Woodstock Advocate Editor and Concealed Carry of McHenry County Secretary Gus Philpott wrote the following letter to McHenry County College Trustees:

Gus Philpott

Members of the Board of Trustees,

As you consider the proposed concealed carry policy before the December 19th meeting, may I draw your attention to the very real possibility that you are legally prevented from restricting Parking Lots A & B to vehicles not containing firearms?

Public Act 098-0063 and 430 ILCS 66/65 designate Prohibited Places. Paragraph (b) expressly allows a concealed carry licensee to carry into parking lots adjacent to prohibited places.

(b) Notwithstanding subsections (a), (a-5), and (a-10) of this Section except under paragraph (22) or (23) of subsection (a), any licensee prohibited from carrying a concealed firearm into the parking area of a prohibited location specified in
subsection (a), (a-5), or (a-10) of this Section shall be permitted to carry a concealed firearm on or about his or her person within a vehicle into the parking area [emphasis added] and may store a
firearm or ammunition concealed in a case within a locked vehicle or locked container out of plain view within the vehicle in the parking area. A licensee may carry a concealed firearm in the immediate area surrounding his or her vehicle within a prohibited parking lot area only for the limited purpose of storing or retrieving a firearm within the vehicle’s trunk, provided the licensee ensures the concealed firearm is unloaded prior to exiting the vehicle. For purposes of this
subsection, “case” includes a glove compartment or console that
completely encloses the concealed firearm or ammunition, the trunk of the vehicle, or a firearm carrying box, shipping box, or other container.

The law doesn’t say “some” parking areas. It reads “…the parking area…” Each of Lots A, B, C and D is a “parking area”.

I respectfully ask that you observe the intent and spirit of the statute and that you not designate any parking lot at MCC as a gun-free zone.

Education of parents of children enrolled in the childcare center should help calm any fears they might have, should they see someone unloading or loading a firearm in a vehicle or placing a firearm in a trunk or removing it. These actions are permitted under State law.