Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel introduced an ordinance Wednesday that would prohibit gun stores from operating within 99.5% of the city.
Stores would also be prohibited to sell more than one handgun per buyer per month, must open their books to police for inspection “at all reasonable times” and even videotape all gun sales.
CHICAGO (AP) — Forced by court order to allow long-banned gun stores to open in Chicago, Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday introduced an ordinance that is so strict and so dramatically limits where the stores can operate that critics say it is little more than a continuation of the city’s longtime ban.
In a city that for years has been at the center of national debate over gun control and gun violence — even before its decades-old handgun ban was invalidated by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2010 — the ordinance will almost certainly trigger a legal fight.
After the ordinance was introduced at the City Council meeting without comment, Emanuel said he believes he is on solid legal ground with what he called a “tough, smart and … enforceable” ordinance. It comes after a federal court ruling in January gave Chicago until July 14 to put gun store rules in place.
Emanuel said that in Chicago, where gun violence remains a headline-grabbing issue, “gun control is essential to our public safety.” But in recent years courts have struck down city gun laws as well as the state’s ban on concealed-carry permits.
Under the ordinance sent to the council’s Public Safety committee, gun shops would be prohibited in 99.5 percent of the city. Stores also would not be allowed to sell more than one handgun to individual buyers per month and must open their books to police for inspection “at all reasonable times.”
One provision certain to be examined closely by gun rights advocates is the requirement that gun stores have a video record of all transactions. But Emanuel said he believes it is legal, comparing it to cameras that record people making transaction at an ATM.
Alderman Joe Moreno said the gun violence plaguing the city demands a tough ordinance.
“When it comes to guns and gun violence, I think we need to err on the side of being stricter (and) push the envelope of the legalities of it,” said Moreno, who added that he expected the ordinance will become law and for it to be challenged in court.
Richard Pearson, the executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association, said he believes someone will sue if the measure comes into force.
first mayor you need to go after the gangs and their guns or don’t you have the balls to do it
go after the criminals firsts and foremost and leave the honest law abiding citizens
Idiots vote in scumbag idiots!
If only some of our politicians had some common sense. He is WASTING all this money to cut down on law-abiding citizens purchasing guns. He is video taping law-abiding citizens. On the other hand, the criminals will continue to purchase their guns on the streets. They will not be in stores legally purchasing guns. Remember that criminals do not obey laws. Lorraine has the right idea. Round up the gangs & search them, their homes & cars. Confiscate all their firearms. That would cost less & do more good than this silly idea Emanuel has. I cannot believe how dumb some of these politicians are. They are either dumb or think they are fooling us into believing their garbage.
scum bag commie socialist pig
ahhh, Hitler does still live!
REALLY? Gun stores are the problem? Gangs, liberalism and drugs are the problem. Keep restricting gun ownership of law abiding citizens and get ready for more violent crime and home invasions. Gun grabber will never get it. Make all the law you want and it won’t do anything because criminals DON’T FOLLOW LAWS.
– Looks worse for Chicago. The only ones to have guns will be the criminals. But the voters selected their mayor. (Bad choice!!!!)
It’s Chicago.
This guy should go to HELL. We already have to many communist dictators.