Man scraps plans for Lake Zurich gun store

The businessman who wanted to open a gun store in Lake Zurich has dropped his plans after several residents took aim at his idea.

Scott Lewandowski withdrew his petition Wednesday to turn the soon-to-be empty post office building at 380 Surryse Road into a firing range and gun store because he was receiving complaints from residents.

"If they don't want my business in Lake Zurich, then I won't put it there," he said.

Lewandowski said most of the backlash for his idea seemed to stem from the St. Francis de Sales Catholic Parish, which he found frustrating.

"The priest shouldn't have anything to say about politics," he said. "They don't pay taxes, and there should be some separation of church and state. If citizens want to complain, that's one thing."

The Rev. David Ryan, a priest at St. Francis, did not return calls seeking comment.

Village President Suzanne Branding said she and Lewandowski discussed his plans after people in the St. Francis community criticized them.

"I think it was probably a good idea (the petition was withdrawn)," Branding said. "I got the feeling that he certainly didn't want to get everybody upset. He certainly wasn't looking for an issue; he was looking for a business."

Residents such as Kim Roach and Lynn O'Brien were part of a community effort last week to oppose the store and firing range. They said the business posed safety concerns for children in the mostly residential area.

"When I found out where it was so close to where kids are - that got me riled up," Roach said last week.

Lewandowski said his gun store and firing range would not have increased crime in Lake Zurich. He called that idea "ridiculous."

"Crime comes from illegal guns, gangs and drugs," Lewandowski said, adding none of them would be near his store. "The guns are not the matter."

He said the store would have offered gun safety classes, and he thinks it would have provided a service to the community. Hunters, police and ex-military could have used it.

Lewandowski said he will continue to look for a less controversial location in the area.