PC 11/12/97 - Laserfiche WebLink

" ,J that the security guard was sleeping on the job and was disturbed to find that a bomb-making kit was for sale at the gun show. Ms. Rowland does not believe that home FFL dealers are properly monitored and does not believe their homes are without inventory. She urged the Commission to support the ordinance because she does not feel it is appropriate for residential neighborhoods and noted that the ordinance will still allow gun sales in other approved districts. Duane R. Darr, 5334 Avenida Almendros, San Jose, stated that the staff report contained "serious problems" in that it makes unsubstantiated claims throughout. He further stated that parts of it were copied almost verbatim from the Legal Community Against Violence handbook. He noted that staff failed to include in their report that there have been no reported incidents of theft or crime at FFL dealers homes. Mr. Darr stated that the BATF has concluded that residential dealers are not involved in an illegal gun market and that only 1 % were in it for crime-related reasons. He urged the Commission to reject the proposed ordinance and to initiate an unbiased investigation in order to make an informed decision. David Keegan, 3327 Cashdan Court, Santa Clara, stated that he agrees with Mr. Darr "wholeheartedly." He said that there has never been any criminal activity or any other problems with gun shows at the Fairgrounds and asked the Commission to oppose the ordinance. Paul Howell, 1920 Valdosth Court, Pleasanton, stated that he is against a zoning ordinance at the Fairgrounds and against the restrictions that the proposed ordinance would place on home firearms dealers. He stated that he has attended many guns shows and that although he has ever purchased a gun there, he has bought camping and fishing equipment. He also noted that in order to purchase a gun at the Fairgrounds, a person has to fill out the paperwork and wait 15 days for the permit to be approved before he can obtain possession of the gun. He feels that home FFL dealers would never sell a gun to anybody whose intentions seemed questionable, which is not necessarily the case in stores who will sell to whoever has the money to buy. He does not feel that the ordinance will stop the sale of firearms, but will just make it more difficult for law-abiding citizen to purchase firearms. He told the Commission that if they were really looking to stop violence, then they should look elsewhere. Carol Edgren, 4588 Del Valle Parkway, Pleasanton, asked staff to specifically state the problems that are occurring in FFL dealers' home that would substantiate a need for an ordinance change. She asked whether other home businesses were being targeted, and Commissioner Barker advised her that all home business, such as daycares, swimming and piano lessons are subject to the same type of review. Ms. Edgren stated that FFL dealers are not a problem in the City or at the Fairgrounds. Roger Gathers, 1212 Harvest Road, Pleasanton, stated that the proposed ordinance assumes that guns are a threat and he does not believe that is true. He stated that the hardware is not the problem, it's the people who own them. He noted that the County Fairgrounds belong to everybody and, therefore, gun sales should not be prohibited there. No stated that gun shows present no public health threat and that all sales there are subject to the same guidelines as if Planning Commission Minutes Page 9 November 12, 1997