City Council Approves Revision to Handgun Ordinance

Added by Editor on August 1, 2012.
Saved under Mayor

The Chicago City Council approved Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s revision to the City’s Responsible Gun Ownership Ordinance, following a recent US District Court decision that struck down a specific and narrow provision of the ordinance that barred persons convicted of misdemeanor Unlawful Use of a Weapon (UUW) from receiving a Chicago Firearms Permit (CFP).

“The City of Chicago is committed to maintaining the fullest degree of lawful handgun restrictions possible while still respecting the Second Amendment rights of law abiding citizens, because maintaining common-sense restrictions is an issue of public safety,” said Mayor Emanuel. “The changes approved today address the concerns raised by the court while accomplishing our primary objective of keeping guns out of the hands of violent criminals.”

The revised ordinance places a permanent ban on persons convicted of violent felonies from being eligible to receive a CFP, while placing a five-year ban on persons convicted of a violent misdemeanor offense. The current ban for anyone convicted of two or more offenses of driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs will remain in place.

“We will continue to vigorously defend the City’s gun ordinance in order to protect Chicago residents from the scourge of handgun violence,” added Mayor Emanuel.

July 25, 2012
CONTACT: Mayor’s Press Office, 312.744.3334, press@cityofchicago.org

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