Interesting that you bring up your first point. Illinois has been ordered by a Federal judge to enact a concealed carry law no later then June 6, 2013. This was brought about by a lawsuit filed by a lady named Mary Shepard from the small town of Anna. pop. 5400, in southern Illinois. She and another elderly lady were attacked by a convicted criminal as they worked at their clerical jobs in a local church. Mary has had firearms training, and has both a Florida and a Pennsylvania concealed carry permit, but is not allowed that same protection in Illinois. They both were severly beaten, Mary suffered, among other injuries, four skull fractures, she was airlifted to a St Louis hospital, 110 miles away.
http://www.examiner.com/article/savagely-beaten-illinois-woman-pleads-for-right-to-defend-herself
Out of curiosity, how many of the so-called "barney fifes" end up shooting someone at the local Safeway? Do you not feel that the lady in the above article would be exponentially better off had she been armed on that afternoon? And by-the-way, Anna, IL is pretty much Mayberry, it is 350 miles south of Chicago's southside, and I just happen to reside two miles away. Having spent 6 years in the military, as well as a lifetime of hunting, I feel I am adequately qualified to responsibly carry a firearm, and come next year you will be able to add another barney fife to the list. Cheers.