Protesters march against violence at suburban gun store

May 26, 2007 (WLS) -- A gun shop in south suburban Riverdale was the target of a demonstration against gun violence Saturday.

Protestors claim weapons sold at the store in Riverdale have been used to commit murder.

There are about 10 gun stores just outside the city limits. Mayor Daley, members of law enforcement and others have long voiced concern that guns sold in those stores find their way into the hands of those committing crimes inside the city. Gun possession and sales are illegal within city limits. So, demonstrators took their anger to the suburbs Saturday.

"We must turn our mourning into marching," said the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who joined the marchers.

Blair Holt, 16, died earlier this month when he became the unintended target of a gunman's rage on a CTA bus. His parents Ronald and Annette Holt join hundreds of others marching on Chuck's Gun Shop.

"To all those people watching me: It could be your child next. So, you better stand up and do something now," said Annette Holt.

The Reverend Jesse Jackson claims weapons sold at Chuck's Gun have ended up in the hands of criminals. But, he says, the root of the problem reaches far beyond one store in one city.

"These guns are killing police, civilians, they're killing our children," said Jackson, of the Rainbow Push Coaltion. "In Iraq, we'd call that an insurgent's base. They'd close it down to protect the soldiers. Here, it must be closed down to protect the children."

Protest organizers say they suspect this gun shop is a store of choice for gang members. But, they can't prove it since current laws make tracing sales difficult.

The manager of the gun shop says he follows the letter of the law.

"[We] fill out the paperwork, I call the state police, they run a background check and give you a thumbs up or down. It's not my call," said John Riggio, the gun store's owner.

A small group of gun rights advocates greeted Rev. Jackson and other marchers with their own signs and copies of the constitution.

"Everyone should not have to be punished because there are bad guys out there who still get guns," said gun supporter Jason Covault.

Blair Holt's parents say the issue goes beyond guns to parental responsibility.

"You can't imagine what pain I feel losing my child," Annette Holt said. "Every mother and father needs to look at their children and raise them. =Stop turning them over to the gangs and streets."

Riverdale, where the gun store is located, is a community that restricts most gun purchases to one per month. From time to time, protestors target Chuck's Gun Shop, but there have been any charges that the gun stores breaks the law.

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