Gun retailers, who got a boost when President Barack Obama took office, are hoping to get another one from the U.S. Supreme Court.
The high court is widely expected to strike down Chicago's 28-year-old handgun ban this summer, following the court's 2008 decision to overturn a similar ordinance in Washington, D.C. Suburban gun store owners anticipate the court's next move will uncork pent-up demand for firearms within Chicago city limits.
Nixing the city's ban "is going to open up business to thousands and thousands of households, and that could mean thousands and thousands in sales," says Fred Lutger, owner of Freddie Bear Sports, the outdoor-sports store he's operated in south suburban Tinley Park for 30 years.
Lori Bailey, behind the counter at Freddie Bear Sports, which has operated in Tinley Park for 30 years. | Photo: Erik Unger |
Like other gun retailers, Mr. Lutger has seen sales accelerate since just before Mr. Obama's election, as gun enthusiasts rushed to buy firearms out of fear that the new president would enact tougher gun-control laws.
Mr. Lutger's sales have climbed 50% in that period. Noel Incavo, co-owner of Midwest Sporting Goods in west suburban Lyons, has seen a 30% jump. Neither expects a drop-off; it seems the fear of a gun ban can have the same effect on sales as a ban's demise.
'So much depends on how wide or how narrow the (Supreme Court's) decision is.'
— Keven Wilder, owner, Wilder Inc.
"Anytime you talk about gun legislation, pro or con, we always see some kind of spike in sales," Mr. Incavo says. "When the D.C. case was decided, we had a spike in sales because people were anticipating that Chicago was going to be next. This is a lot closer to home."
Mr. Lutger says the recent sales surge has depleted his firearms inventory, and he's now restocking revolvers, small automatic pistols and safety-lock boxes in anticipation of the Supreme Court decision.
STOCKING UP
While suburban gun retailers are bolstering their arsenals, few are considering opening up shop within city limits if the ban falls. They figure Mayor Richard M. Daley and the City Council will place other hurdles in the way of gun store expansion, either through zoning restrictions, permitting or other legal means.
"The city could put up huge amounts of additional roadblocks," says Jim Dion, president of Chicago-based retail consultancy Dionco Inc. "It's not going to be one of those things where the Supreme Court decision comes and you see 150 stores overnight."
Mark Diaz, general manager of Mike Schrank's Smoke 'N Gun, says his store will stay put in Waukegan. But he's still planning to stock up on revolvers such as .38 Smith & Wesson Specials and ammunition in hopes that Chicagoans head that far north to buy.
Mark Diaz, manager of Mike Schrank's Smoke 'N Gun Shop in Waukegan, helps first-time customers Melanie Reimonenq and Deon Dukes with their purchase of a handgun. Photo: Stephen J. Serio
"We will see residual sales," Mr. Diaz says. "Hopefully, it will be positive for the entire industry."
Handguns range in price from $200 to just over $1,500. Gun manufacturers had about $4.5 billion in revenue in 2009, up 39% from the previous year, according to estimates from the National Shooting Sports Foundation Inc., a Connecticut-based trade group.
Gun sales in Illinois are already on the rise. FBI data from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System — considered the best barometer of gun sales — jumped 22% in 2009.
That's the fourth-straight yearly increase in Illinois firearm background checks, which are required under federal law for all individuals purchasing firearms from licensed retailers.
The Supreme Court is expected to issue its ruling on the Chicago ordinance in June.
Besides the decision itself, the focus also will be on the justices' recommendations regarding review of similar state and local laws.
'Anytime you talk about gun legislation, pro or con, we always see some kind of spike in sales.'
— Noel Incavo, co-owner,
Midwest Sporting Goods
Mr. Daley is trying to get ahead of the ruling by backing several proposals on the state and federal level, including increasing the penalty for unlawful use of a weapon.
From the retailers' perspective, "so much depends on how wide or how narrow the court's decision is," says Keven Wilder, owner of Chicago-based retail consultancy Wilder Inc. "If it is a sweeping decision against allowing Mayor Daley and other cities to impose reasonable limitation on gun ownership, then who knows what's going to happen? Sales could go through the roof."