Joe Walsh: "Law-abiding citizens" should break concealed carry laws

“It’s time for civil disobedience," he said

Published April 16, 2013 1:09PM (EDT)

Former Rep. Joe Walsh, a Tea Party favorite who lost his reelection bid in 2012, wrote on his website that even if there are concealed carry laws, law-abiding citizens have the right to ignore them.

“We’re at a point in this stupid state where we need to begin to break the law,” Walsh, R-Ill., wrote, adding: “It’s time for civil disobedience.”

“Yeah, the media is going to say I’m irresponsible. Yeah, the media is going to say I’m crazy. I don’t care if we don’t have a conceal carry law right now,” he continued. “There isn’t a law-abiding citizen in this city that doesn’t have the right to protect themselves … and if that means breaking the law to do it, we’re going to do it.”

As The Huffington Post reports, Walsh was referring to an ongoing debate in the state over concealed carry laws, following an order by a federal court for the state to propose a new concealed carry law by June 8, after a previous version of the law was ruled unconstitutional.


By Jillian Rayfield

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com.

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Concealed Weapons Gun Control House Republicans Illinois Joe Walsh