The suit alleges that the methods of licensing and regulating gun shops used by these municipalities have the effect of increasing the level of violence afflicting African Americans and other minorities in violation of Section 5 of the Illinois Civil Rights Act.
According to a 2014 Chicago Report, these 3 gun shops along with one shop in Gary, Indiana, provide 20% of the guns discovered in Chicago crime scenes. Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy reported that Chicago Police confiscated illegal guns at a rate of one an hour over this past holiday weekend.