Illinois cops now supporting Shall-Issue:

Leaders of the Illinois Assn. of Chiefs of Police voted Wednesday to change their stance on the issue. They now support legalizing concealed carry.

It’s a big boost for those trying to repeal Illinois’s ban on the concealed carrying of handguns. The group of top cops had long opposed the idea. They voted two years to go neutral on the issue.

State Rep. Brandon Phelps (D-Harrisburg) and leaders of the Illinois State Rifle Assn. have been negotiating for months with law enforcement officials across the state. Phelps is chief sponsor of a concealed carry proposal that’s already won approval from a committee of the Illinois House.

Phelps said the measure will likely be amended further. He hopes the General Assembly will send it to Gov. Quinn by the end of April.

As currently written, the Phelps proposal says the Illinois State Police “shall issue” a concealed carry handgun permit within 75 days after an application is submitted.

This would go a long way toward making Chicago put up or shut up after the McDonald decision.

And that’s a good thing.