SPRINGFIELD — Five years ago, Senate President James "Pate" Philip sponsored a bill to raise first-time penalties for illegal possession of a firearm from a misdemeanor to a felony. "What this basically does," he said at the time, "is increase the penalty (for) people who misuse violent weapons and firearms." Now Philip is the main roadblock to another anti-crime bill because it contains a remarkably similar provision making illegal firearm possession a felony. In... (GunPolicy.org)