Does Schaumburg really need a second store that sells handguns? Is that in the best interest of our community? The proposed gun shop at Galyan’s sporting goods store, opening across from Woodfield Shopping Center, would double the number of sales outlets for handguns in Schaumburg. The Schaumburg Village Board will vote on Tuesday whether to grant a special-use ordinance allowing Galyan’s to operate a gun shop that will include the sale of handguns.
The more handguns that are sold in Schaumburg, the greater is the risk of harm to people living and working in Schaumburg. The nightmare scenarios for our substantial residential, working and shopping populations are endless.
Regardless of one’s position on the provocative issue of gun control, it is undeniable that handguns are used in killing and injuring tens of thousands of Americans every year. Making them more available in Schaumburg cannot help but increase the chances for violent acts in our community.
There is a middle ground. Sportmart is one of two stores allowed to sell firearms in Schaumburg. By corporate policy, Sportmart does not sell handguns at its Schaumburg store. New neighbor Galyan’s can similarly adopt this good-neighbor, “better safe than sorry” policy and limit its Schaumburg gun sales to the shotguns and rifles more commonly used recreationally and not violently.
