A Naperville gun shop owner is asking that sales bans on assault weapons in the city and state be placed on hold while he and the National Association for Gun Rights appeal a federal judge’s ruling in U.S. Appellate Court.
Robert Bevis, owner of Law Weapons & Supply, and the gun association this week filed an injunction seeking to prevent Naperville’s ordinance and Illinois’ law from going into effect until lawsuits seeking to overturn both are settled in court.
Court documents say the move is necessary to ensure he can remain in business by continuing the sell the weapons.
The gun shop owner and the gun rights group filed a federal lawsuit in September saying Naperville’s August ban on the sale of assault rifles was “unconstitutional” and should be overturned.
In January, the state approved a similar, more overarching law.
Bevis initially filed a preliminary injunction in federal court Nov. 18 trying to block Naperville sales prohibition from taking effect and made a similar motion Jan. 24 to halt the state’s new law.
Last month, U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall denied Bevis’ requests, allowing the bans to take effect.
In response, the gun shop owner appealed Kendall’s decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit while pursuing another injunction while the appeal is pending.
The court documents filed Tuesday said blocking the sales ban will halt the harm being done to Bevis’ business as a result of the legislation. About 85% of the firearms sold at Law Weapons & Supply are prohibited under the Naperville ordinance and state law, documents said.
As a result of the bans, the business’ cash reserves have been depleted and the gun shop owner has laid off employees and asked his family to work without pay, according to the motion.
Additionally, the court documents said Bevis has extended his personal credit, been unable to pay personal bills like home and car payments, maxed his credit limits and taken out loans to pay monthly bills.
If the bans remain in effect any longer, Law Weapons & Supply will not be able meet the terms of its 15-year commercial lease, the motion said.
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