A federal district court judge in Illinois has ruled that state’s ban on licensed concealed carry aboard public transit violates the Second Amendment. The case is known as Schoenthal v. Raoul.
In a 50-page decision, U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston in the Northern District of Illinois, Western Division, found for four plaintiffs who brought a lawsuit to carry concealed firearms on Metra and on Metra’s real property.
Metra is the primary commuter rail system in the Chicago metropolitan area. The system operates 243 stations on 11 rail lines and is the fourth busiest commuter rail system in the United States by ridership and the largest and busiest commuter rail system outside the New York City metropolitan area.
The winning gun-rights plaintiffs were Benjamin Schoenthal (part of the suit name), Mark Wroblewski, Joseph Vesel and Douglas Winston. In addition, Vesel and Winston also won the ability to ride on CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) and be on CTA property.
Plaintiffs are represented by attorney David Sigale of Wheaton, Ill. The other name in the suit is defendant Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and the Firearms Policy Coalition financially supported the legal challenge.
“This is a significant victory for legally armed Illinois residents who rely on public transit,” said Second Amendment Foundation founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “It is important that the court recognized Cook County Attorney [Kimberly M.] Foxx’s argument that the ban was legal because Illinois is acting as a property owner was ‘breathtaking, jaw dropping and eyepopping,’ and that wasn’t a compliment. It demonstrates how far government will reach in an attempt to justify its effort to restrict Second Amendment rights.”
SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut. “Illinois was attempting to perpetuate an indefensible policy of public disarmament, and Judge Johnston’s ruling brings that to a halt.”
