Three area state representatives voted Tuesday to support legislation that would allow Illinois residents to be licensed to carry concealed firearms.

The legislation, House Bill 148, was approved 12-2 by the House Agriculture and Conservation Committee and sent to the House floor.

Among those voting for the bill were the committee chairman, state Rep. Lisa Dugan, D-Bradley; Rep. Jason Barickman, R-Champaign; and Rep. Jack McGuire, D-Joliet. Dugan and Barickman are among 35 co-sponsors of the bill. So is state Rep. Pam Roth, R-Morris, but she is not a member of the committee.

The bill would create the "Family and Personal Protection Act" and would allow county sheriffs to issue concealed carry permits to persons age 21 and older who complete required training and pass criminal and mental health background checks.

Dugan was not available for comment.

Barickman issued a statement that he was encouraged by the vote. "I am a strong supporter of our Second Amendment rights and this is a common sense solution to move our state forward," he wrote. "A Right to Carry law would put Illinois in line with 48 other states. I hope the House will pass the legislation, and I know it will require hard work to make the bill law. But this is a step in the right direction."