Chicagoland gun shop that topped ‘Bad Apple’ list for links to crimes closes doors

COOK COUNTY, Ill. (WGN) — A firearms store linked to gun crimes in Chicago and that the Brady Campaign included on its list of ‘Bad Apple’ retailers has closed up shop.

Chuck’s Gun Shop and Pistol Range in Riverdale closed at the start of the year, the Chicago Tribune reported.

According to a 2017 gun trace report, about 1,000 weapons purchased from the store were recovered from crime scenes.

“While most gun stores follow both the spirit and the letter of the law in trying to keep guns out of dangerous hands, other like Chuck’s simply flood the streets of Chicago with thousands of guns,” the gun control non-profit Brady Campaign said at the time.

The shop became the target of anti-gun protests, including a 2007 demonstration that lead to the arrest of Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. and the Rev. Michael Pfleger, senior pastor at The Faith Community of Saint Sabina.

In a brief statement about the closure, Pfleger called the closure “great news for Chicago,” adding: “Thank you God!!!”