Elmhurst Aldermen Meet to Discuss Possible Boundaries for Gun Sales

After concluding in April that gun sales need to be permitted somewhere in the City of Elmhurst, Alderman Scott Levin met with Alderman Mark Mulliner Monday to discuss the boundaries of possible firearms sales in town.

The aldermen, both of whom are on Elmhurst’s Development, Planning and Zoning Committee, expected residents concerned about possible gun restrictions and sales to attend the meeting, the Pioneer Press reported.

None, however, showed up.

Without further feedback, the aldermen decided to wait until they could speak with the third member of their committee, Aderman Mike Honquest, before sending any recommendations to the full City Council. They don’t plan to speak about the matter until at least Nov. 14, the Press stated.

When the aldermen met in April, Levin referred to a U.S. District Court ruling that in 2014 stated that it's unconstitutional to prohibit licensed gun stores from operating just about anywhere they want to.

"We are required legally to look at this and have appropriate zoning in place," Levin said.

Committee members agreed with Levin's point, but suggested gun sales in town should be limited to industrial areas, such as those in the northwest and southwest corners of town.

Mulliner, however, pointed out that while limiting firearm sales to these areas may have been intended to protect children, there is still plenty of housing and schools in the industrial areas of Oak Park.

“Personally, I think it should be allowed in any zoning district where commercial (activity) is allowed,” Mulliner said.

Levin also noted Monday that salesmen can even sell guns from their homes these days with proper licensing, and that several operations like that exist in Elmhurst already.

The two aldermen seemed to reach a consensus that any gun store operation would need to meet both federal and state requirements as well as all city requirements, the Press reported.

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