Federal judge overturns Chicago's ban on gun sales

For years, Chicagoans have been forced to live with some of the nation's strictest gun control laws. As a result, there is virtually no gun violence in the city, and it's become a model of safety and restraint.

Ok, fine. I'm being sarcastic. It's one of the most dangerous places in America. Illegal firearms are being used in an epidemic of violence and death that's been dragging the city down to Detroit levels of "unliveability." However, law-abiding gun owners have still been saddled with an array of idiotic, ineffective measures designed to make liberals feel like they're doing ...something. Even if that “something” has no practical impact beyond trampling 2nd Amendment rights. Case in point is an ordinance that banned the sale of firearms within city limits. Yesterday, a federal judge ruled the law unconstitutional, though he has briefly stayed his ruling pending a possible appeal. From CBS Chicago:

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A federal judge has potentially opened a new market to gun dealers after ruling as unconstitutional Chicago ordinances that aim to reduce gun violence by banning their sale within the city’s limits. U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang said Monday that while the government has a duty to protect its citizens, it’s also obligated to protect constitutional rights, including the right to keep and bear arms for self-defense. However, Chang said he would temporarily stay the effects of his ruling, meaning the ordinances can stand while the city decides whether to appeal.

According to U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang, the 2nd Amendment trumped the city's desire to keep Chicago just as "safe" as it currently is. “That is one of the fundamental duties of government: to protect its citizens,” he wrote in his decision. “But on the other side of this case is another feature of government: certain fundamental rights are protected by the Constitution, put outside government’s reach, including the right to keep and bear arms for self-defense under the Second Amendment.” So far, the city hasn't announced whether or not it intends to appeal the decision, but the left-wing zealots that run the town are having a collective conniption fit. According to Chicago law department spokesman, Roderick Drew, Mayor Rahm Emanuel is positively fuming.

“Every year Chicago police recover more illegal guns than officers in any city in the country, a factor of lax federal laws as well as lax laws in Illinois and surrounding states related to straw purchasing and the transfer of guns. We need stronger gun safety laws, not increased access to firearms within the city.”

Remember, "gun safety laws" is liberal code for "control." Drew might not know it, but he's making the perfect argument against the ban. Clearly, if Chicago has more illegal weapons than any other city - despite the extant ban - the prohibition has done nothing to stem the tide of guns that police are confiscating. All it's managed to do is make it more difficult for law-abiding residents to obtain a weapon for self-defense - which was likely the point in the first place. As usual, the left is now complaining that everyone else is to blame for Chicago's woes. If the cities, counties, and states surrounding Chicago would just follow the Windy City's anti-gun lead, they seem to think they'd be well on their way to living in a utopia. The Rahmfather has ordered the city's lawyers to “consider all options to better regulate the sale of firearms within the city’s borders." Some predict these "options" will include city-level "executive actions" designed to make it difficult for would-be dealers to open stores. Illinois Council Against Hand Gun Violence campaign coordinator Mark Walsh says that for now, everything is up in the air.

"I’m not sure what the city’s plan is, but I think obviously there is a need to make sure gun dealers coming into the city are aware of those who have restrictions on gun ownership and don’t sell to them.”

In other words, he thinks gun dealers should follow the laws as they exist in virtually every American city other than Washington D.C. Simply brilliant.