Lyons Passes Groundbreaking Gun Shop Regulations

By Kate Shepherd in News on Oct 28, 2015 8:34PM

In an attempt to stem the tide of illegal guns flowing into Chicago, southwest suburban Lyons has passed an ordinance requiring its sole gun shop to follow an extensive list of rules to prevent trafficking and stop straw buyers, according to the Tribune.

Lyons' lone gun store, Midwest Sporting Goods, has been open for more than 50 years, and weapons purchased there have been flowing into the city at a disproportionate rate, according to a lawsuit filed by anti-gun activists in July.

The shop will now have to keep a "do not sell" list of customers whose purchased weapons have been traced to a crime and report the names of anyone who tries to purchase a gun illegally. It's a long set of rules and failure to comply could result in fine, suspension or revocation of the business license, which the Tribune has detailed on its site.

As a result of the ordinance, the village will be dropped from the lawsuit filed by the Coalition for Safe Chicago Communities, which claimed that many guns recovered at crime scenes in Chicago were purchased in Lyons, Riverdale or Lincolnwood. Those other two suburbs were not part of the settlement and the lawsuit against them is ongoing.

"This is about being practical and proactive to prevent the sale of guns to the wrong people," Lyons Mayor Christopher Getty told the Tribune. "The village stands firmly behind our gun shop. We believe they are great operators, but at the same time we did feel more regulation was required."

The gun shop said it is happy to comply with the new rules. The National Rifle Association helped advise the gun store as the village drew up the ordinance, village attorney Burton Odelson told the Tribune. But the Illinois State Rifle Association is opposed to the list especially the "do not sell" list.