Illinois / Great Lakes Region Special Alert Update

Cook County, Ill., Gun Stores and Sportsmen in Danger;
NSSF Urges All to Contact Commissioners

Cook County (Ill.) Commissioners Larry Suffredin and William Beavers, who just weeks ago introduced three ordinances that would shut down all gun stores in Cook County, including the recently opened Cabela's sporting goods store in Hoffman Estates -- a store whose customer base extends into Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan -- are showing no signs of letting up in their anti-industry/anti-gun crusade. In fact, Commissioner Suffredin, who is in a heated campaign for Cook County States Attorney, is touting his endorsement from the Brady Campaign and the promise of shutting down law-abiding firearms retailers.

If the proposed ordinances pass, it will adversely affect the entire community. Several hundred jobs will be lost affecting thousands of family members in the Chicago area, millions in tax revenue for the county and state will disappear and, of course, the second amendment rights of law-abiding citizens will be suppressed.

The Ordinances

The Deadly Weapon Dealers Ordinance, a proposal by Suffredin, would prohibit federally licensed firearms dealers from operating within 10 miles of one another and would ban all gun shows in the county. Further restrictions on where firearms retailers would be allowed to operate are predicated on proximity to schools and parks. Commissioner Suffredin was recently quoted as saying, "As a home rule unit, Cook County has the legal right to regulate where these establishments [gun stores] are allowed to operate. Chuck's Gun Shop is within one mile of a school which will not be allowed once this ordinance passes."

Also introduced as part of this anti-gun package of laws is the Safe Streets and Weapons Registration Ordinance, introduced by Beavers. This ordinance would require the registration of all firearms and firearms owners in Cook County. Closer examination of the proposed ordinance reveals an even more diabolical gun-control scheme -- as written, the ordinance would actually ban firearms in the county including any handgun without a loaded chamber indicator. Furthermore, the ordinance prohibits transporting a firearm in a vehicle unless the gun is completely disassembled into a "nonfunctioning state." This includes rifles that have already been sighted-in and revolvers that cannot be simply "broken down" into a nonfunctioning state.

No set date has been given for when these anti-gun proposals will be brought up for consideration. It is imperative that you ACT NOW! Please contact the Cook County Board of Commissioners immediately and urge them to OPPOSE these firearms-banning ordinances.