Rifle Association Plans Counter Protest at New Portillo’s in Deerfield

DEERFIELD, IL — If you are planning to enjoy the hot dogs, milkshake and throwback 1970s atmosphere at the new Portillo’s on its opening day Tuesday, be prepared to deal with a lot of gun talk. Both for and against.

One day after North Shore anti-gun group Peaceful Communities announced plans to protest the opening over Portillo’s management’s alleged refusal to consider banning guns in its restaurants, the Illinois State Rifle Association has made a call for gun supporters to stage a counter protest.

Peaceful Communities has “found another business to target, this week, picking on the new Portillo's Restaurant set to open in Deerfield on Tuesday morning,” the Illinois State Rifle Association wrote in an action alert on Monday.

Related: Anti-Gun Group to Protest Opening of Portillo’s in Deerfield Tuesday

Portillo's in Deerfield Will Be Area's 1st With a 1970s Theme

“Portillo's locations don't post ‘no-guns’ signs in locations in Illinois, and like the rest of the Illinois, there are no negative incidents involving Illinois CCL holders… Please stop by and show this group of clowns that they can't bully business owners.”

Peaceful Communities has targeted Portillo’s because its restaurants do not post “no guns” signs in their windows, which is an option for businesses in Illinois. The anti-gun group’s planned Tuesday protest is part of what it calls a “shop safer” campaign to indicate which stores allow guns and which do not.

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