On December 11, the 7th circuit struck down Illinois’ law forbidding the carrying of concealed weapons. Moore v Madigan, 12-1269. The decision was 2-1, and was written by Judge Richard Posner. One of the reasons the majority struck down the law was that no other state has such a prohibition. Judge Posner wrote, “There is no suggestion that some unique characteristic of criminal activity in Illinois justifies the state’s taking a different approach from the other 49 states. If the Illinois approach were demonstrably superior, one would expect at least one or two states to have emulated it.”

Currently, the Libertarian Party is challenging Illinois unique law that requires newly-qualifying parties to run a full slate of candidates. The U.S. District Court in this election case has already enjoined the law, reasoning that Illinois doesn’t really need such a restriction, because no other state has ever had a similar restriction. Assuming the case also wins declaratory relief in the U.S. District Court (which is extremely likely), the 7th circuit’s reasoning in the gun case will also help the Libertarian Party to win in the 7th circuit, if the state appeals.

The Philadelphia Inquirer has this op-ed by Rob Richie, on the electoral college. Richie criticizes a proposed bill in the Pennsylvania legislature to apportion Pennsylvania’s electoral votes according to the percentage of the popular vote within Pennsylvania. Richie also makes the case in favor of a National Popular Vote.

Gerald F. Seib has this Wall Street Journal article, noting that only 24 U.S. House districts last month voted for one major party for President and for the other major party for U.S. House member. However, the article notes that the election returns aren’t final and there are seven races in which the calculations might yet change.

Of the 24 districts, 15 voted for President Obama and yet elected a Republican member of the House; 9 voted for Mitt Romney and elected a Democrat to the House. Thanks to PoliticalWire for the link.

Those who advocate that each U.S. House district should elect its own presidential elector should note that if their plan were in effect, Romney would be elected, even though he lost the national popular vote by four percentage points.