UPDATE: And then there were EIGHT: Illinois counties okay with FOID-holders with concealed guns

Madison County was the first county-level prosecutor to announce he wouldn’t prosecute.  And then came Randolph County.  Here are a few more…  starting with Tazewell County (and it seems Woodford isn’t far away)…

Tazewell County State’s Attorney Stewart Umholtz issued a formal statement stating such about noon Friday, saying that a recent federal appellate court ruling declared the state’s blanket ban on concealed carry unconstitutional.

“A citizen who wishes to exercise their Second Amendment right to carry a firearm outside of the home for self-defense should not be placed in the situation where they fear prosecution if they exercise a constitutional right,” the prosecutor said in a news release.

By 3 p.m., Peoria County State’s Attorney Jerry Brady said he agreed with much of what his colleague across the river said.

“Since the court’s ruling, Peoria County has been following the court’s opinion and not charging persons with valid FOID cards entitled to possess a firearm,” he said. “Our office seeks to follow the court’s opinion and honor a person’s constitutional rights outlined by the recent decision.”

Woodford County State’s Attorney Gregory Minger said he fully supported the Second Amendment and Umholtz’s stance as it related to concealed carry. He qualified his statement by saying he needed to talk to law enforcement in his county to see how such a change would manifest itself.

* And our friends in Macon County…

Macon County officials are crafting regulations to allow concealed carry in the county, State’s Attorney Jay Scott said.

…“Prosecutors and law enforcement across the board have to come up with some sort of policy to let the people know what’s going on,” Scott said. “Without a concealed-carry law and with the current law (banning concealed carry) being ruled unconstitutional, there’s just a lot of issue to sort through.”

* White County’s SA wants a piece of the free county action too…

White County State’s Attorney Denton Aud says since a federal court ruled Illinois’ concealed carry ban is unconstitutional he should not prosecute those cases.

“It would be in direct conflict with my oath of office so I would be betraying the trust of those individuals that put me in office by prosecuting anyone for that,” said Aud.

And then there’s Randolph County…

Randolph County State’s Attorney Jeremy Walker told KFVS-TV that residents can carry concealed guns in public.

“Responsible, law-abiding citizens will finally be able to exercise their constitutional right to carry concealed weapons in Randolph County,” a statement from his office reads, according to the station

* And Clinton County’s Sheriff weighs in…

…the sheriff in Clinton County said anyone from a county that allows concealed firearms would not be arrested for carrying in his jurisdiction.

UPDATE:  Add Logan county to the mix…

Logan County State’s Attorney Jonathan Wright, meanwhile, said his office will not enforce and prosecute the Unlawful Use of a Weapon (UUW) statute that was declared unconstitutional by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, for the moment.

“This office will enforce the laws consistent with that ruling,” Wright said in a phone interview.