Suburb repeals its landmark handgun ban

MORTON GROVE, Ill., July 29 (UPI) -- A Chicago suburb has ended its 27-year-old handgun ban to avoid an expensive legal battle following the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on gun control.

The Morton Grove village board voted 5-1 Monday night to drop the handgun ordinance, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Trustee Dan Staackmann called the ban "a noble experiment."

"We don't have the money to fight this all the way," he said.

In 1981, Morton Grove became the first city or town in the country to ban handguns completely. The Illinois Supreme Court upheld its ordinance in 1984.

While the ordinance attracted national attention when it was adopted, it was repealed with little notice.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently found Washington's ban on gun ownership unconstitutional, ruling that the Second Amendment gives citizens the right to possess guns for self-defense.