Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
It used to be the case that Chicago banned all firing ranges within city limits. The city's powers that be detest everything related to firearms, and saw every encumbrance they could place in the path of someone wanting to exercise their Constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms as a good thing.
A court took issue with that, though, and ruled that the second amendment protected gun ranges as well as gun owners. Chicago quickly came up with a new law that allowed gun ranges — but banned them from 90% of the city for "public safety" reasons. Yesterday, another court ruling further smacked down Chicago's attempt to infringe on the rights of its citizens by striking that down as well . . .
The latest court ruling was based on a direct challenge to the law, which was brought by the Illinois State Rifle Association along with other residents.
In short, the court called bullshit on the City of Chicago's opinion. The city tried to argue that gun ranges are dirty and dangerous, but failed to provide any single scrap of evidence to support their claim. They tried to bluff their way past the judge, and the judge wasn't having any of it.
On the other points of the ordnance, specifically the requirements for bullet-proof doors and improved ventilation systems, the judge ruled that those restrictions were constitutional. The judge also ruled that banning minors from firing ranges was constitutional since minors don't have any rights, but there may be grounds for appeal on that matter.
On balance, it was a win in Chicago. The arguments of city government were once again found to have no basis in fact — the idea that the presence of guns causing crime was once again laughed out of court, and the city's attempt to infringe on the Constitutional rights of its citizens was rolled back. Again.
Click here for the full ruling.