Law Would Ban Gun Sales Near Day Care Centers

[JohnRich 4]

News, Bellingham, Washington:

Law would ban gun sales near city day care centers

Gun sales would be banned near the city's 50 state-licensed day care centers, 19 public schools and four colleges, under a draft law. It would also ban sales near at least 13 private and religious schools.

The proposed law, which the City Council will consider approving Monday, May 18, would allow existing gun dealers to continue operating, even if they were near a school, but it would ban new locations from opening and selling within 500 feet of schools.

State law allows cities to ban gun sales within 500 feet of "primary and secondary school grounds." City staff drafted a law that defines schools as including day cares, public and private schools and preschools, and staff added colleges to the definition, at the direction of the council.

"It doesn't make sense to say a 4-year-old should not be given any protection because they're not yet in kindergarten," he previously told the council.

Source: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/912057.html

Is it proper to treat gun stores and pawn shops, like purveyors of pornography or strip bars?

[Lefty 0]

From the article:

"City officials want to prevent passers-by from seeing somebody with a gun near a school, calling police and triggering a lockdown and major police response to a false alarm."

This is the only aspect that could possibly make the restriction law useful, instead of the standard feel-good, please-won't-someone-think-of-the-children, anti-gun idiocy. It's hard to see the point of it, though, when they're grandfathering in existing businesses anyway.

Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful.
-Calvin

[Butters 0]

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It's hard to see the point of it, though, when they're grandfathering in existing businesses anyway.

This law will prevent new business from opening. All they have to do is figure out how to close the old ones ... give it time.

"That looks dangerous." Leopold Stotch

[councilman24 37]

Walmart? That's one of them.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[BikerBabe 0]

it's just a strange law...first thought i had was "weird"

Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!

[bodypilot90 0]

Quote

Is it proper to treat gun stores and pawn shops, like purveyors of pornography or strip bars?

no!

[lawrocket 3]

Quote

"City officials want to prevent passers-by from seeing somebody with a gun near a school, calling police and triggering a lockdown and major police response to a false alarm."

Hmm. So, I suppose that people just purchase guns without cases or anything of that sort. A gun is sold, the buyer tucks the gun into the pocket of waistband and goes from there. I see. That makes sense. A lot of sense. Tons.

Next, a law will be passed banning the possession of suitcases, briefcases and lunch boxes within 500 feet of school. "I saw this kid carrying a plastic box. I thought it looked like a gun case. I mean, he could easily have put a .38 snub nose in there."

"Such is the danger of persons with guns. As a result, we must ensure that such false alarms are not raised and our communities are safe. Therefore, all briefcases, suitcases, lunch boxes, or any other containers of a dimension that may hold one or more firearms shall be banned. within 500 feet of schools and day care centers."

"Mr. Politician, sir. What about lunchboxes and backpacks? How will these kids get their homework and meals to and from school?"

"Homework shall be performed at the school, and we will fund meal programs. This will require an increased property tax of $10.00 per thousand dollars of assessed propery value. For the safety of the children."

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[councilman24 37]

Should purveyors of pornography or strip bars be limited from opening near a school or day care? Aren't both rights, to bear arms and free speach, of equal value? Is one right more equal?

It's probably a useless law, but I'm not sure that porn shop laws aren't also. Except to placate the electorate that elected the representative to goverment, the state reps that allowed the law and the City leaders that will have to vote on.

But it IS representative government. There are always groups with other view points. I've delt with a number of similar issues; a kitchen table gun dealer wanting to renew with the feds now checking to see if a business was allowed at the address of record (he got a variance), a church objecting to a restraunt across the street having a liquor license, an adult toy store going in a block from city hall, to Walmart (non gun issue) going in across the stream from a neighborhood. Those selected (elected) will enact laws and make decisions that match their views and those of their supporters.

The judicial will decide if the will of the many outweighs the rights of the few.

? Should day cares and schools be prohibited from opening near the grandfathered gun dealers?

Our city ordinances prohibit a porn shop from opening near a school or day care but don't prohibit a day care from opening near a porn shop. Is this right if we want to protect children?

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

Is it proper to treat gun stores and pawn shops, like purveyors of pornography or strip bars?

The problem is with such blanket restrictions on anything with X hundred feet, esp when that 500 becomes 800 or 1500. Americans can't walk that far anyway, what does it matter if there is a strip club over there?

The purpose of such legislation is to make it nearly impossible for a new business to be opened. Preschoolers are going to have a hard time getting the gun store to sell them a piece. Even those criminal straw buyers aren't doing to deal with a 4 year old.

[christelsabine 1]

Quote

....
Is it proper to treat gun stores and pawn shops, like purveyors of pornography or strip bars?

No, of course not! Let them kids start early, much earlier, at an age of about 4, how to properly use guns:

http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=10380123

Good luck

dudeist skydiver # 3105

[Lefty 0]

Once you carry the proposed law to its logical conclusion, it's either foolish or sinister.

Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful.
-Calvin

[JohnRich 4]

The premise seems to be that guns stores should be banned within 500' of schools, because exposing children to the sight of guns sends "the wrong message".

Well, if that's so, then why do we constantly expose children to guns in video games, TV shows and movies?

If one is bad, they should all be bad. If some are okay, then they should all be okay. There's something incongruous about this position...

[Krip 2]

Hi JR

Very strange, don't know what's driving that train.

We live in Wa state. The state has a open carry law, (can carry gun in open without a permit) not sure if there's a 500' minimum distance from schools.

Wa State has imo very liberal gun permit rules. If you want a permit and haven't been convicted you get a permit in a couple of weeks.No safety class's required.

With permit in hand waiting period to buy a gun is zero.

One Jump Wonder

[masterblaster72 0]

In light of the all the schoolyard shootings that have occurred over the years, the last thing we want to do is restrict toddlers and youngins from purchasing firearms to protect themselves from future shootings.

Children should be able to buy a pack of lemonheads during recess and a revolver if they so wish. Anything less is shitting on the second amendment and therefore on our American way of life. So I voted that this is a bad law.

Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

[steve1 5]

When I was a teacher, several years back, I was handing out Weekly Readers to my students to read. One of the articles on the front page had the headlines..."Just Say No to Guns".

I couldn't believe it. Isn't that what kids are taught when dealing with something bad. I thought, "What kind of bullshit is this?" And yes, the entire article was more or less just that.

We had a discussion in class, and I let my students know how I felt.

In Montana most kids grow up with guns. Hunting is something families do for recreation, and it's a way to get meat. Many use a gun to kill a crippled animal on the farm, or you might use a gun to kill a steer when butchering time came. We'd use a gun to kill skunks in our chicken house.

When I was still a boy, my Dad would leave me for days at a time in the back country. He'd also leave a 30/30 just in case a bear came into camp. We had that same 30/30 to defend our home. You couldn't count on a cop to save you when you lived miles from town.

During the Fall, I'd have a rifle in my pickup, most days. I'd even take it to school with me, and hunt with it when the school day ended. Many other kids did the same at my high school. Guess what, nothing bad ever happened.

And now you have educators teaching kids that guns are bad....Even the sight of a gun is something to be feared....I just don't get it!

And then, what are kids being allowed to do after school? Most are watching the most violent garbage you can imagine on TV and playing violent video games. They'd rather be spending time with Mom and Dad, but they are too busy doing their own thing.

Maybe it's time America started looking for the real source of the violence problem, rather than just blaming guns....