Proposed gun ordinance may impact Pleasant Hill’s firearm acquisition law
Celeste Paradise, a resident of Pleasant Hill for eight years sung a song of concern to the Pleasant Hill City Council inside the Council Chamber on Monday Oct. 21. Ms. Paradise was one of many public attendees voicing their concern for the proposed gun ordinance that would hinder the ability to obtain and sell firearms if the ordinance passes.
October 23, 2013
After a heated segment of public comments, voting on the proposed gun ordinance is still up in the air due to a premature departure by council member David Durant.
Vice Mayor Jack Weir expressed his discontent with Durant’s early exit. “It is completely inappropriate,” Weir said. “I am unhappy that we weren’t able to take care of an important piece of business tonight.”
On the table for approximately three weeks, the proposed Pleasant Hill gun ordinance was brought up for public comment at the scheduled City Council meeting on Monday Oct. 22. And public response was what they got.
“That’s a blow to my childhood, and that’s a blow to being an American” Andre Lapage, a resident of Pleasant Hill since 1979, said of the ordinance to encumber the obtaining of firearms in Pleasant Hill.
The City Council Chamber was packed to the brim, with adamant residents and non-residents alike – some of them bearing picket signs. One-by-one the names of the speakers were called to the podium to voice their concerns or support of the ordinance. In this case, there were many more concerns than supportive comments.
The issue at hand brought about an uneasiness that spread throughout the room, showing the concern for the two local gun stores in Pleasant Hill. The concerns were made more than apparent.
“I always find them [Pleasant Hill gun shops] run by truly safe, responsible and professional people,” Earl Burris, a Contra Costa County resident, said of the two Pleasant Hill gun shops City Arms and Gun Works.
Yan Traytel, store owner of Gun Works, voiced that he has donated over 30,000 dollars to DVC’s track and field program. If the ordinance passes it would inhibit him from expanding and the store would need to move cities. This was one of several relations to the community that were made throughout the night.
A decision was made to postpone voting on the ordinance until November 4th, despite the discontent of the public attendees.
The council also decide not to pursue a change in smoking area law in downtown Pleasant Hill by a 2-2 vote.
Julian Mark, Copy Editor, contributed to this story.
