Suit claims lax regulation of gun shops by Chicago suburbs violates state civil rights law
A well-known priest and two Chicago moms who lost their sons to gun violence are among the plaintiffs in a lawsuit that claims three suburbs fail to adequately regulate gun stores that sell weapons used by gang members.
The priest, the Rev. Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Catholic Church, alleged at a news conference last month that suburban leaders are closing their eyes to gun dealers’ shady practices because of tax income from the businesses, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The suit, filed July 7, claim the suburbs—Riverdale, Lyons and Lincolnwood—are violating the Illinois Civil Rights Act of 2003 because the gun shops are allowed to “sell guns in a manner that disproportionately jeopardizes the lives of African-Americans,” according to the Cook County Record. The Washington Post and the Desplaines Valley News also have stories.
Other plaintiffs include West Side pastor Robin Hood, the Coalition for Safe Chicago Communities, and the mothers, Pam Bosley and Annette Nance-Holt.
Lyons officials say they have met with Chicago police to address their concerns, while a lawyer for Lincolnwood said officials there couldn’t see “any conceivable basis for liability,” according to the Sun-Times.
Lincolnwood lawyer Steven Elrod told the Washington Post the suit has very little merit. “Unique is an understatement as a characterization of this complaint,” Elrod said.
