SPRINGFIELD — The debate over whether to allow Illinois residents to carry concealed guns with a permit was waged from the Capitol to Chicago on Wednesday, well ahead of any actual vote on the issue.

Up north, outgoing Mayor Richard Daley warned of a city in which parks, college campuses, malls and other public places could be crowded with gun-toting citizens if the General Assembly passes the conceal carry bill.

Daley said he and Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel sent a letter urging lawmakers to vote it down.

"Do you want guns at your neighborhood festival or block party? Or in a park, like the one we're here today?" Daley asked at a news conference at the Austin Town Hall Cultural Center, where he was joined by several aldermen and anti-violence advocates. "CTA buses or trains? Do you want students with concealed weapons walking around every college campus in the state?"

The conceal carry legislation cleared a House committee this year but is being fine-tuned. Sponsoring Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, said he's "three to four votes short right now" and said no vote will happen until late April at the earliest.

"There is definitely a big push from the city of Chicago right now trying to beat this — a huge push," Phelps said.

Also Wednesday, the House defeated a measure that would have taken away Chicago's ability to regulate how people store guns.

The legislation would have specifically given the state exclusive power to regulate firearms and disallow Chicago and other larger cities with home-rule power from establishing their own restrictions. It failed by 10 votes.

Tribune reporter Todd Wilson contributed. John Byrne reported from Chicago.

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