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Category: History

Rhonda Ezell, et al v City of Chicago is a series of federal court challenges to city ordinances.

Ezell vs Chicago is another landmark case in the second amendment movement, Rhonda Ezell sued the city of Chicago to bring gun ranges to the city for law abiding citizens. The initial case arose from Chicago's response to the Supreme Court of the US decision in McDonald v Chicago, which overturned Chicago's decades-old de-facto handgun ban. Chicago intended to make it difficult for people to legally own handguns in Chicago, and so created the short-lived "Chicago Firearms Permit" (CFP). The requirements for a CFP included 8 hours of classroom training and range qualification. However, firearms ranges open to the public were not allowed under Chicago City Ordinance. Thus, Chicago was requiring a city license to own a firearm in the home and requiring that residents get training in order to meet the requirements, and this would be a hardship to many. Rhonda Ezell and other parties challenged the city of Chicago in federal court on the ban of target ranges and live-fire training facilities.

The case was appealed, and on July 6 2011, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling.

After Ezell won the challenge against the total ban on ranges, Chicago changed its ordinances to 'allow' gun ranges, but made the zoning rules and construction requirements so restrictive they are prohibitive. The case was taken back to court, and an opinion and order was issued on September 29, 2014. See additional commentary here.

Oral arguments were heard on Nov 4, 2015 in additional litigation, as both parties waited for a decision from the judges. And to date no one has built a range yet in Chicago. 

Rhonda Ezell wins again: On January 18th 2017, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the city of Chicago's ban on gun ranges was unconstitutional. They struck down limiting gun ranges to manufacturing districts as well as the age restriction of a minor. Ezell II is another landmark victory. Judge Diane Sykes wrote the decisionSee commentary by Eugene Volokh here.

 On March 15th. 2017 the final judgement was entered by judge Virginia M. Kendall, indicating that the city of Chicago withdrew their motion to stay the proceedings.   As the plaintiffs prevail in this historic case, we are planning on seeing a gun range in the city of Chicago soon.

"If the city demands that you take this class, they should provide a facility for you to do it. You don't want a person to have a gun they don't know how to use. No one should have to drive 40 miles outside the city limits to comply with a city ordinance."
- Rhonda Ezell (cite)