Judge Grants City 6 Months To Draft Gun Shop Regulations
By Chuck Sudo in News on Jan 15, 2014 2:30PM
A federal judge on Wednesday granted the Emanuel administration six months to draft rules and regulations that would restrict where gun shops would operate in Chicago. U.S. District Court Judge Edmond Chang said his decision to grant the delay allows the city to gets its act together while protecting the public's Second Amendment rights.
Chang's ruling wasn't unexpected after Mayor Emanuel announced last week the city would abide by Chang's decision calling Chicago's ban on handgun sales within the city limits unconstitutional. Emanuel cited the costs of defending the city's handgun ban in the courts (with little to show for it except a mounting legal tab) as a factor while calling Chang's ruling a "straitjacket." Emanuel wouldn't offer details last week except to say that gun shops in Chicago wouldn't be located near schools or areas where children are present.
Supporters of gun rights weren't necessarily happy with Chang's decision. Attorney Pete Patterson argued before Chang that the six-month window was too long and that the City acted faster when another court ruling overturned a statewide ban on concealed carry. Illinois passed legislation to become the final state in the nation to allow concealed carry last year.
Emanuel, in a statement, thanked Chang for granting the delay.
"Our goal is to create the strictest regulations that protect our residents and also comply with the court order without undermining the progress we have made in reducing violent crime throughout our city. We owe nothing less to the children, families and residents of Chicago than to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and straw purchasers.”