Supreme Court declines hearing Chicago gun sales case
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.
Sunny
Latest News Stories
New Lenox 122 Eyes Future Budget Cuts to Offset Full-Day Kindergarten Costs, Approves Quad Plus Tax Abatement
Minooka Blasts Five Home Runs to Overpower Lincoln-Way Central 12-2
New Lenox Seeks $2.5 Million State Loan for Water Main Replacements, Sets $1.2 Million in Sureties for Spencer Meadows
Board Approves $1.04 Million in New Curriculum for New Lenox District 122
Meeting Summary and Briefs: New Lenox Community Park District Board of Commissioners for February 18, 2026
Meeting Summary and Briefs: New Lenox Township Board of Trustees for February 12, 2026
Tingley’s Perfect 5-for-5 Day, Shutdown Bullpen Rally Lincoln-Way Central Past Joliet Catholic 13-6
New Lenox Mayor Slams Springfield Affordable Housing Proposal as “Garbage,” Board Passes Opposing Resolution
Frankfort Man Arrested by State Police for Threatening Governor Pritzker
St. Charles East Blanks Lincoln-Way Central 10-0 Behind Dominant Pitching and Majkszak’s Power
Meeting Summary and Briefs: Capital Improvements & IT Committee for March 3, 2026
New Lenox District 122 Approves Full-Day Kindergarten for 2027-2028, Extends Teacher Contract
New Lenox Park District Set to Launch Massive ADA Audits Across Dozens of Local Parks
