Schaumburg preparing for Dick's plan to sell handguns

In a community as known for business as Schaumburg, the renovation or replacement of large stores has become a tried-and-true exercise for village staff members and officials.

But the expansion of gun sales to include handguns is causing them to take extra care with the proposed addition of a Field & Stream store within the existing Dick's Sporting Goods at Streets of Woodfield shopping center.

Expected to go before the village's zoning board of appeals at 7 p.m. Wednesday, the proposal had been scratched from the agendas of four previous meetings as the village staff worked to draft the security protocols in the ordinance exactly right.

“We just want to make sure that it's done in as safe a way as possible,” said Tom Farace, Schaumburg's planning and permits manager.

Working closely with the village's police department, planners included protocols requiring background checks and training for the store staff, overnight storage of firearms and ammunition, and the escorting of new purchases off the premises.

“They'll have more security cameras for that part of the store, and that makes sense,” Farace said.

Field & Stream will occupy the sporting goods store's second floor, where the handguns will be sold. Dick's sells only long guns like rifles.

Village officials said their history with Dick's Sporting Goods, as well as its reputation and location, was a helpful starting point for the new protocols.

“We have not had any issues with Dick's,” Village Manager Brian Townsend said. “We see them as a responsible retailer who wants to run a good business.”

Townsend said he recently saw a combined Dick's and Field & Stream store during a family visit to Champaign and thought it a good concept.

At the Streets of Woodfield location, the east facade of the store facing Route 53 will be changed to the lodge-like appearance of a Field & Stream store.

Though applications for permits traditionally move from the village staff to the zoning board to the village board, Mayor Al Larson said he and his fellow elected officials were made aware early of the plan to sell handguns at Field & Stream.

“I can't think of any other restrictions we could possibly recommend as far as weapons are concerned,” Larson said. “I think it certainly beats the bad old days when anyone could open their own little gun shop.”

Larson said he is unaware of any previous problems or issues with the sale of guns at Dick's.

“It's an appropriately zoned gun shop,” he said. “I think this is an appropriate venue for the sale of firearms.”

Although Dick's has been selling long guns without issue, Schaumburg Police Chief Jim Lamkin said the expansion to handgun sales was an opportunity to take another look at the security protocols.

“They're going to attract a little different market than they did in the past,” Lamkin said.

Hoffman Estates had no gun stores until the 2007 opening of Cabela's in the Prairie Stone Business Park. It's been a problem-free experience, Mayor Bill McLeod said.

“We had to make sure that everything was reported accurately,” he said.

McLeod believes the commercial environments of the Prairie Stone Business Park and Streets of Woodfield create the best possible locations for gun sales.

“I think the location is the real key,” he said. “It's more the perception. The normal criminal doesn't go to Cabela's or Dick's to buy guns.”

Once Hoffman Estates police signed off on Cabela's security protocols, the business began running smoothly without the need for constant oversight, police Sgt. Kasia Cawley said.

“One thing I can say about Cabela's is that their security is phenomenal,” Cawley said.

Representatives of Dick's Sporting Goods did not return calls seeking comment.