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Glendale City Councilman Rafi Manoukian is pushing a ban of gun shows at Glendale Civic Auditorium. Mayor Frank Quintero is backing Manoukian's proposal, saying, "I think the time has come for this country to reexamine easy access to guns."
Manoukian tried to ban the gun show in 2006 but was unsuccessful. This time he's advocating banning the sale of guns within 1,000 feet of Glendale Community College, which would prevent the show from being held, as the auditorium is across the street. He cites the Dec. 14 massacre in Newtown, Conn., as the catalyst for trying again.
The gun show, held three times a year, is a source of revenue for Glendale, bringing in $54,473 in 2012. Glendale Gun Show spokesman Steve Friesen said, “our hearts are broken over the tragedy [in Connecticut].” His organization has been promoting gun shows in Glendale for more than 20 years, and Friesen says all transactions are in compliance with local, state and federal laws.
Q: What do you think of Manoukian's plan?
I'm all for it. “Are these violence-based and soul-destroying activities really the best use that we can make of this public venue?”, I asked in 2009 letter to the editor on gun sales (and prize fighting) in the Glendale Civic Auditorium.
Regarding the rental revenue, what's that warning about gaining the world but losing one's soul?
Yes, California's gun laws are fairly strong, but why should our city officially facilitate any potential access to guns with no legitimate civilian use? If a ban can't be achieved, perhaps a compromise could limit these shows to antique and collectible firearms, said to be their strength now.
Quixotic though efforts like Manoukian and Quintero's may be, the resulting discussion is how we change the culture, one person, one city at a time, moving us away from gun violence.
No doubt in response to yet another massacre, the Oct. 23, 2011 In Theory addressed gun control. Adding to what I said then, I don't agree that the 2nd Amendment confers an absolute individual right to gun ownership, and believe that even with the Supreme Court's regrettable decision, the government can greatly restrict guns without constitutional conflict.
It is surely evident to many, many Glendalians that Mayor Quintero is right when he says “the time has come for this country to reexamine easy access to guns.” Councilman Manoukian's proposal is a chance to participate locally in this reexamination. We can end gun sales in Glendale's Civic Auditorium and make horrors like Newtown a little less easy.
Roberta Medford
Atheist
Montrose
---
It’s a drop in the bucket of course; but maybe it’s a place to start. Or maybe the show could be allowed, but not the sale of assault weapons at the show.
I understand that there are layers of complexity here; issues of budget and income which translate into what other good can be done by the city; issues of the intersection of city ordinance with state and federal law. But I’m a priest, not a lawyer or politician, and I get to speak from the ground of ethical ideals.
And speaking ethically, this much at least is obvious: There’s just no way that the ability to kill dozens of people at once should be considered an inviolable right. Outside military use, automatic and semi-automatic assault weapons should be banned.
I like the Jewish tradition of “building a fence” around the Torah (Pirkei Avot 1.1) — not only upholding the ethical standard itself, but guarding the paths that might lead to its violation. If “thou shalt not murder” is the commandment, (Exodus 20:13), then in order to build a fence around it, the ownership of weapons meant solely to inflict mass casualties should also be prohibited.
Personally, I’d love to see all guns banned. But I’ve had friends who are real hunters, and have friends who work in law enforcement and keep a weapon at home. And I know the lessons of history too, which tell us that if we banned all guns everywhere, it would give the government the terrifying power to turn the military against its citizens. I understand the need to redefine rather than abolish the 2nd Amendment.
Manoukian tried to ban the gun show in 2006 but was unsuccessful. This time he's advocating banning the sale of guns within 1,000 feet of Glendale Community College, which would prevent the show from being held, as the auditorium is across the street. He cites the Dec. 14 massacre in Newtown, Conn., as the catalyst for trying again.
The gun show, held three times a year, is a source of revenue for Glendale, bringing in $54,473 in 2012. Glendale Gun Show spokesman Steve Friesen said, “our hearts are broken over the tragedy [in Connecticut].” His organization has been promoting gun shows in Glendale for more than 20 years, and Friesen says all transactions are in compliance with local, state and federal laws.
Q: What do you think of Manoukian's plan?
I'm all for it. “Are these violence-based and soul-destroying activities really the best use that we can make of this public venue?”, I asked in 2009 letter to the editor on gun sales (and prize fighting) in the Glendale Civic Auditorium.
Regarding the rental revenue, what's that warning about gaining the world but losing one's soul?
Yes, California's gun laws are fairly strong, but why should our city officially facilitate any potential access to guns with no legitimate civilian use? If a ban can't be achieved, perhaps a compromise could limit these shows to antique and collectible firearms, said to be their strength now.
Quixotic though efforts like Manoukian and Quintero's may be, the resulting discussion is how we change the culture, one person, one city at a time, moving us away from gun violence.
No doubt in response to yet another massacre, the Oct. 23, 2011 In Theory addressed gun control. Adding to what I said then, I don't agree that the 2nd Amendment confers an absolute individual right to gun ownership, and believe that even with the Supreme Court's regrettable decision, the government can greatly restrict guns without constitutional conflict.
It is surely evident to many, many Glendalians that Mayor Quintero is right when he says “the time has come for this country to reexamine easy access to guns.” Councilman Manoukian's proposal is a chance to participate locally in this reexamination. We can end gun sales in Glendale's Civic Auditorium and make horrors like Newtown a little less easy.
Roberta Medford
Atheist
Montrose
---
It’s a drop in the bucket of course; but maybe it’s a place to start. Or maybe the show could be allowed, but not the sale of assault weapons at the show.
I understand that there are layers of complexity here; issues of budget and income which translate into what other good can be done by the city; issues of the intersection of city ordinance with state and federal law. But I’m a priest, not a lawyer or politician, and I get to speak from the ground of ethical ideals.
And speaking ethically, this much at least is obvious: There’s just no way that the ability to kill dozens of people at once should be considered an inviolable right. Outside military use, automatic and semi-automatic assault weapons should be banned.
I like the Jewish tradition of “building a fence” around the Torah (Pirkei Avot 1.1) — not only upholding the ethical standard itself, but guarding the paths that might lead to its violation. If “thou shalt not murder” is the commandment, (Exodus 20:13), then in order to build a fence around it, the ownership of weapons meant solely to inflict mass casualties should also be prohibited.
Personally, I’d love to see all guns banned. But I’ve had friends who are real hunters, and have friends who work in law enforcement and keep a weapon at home. And I know the lessons of history too, which tell us that if we banned all guns everywhere, it would give the government the terrifying power to turn the military against its citizens. I understand the need to redefine rather than abolish the 2nd Amendment.
