July 28, 2011

Law Department, Police Department Propose Amendments to Gun Range Ordinance

Mayor's Press Office    312.744.3334

The Department of Law and Chicago Police Department today introduced an ordinance amending the City's recently-enacted gun range ordinance in response to a decision from the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in a lawsuit challenging the City's prior ban on gun ranges.


"Chicago's gun ordinances continue to be the target of legal challenges,"said Corporation Counsel Stephen Patton. "These revisions to the recent gun range ordinance will help to further ensure that it can withstand legal challenges while still protecting the safety of Chicago residents."

The proposed revisions were drafted in response to a decision issued by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Ezell v. City of Chicago, a challenge to an ordinance enacted in July of 2010 that included a ban on gun ranges. On July 6th,while the case was pending before the 7th Circuit, the City enacted a new ordinance that allowed for gun ranges within a comprehensive regulatory framework. The 7th Circuit issued its opinion in the matter the same day.


Among other things, the amendments would decrease from 1,000 to 500 the required distance between gun ranges and churches, schools, parks and various other public facilities; lower the licensing fee from $4,000 to $2,000; and eliminate the requirement that there be one range master for every three customers. Further, there would be a
new requirement that managers of gun ranges keep a log of the facility's customers.