Chicago Bans Cell Phone Cases That Resemble Guns

CHICAGO (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The Chicago City Council has voted to outlaw cellphone cases made to look like real guns.

Aldermen approved an ordinance on Wednesday morning after receiving a show-and-tell presentation with the cases.

Ald. Edward Burke (14th), chairman of the Chicago City Council Finance Committee, said he sponsored the measure because he wants to make sure a police officer doesn't mistake the case for a real gun. Burke said he wanted to stop the cases from becoming prevalent in Chicago before a tragedy occurs.

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Burke's ordinance makes it illegal to possess a gun-shaped cellphone case or other product. People caught with them would face fines up to $750.

Chicago Fraternal Order of Police president Dean Angelo wants the cases outlawed. He pointed to the police shooting last year of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old Cleveland boy who was holding a toy gun.

Earlier this month, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) called on online retailers to to stop selling the cases, calling them "a disaster waiting to happen."

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