Police shut down gun sale in Palatine hotel
Scott Sehnert left out a fairly crucial word when he applied for his business license in Palatine last month.
The owner of Rivertown Coin and Collectibles Inc., of Sartell, Minn., wrote the village to say he'd be at Hotel Indigo for a five-day event to buy gold and silver scrap, coins, sterling and antiques.
There was no mention of the gun dealer who'd be on hand.
Monday, Palatine officials saw the full-page newspaper ads offering up to $20,000 for Civil War-era rifles and double-barrel shotguns - and pulled the plug on firearms sales before they began.
"It was my fault that I didn't tell them I'd be buying guns," Sehnert said. "(The village and police) have been very understanding."
All Tuesday morning, Sehnert's wife, Mary, had to break the news to dozens of people who showed up armed with handguns, muskets and swords. She said about half the customers showed up with weapons to sell.
Robert Slattery of Winfield brought a 19th-century rifle a friend had in his basement.
"We were really just hoping to find out what it is and how much it's worth," Slattery said.
In the parking lot, he showed off the relic to Robert Belluomini, a South Elgin man who came with several Japanese swords. Those weren't allowed in, but Belluomini did sell a 1939 medal from Nazi Germany known as a "Mother's Cross" for $75.
Sehnert said this was the first time in 20 years he's been told he couldn't buy guns. He didn't believe he had to get the OK at the municipal level because he's a federally licensed gun dealer.
Palatine's Deputy Village Manager Mike Jacobs said Sehnert apologized and called the incident an oversight on his part.
"Now there's just not enough time or resources to work with the state or ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives)," Jacobs said, adding the police department might have wanted to up its presence if they'd been warned about the gun sale.
Attendance isn't likely to suffer too much given the rising popularity of these events.
"The price of gold and silver are sky high, the economy stinks and people have something in every cupboard," Sehnert said.
The event will continue - without the gun deals - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Saturday. For more information, call (847) 890-0720.