The Latest: Chicago disappointed in gun-range ruling

CHICAGO (AP) - The Latest on a federal appeals court striking key parts of Chicago gun range ordinance (all times local):

3:40 p.m.

Chicago officials are expressing disappointment in a federal court ruling that said city restrictions on publicly accessible gun ranges violated the Second Amendment.

A statement issued Thursday on behalf of Mayor Rahm Emanuel says his "top priority is keeping children and families safe." It adds that "the last thing" Chicago needs "are more guns around the city."

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled late Wednesday that restricting shooting ranges to manufacturing areas and bans minors at the ranges were among the unconstitutional provisions.

Chicago officials have blamed the proliferation of guns for persistently high homicide rates. But they have struggled to craft laws acceptable to the courts ever since the Supreme Court in 2010 struck the city's total ban on guns.

Thursday's statement didn't mention specific legal options the city might take, only that it's "evaluating the next steps."

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12:01 a.m.

Chicago has lost another round in its effort to restrict the operation of gun ranges in the city.

A U.S. Court of Appeals on Wednesday held as unconstitutional ordinances restricting gun ranges to manufacturing areas in Chicago. The ordinances also placed limits on the distances they can be located in relation to residential areas, schools, parks and places of worship.

The court also ruled there was no justification for banning of anyone under 18 years from entering a gun range.

A city spokesman wasn't immediately available for comment on the court's ruling.

Chicago imposed a blanket ban on shooting ranges in 2010. The Court of Appeals struck down the ban in 2011, prompting the city council to pass ordinances accomplishing the same thing. The Second Amendment Foundation and others took the city to court over the ordinances in 2014.