Supreme Court declines hearing Chicago gun sales case

Supreme Court declines hearing Chicago gun sales case

Spread the love

The U.S. Supreme Court declined hearing a case that alleged an Indiana gun shop fueled gun violence in Chicago.

The case, Westforth Sports v. Chicago, accused an Indiana gun shop of selling firearms to “straw purchasers,” or people who buy an item to conceal the identity of someone else.

Lawyers for the city said Westforth Sports did not conduct proper background checks on firearm buyers.

“The City provided extensive allegations and evidence of Westforth’s deliberate actions to access the Illinois market by knowingly selling guns to straw purchasers,” lawyers for Chicago wrote in a brief to the court.

The lawsuit, which began in 2021, led to the eventual closure of Westforth Sports in 2023.

Lawyers for Westforth Sports argued that Chicago cannot seek to litigate against an entity that is outside of Illinois.

“Specific personal jurisdiction does not lie against an out-of-state seller of firearms when a third party transfers them of their own initiative into the forum state,” lawyers for Westforth Sports wrote.

Chicago alleged Westforth sold more than 300 guns between 2014 and 2021 to known straw buyers. The lawyers said those guns were used in homicides, shootings and assaults.

An Illinois Appeals Court ruled in favor of Chicago, finding the gun store targeted Illinois customers and regularly sold to Illinois buyers, including straw purchasers.

In a brief order, justices of the U.S. Supreme Court denied Westforth Sports’ petition to hear the case.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Administration presses law school accreditor over DEI policies

Administration presses law school accreditor over DEI policies

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square A U.S. House task force questioned the president of the American Bar Association in a hearing Wednesday about the organization’s commitment to diversity, equity and...
Speaker’s response to staffer assault complaint draws questions on his own conduct

Speaker’s response to staffer assault complaint draws questions on his own conduct

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – After reporting about a now-resigned state representative and allegations that Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch may...
Republicans' $95B budget resolution passes House

Republicans’ $95B budget resolution passes House

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Republicans’ blueprint for a third party-line bill passed the U.S. House on a slim two-vote margin Wednesday, despite grumblings from fiscal hawks over the bill’s...
$1.15T Pentagon funding authorization bill passes U.S. House

$1.15T Pentagon funding authorization bill passes U.S. House

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square A $1.15 trillion annual defense funding bill finally passed the U.S. House Wednesday after weeks of delay. Six Democrats joined all but seven Republicans in...
Lawmakers debate GLP-1 regulation, expansion

Lawmakers debate GLP-1 regulation, expansion

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Lawmakers pushed for more regulations and safety standards on popular weight loss medications, including GLP-1 prescriptions, at an event in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Rep....
Illinois news in brief: Ex-Big Ten Network staffer gets 2 years in embezzlement case

Illinois news in brief: Ex-Big Ten Network staffer gets 2 years in embezzlement case

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Ex-Big Ten Network staffer gets 2 years in embezzlement case A former Big Ten Network employee has been sentenced to 28...
New quantum tenant gets $1.8 million in tax credits

New quantum tenant gets $1.8 million in tax credits

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Another quantum technology company is coming to Illinois, and tax credits are part of the deal. Gov....
Proposal would term-limit Supreme Court justices without amendment

Proposal would term-limit Supreme Court justices without amendment

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Senate Democrats introduced legislation Wednesday to impose 18-year term limits on U.S. Supreme Court justices by statute, a route that would sidestep the constitutional amendment...
Pritzker says felon was unlucky to land in his back yard

Pritzker says felon was unlucky to land in his back yard

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says electronic monitoring of a suspect on pretrial release did not work in the...
Chicago council approves ballot question to recoup costs from ICE operations

Chicago council approves ballot question to recoup costs from ICE operations

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Chicago City Council considered multiple ballot referendums during its regular meeting Wednesday morning, including some which...
Anti-ICE 'extremist' charged with arson in attack outside NYC federal building

Anti-ICE ‘extremist’ charged with arson in attack outside NYC federal building

By Chris WadeThe Center Square A 43-year-old Army vet and "anti-ICE" demonstrator is facing arson charges after Monday's fiery attack outside of a federal immigration court in New York City....
World Cup events safe; terrorism, antisemitism concerns don't materialize

World Cup events safe; terrorism, antisemitism concerns don’t materialize

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Ahead of the World Cup, several groups expressed concerns about terrorism and national security threats posed by the international tournament that brought millions of people...
Senators advance healthcare price transparency bill

Senators advance healthcare price transparency bill

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square A bipartisan committee of senators advanced legislation on Wednesday that would require hospitals and insurance companies to display prices for provided services. Senators on the...
Sales tax hike to hit Cook, collar counties on Aug. 1

Sales tax hike to hit Cook, collar counties on Aug. 1

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Consumers in six Illinois counties will be soon be paying higher sales taxes. Transit funding legislation signed...
As aggressions continue, Trump warns Iran to 'pay a big price'

As aggressions continue, Trump warns Iran to ‘pay a big price’

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square President Donald Trump is threatening that Iran will “pay a big price” as he headed to Dover Air Force Base Wednesday for the dignified transfer...