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City Council Approves Plan To Allow Gun Shops In Chicago

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Facing a court order to allow gun sales in the city, the Chicago City Council voted unanimously on Wednesday to approve an ordinance allowing gun shops in the city limits, but with tight restrictions.

WBBM Newsradio Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports gun rights advocates almost certainly will challenge the new ordinance in court.

The measure restricts where gun shops can operate in Chicago, limits buyers to purchasing one handgun per month, and requires all gun sales to be videotaped.

All Chicago Gun Sales Must Be Videotaped

Ald. Deborah Graham (29th) said she knows it won't stop weapons trafficking, but said "I support this ordinance because we need every tool possible in the toolbox to help us to combat the violence in our community."

Mayor Rahm Emanuel said, given a federal court ruling striking down the city's previous ban on gun sales in Chicago, he's pleased with the restrictions included in the new law.

"We have come up with a template that allows our police, our families, and most importantly our communities to do what they need to do to take back their streets for the good residents of our city of Chicago," he said.

Under the new ordinance, gun shops would begin opening in Chicago next year.

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