Cabela's campaigns against proposed county gun ban

The Cabela's Outdoor Superstore in Hoffman Estates is warning that a proposed Cook County gun-control measure threatens its very existence and the 300 jobs it provides.

It's unclear how -- or even if -- the ordinance would affect the outdoor gear superstore, or whether the measure will ever gain enough support to pass.

But Cabela's officials aren't taking any chances.

The outdoor gear chain has set up a special Web site -- cabhoffmanestates.com -- warning that the proposed measure "threaten(s) to put Cabela's and other retailers out of business" and suggesting jobs and tax revenues are at stake.

Cabela's, which sells firearms ranging from assault-style to antiques to outdoor and gun enthusiasts, has sent similar mailings to its customers, urging them to lobby against the ordinance.

"Let me just say it would be a significant impact to our business were this legislation to pass," Cabela's spokesman John Castillo said. "I think it's premature for us to speculate the outcome of our future at this time."

The proposal by Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin would ban gun shows and prohibit gun sales within a mile of a park or school. Cabela's is a little more than a half-mile from Prairie Stone Sports and Wellness Center, a local park district facility.

Suffredin lost his bid Tuesday for the Democratic nomination for Cook County state's attorney, placing third among six candidates. He couldn't be reached Wednesday but has in the past denied the gun-control measure was a campaign tactic.

County Commissioner Timothy Schneider of Bartlett, whose district includes Hoffman Estates, says he doesn't think there's enough support on the county board to pass Suffredin's measure.

Cabela's opened its $32 million superstore in September with the help of $18 million in incentives from Hoffman Estates.

In turn, the store is projected to bring about $1.8 million to the village and $675,000 to Cook County in yearly sales tax receipts.

With that much money at stake, Suffredin said he doubts Cabela's would want to close.

Though he said he's never been inside a Cabela's, Suffredin has long been a proponent of gun control, supporting the county ban on assault weapons in 2006.

That's agitated the Illinois Rifle Association and its president, Richard Pearson. He was among the first to raise the concern that the ordinance's aim was to shut down Cabela's.

"We believe it infringes on people's civil rights. It doesn't matter how small or how large of a store you are," he said, calling Suffredin's ordinance a campaign stunt.

Suffredin, who had said he'd be the gun lobby's "worst nightmare" if elected state's attorney, nonetheless denied targeting Cabela's.

Rather, he's said he was open to a stipulation that gun sales would have to be a certain percentage of a store's total sales in order for his ordinance to apply.

Though he hadn't had direct contact with Cabela's officials, Suffredin said the stipulation offer was rejected. An exemption could lead to bitterness between Cabela's and smaller firearms dealers.

"I have heard talk of an exemption being made, but it's not something we are approaching," Castillo said.

Schneider contends Hoffman Estates' law would take precedence over the county's. That's according to a report Schneider said was prepared for him by the state's attorney's office.

Suffredin disagreed with the report and notes two cases where Cook County law has trumped a home-rule community's -- the public smoking ban and the ban on mopeds.

Hoffman Estates Mayor William McLeod shares the concerns of other leaders of home-rule communities. They worry their authority would be trumped by another government, whether that be state or county.