed out that the Supreme Court has made it clear that the Constitution guarantees Americans’ individual rights to protect themselves in the Second Amendment, ruling in 2008 and 2010 that Americans have the right to possess firearms.

The letter goes on to urge lawmakers to join the rest of the states in passing this legislation and to stop denying the citizens of Illinois the legal right to protect themselves.

Not all state leaders are against such legislation. The bill actually came close to passing, receiving 65 votes but needing 71 to pass.

“I am in favor of concealed carry,” said Sen. Christine Johnson. “I have been all along, so I certainly agree with Congressman Hultgren.”

While some local politicians are in favor of concealed carry, not everyone is onboard with the idea. University Police are leery of the legislation and the effect it could have on campus.

“Allowing conceal carry presents a whole lot of challenges, especially when drugs or alcohol are involved and emotions are running high,” said Sgt. Alan Smith, public information officer for the NIU Police Department. “A lot of our fights involve alcohol, so this could be a recipe for disaster. If the law were passed, we would have to look at our tactics and compare them to other universities in other states.”

Dekalb Police Chief Bill Feithen said the last piece of legislation he saw allowed citizens to carry a firearm with less training than law enforcement officers.

“It only takes an individual using a weapon the wrong way or making a mistake once to destroy their life,” Feithen said.

Some students expressed concern as well.

“I think people should be allowed to own guns and have them in their home, but I don’t think that they should be allowed to have them on their person,” said NIU English major Alex Sanders. “It could lead to more gun violence. If you start introducing more guns into the populous its just going to incite more gun violence.”

Despite being voted down, the legislation is not necessarily dead and will likely be voted on again in the future, Johnson said.

“I don’t think anything will happen in the veto session,” Johnson said. “It could be after the primary [elections] in 2012 that it is more likely to come up for some kind of vote.”