Residents concerned over gun wholesaler relocating to Mount Prospect

Editor’s note: This article was updated with new information about the nature of the business and its location.

A firearms wholesaler has a group of residents concerned over its relocation from Des Plaines to Mount Prospect.

The petitioner, Zastava Arms LLC and Redstar Ordnance LLC had asked Mount Prospect to amend its code to allow the operation of the facility on Weiler Road on the village’s southern edge.

It would not be a public-facing retail firearms dealer, Mount Prospect officials said. The business sends its product to distributors.

Although the matter was on Tuesday’s agenda, the village board decided to postpone the discussion because of the absence of two trustees, Terri Gens and Colleen Saccotelli.

Village officials said Zastava has since withdrawn its request, adding the county informed ATF that they do not have jurisdiction.

The company approached Mount Prospect about the property more than four years ago. Its lease in Des Plaines runs out in July, but the owner said it actually began operating in Mount Prospect in May.

Mount Prospect Community Development Director Jason Shallcross said the text amendment was requested because of a possible conflict with Cook County regulations mandating a one-mile separation from schools and parks.

The Mount Prospect location sits near the Interstate 90 interchange. It is about 400 feet from Metro Prep, a private school, and near Majewski Metro Park, which is visible to commuters along the tollway.

The village’s text amendment would have imposed a quarter-mile separation and supersede the county’s requirement.

The matter drew pushback from residents and anti-gun violence advocates. Several showed up at Tuesday’s meeting and one village resident, Katherine Burton, said she sent written questions to trustees and Mayor Paul Hoefert.

“I don't see any benefit to the community in allowing them to open up in Mount Prospect,” she said, expressing concern about opening the door to retail dealers or shooting ranges.

Arlington Heights resident Mary Kay Baldino was concerned about the potential precedent.

“It's not just about this one business,” she said. “It's really much bigger than that, because any gun dealer could then operate in Mount Prospect within a quarter-mile of a school or park where our kids are.”

Not all residents oppose the relocation. Mount Prospect resident Dutch DeGroot called it a viable business, pointing out they don’t sell the guns outright.

“Does anybody really think that there's going to be a flood of gun manufacturers coming to Mount Prospect?” He asked.