South Cook News

The owner of a Tinley Park sporting goods store said a new state law that banned the sale of certain firearms "isn't good for business" and has already translated into a drop in sales over the last month compared to the previous year.  

Fred Lutger, the owner of Freddie Bear Sports, talked to the South Cook News about what the new law means for his store.

"It has hurt us given all the guns on the list that we can't sell in the state," Lutger said. "We've started selling some online (to) gun brokers to try to make up for some of the losses in our long gun sales. I've had this store in the same location for 44 years, what's important to me is the freedoms we're losing with all this."

Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) signed the ban into law on January 10, 2023. According to The Center Square, the ban includes more than 170 semi-automatic firearms and high-capacity magazines. 

"We're dealing with politicians that don't know the meaning of the 2nd Amendment or what gun laws are about," Lutger added. "They see the shootings that happen, and no one likes that, but we've got to arrest the people doing these crimes and once we've done that, we need to keep them behind bars."

Under the new law, people who own a gun now included on the list of banned weapons may keep them but must register the firearm with Illinois State Police by the start of next year. The registry will open at the beginning of October. WTVO reported that a person who fails to register their now-banned firearm could face a class 2 felony charge.

"Law-abiding gun owners are not the problem," Lutger said. 

The law has come under a lot of scrutiny with many sheriffs across the state declaring they won't enforce the law since it goes against the Second Amendment.

Illinois Sheriffs' Association Executive Director Jim Kaitschuk told The Center Square the association "filed an amicus brief" supporting efforts challenging the legislation. 

The law is also facing legal challenges in the form of a federal lawsuit. According to The Center Square, oral arguments in the case are scheduled to start on April 12.