"Concealed carry shootings now part of Chicago's gun reality" [View all]

"John Hendricks recalls a split second between impulse and action before he took aim and shot Everardo Custodio just before midnight on April 17 after Custodio opened fire on a group in Logan Square.

(Edited for length)

Hendricks was not charged for shooting the 23-year-old because he had a concealed carry gun license and was determined to have acted in self-defense. But he said he was questioned for hours by detectives after the shooting and, seven months later, hasn't gotten his Springfield Armory .45 back from authorities. Still, the 48-year-old South Sider said he doesn't begrudge police for the glacial movement.

"This is all new," Hendricks said, "because of the concealed carry."

How many times these Illinoisans unholstered their guns and fired remains unclear, as state police say no mechanism exists to track such incidents.

To be sure, they're nowhere near as frequent as those involving unlicensed shooters and illegal firearms. But a handful of high-profile shootings involving licensed concealed carriers since the law went into effect in January 2014 highlight this latest evolution in Chicago's relationship with guns.

He said the 16 hours of training required to receive an Illinois concealed carry license are "very, very good."

"I'm a strong advocate of training," Hendricks said. "Training, training, training."

He said he owns "quite a few" guns and has several holsters and fanny packs for when he's out in public. During a recent interview, the gun on Hendricks' hip was not apparent until he pointed it out.

"You're not always conscious of carrying," he said, just like you aren't always conscious of carrying a wallet."


Very stable, common sense approach taken by Mr. Hendricks. Of course the Chicago PD can't seem to find his .45 to return it to him now.

Waiting momentarily for the "could'a, might'a, what if" "innocent bystander" memes to come up, as always with no examples given. Maybe the redneck Bubba comments too ... from the people who won't bother to click the Tribune link.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-concealed-carry-shooting-interview-met-20151120-story.html