Bid to return gun shows to Alameda County Fairgrounds goes to mediation Around Town, posted by Editor, Pleasanton Weekly Online, on Apr 9, 2012 at 10:39 am
Gun shows at the Alameda County Fairgrounds are a step closer to reality, with both sides in a long-running battle agreeing to mediation ordered by a federal appeals court in San Francisco.
Read the full story here Web Link posted Monday, April 9, 2012, 7:20 AM
Posted by Daniel Bradford, a member of the Foothill High School community, on Apr 9, 2012 at 5:09 pm
"Gun show promoters Russell and Sally Nordyke claim an Alameda County law that restricts gun possession on county property effectively prevents them from holding shows at the fairgrounds. The law was enacted after a 1998 shooting there injured 16 people."
That last sentence decides it for me:
"The law was enacted after a 1998 shooting there injured 16 people."
One thing America doesn't need is more people with guns.
Posted by Peter Malloy, a resident of the Birdland neighborhood, on Apr 9, 2012 at 10:21 pm
Illegal guns used by criminals hurt people. Legal guns possessed by properly trained citizens protect citizens from criminals. bring back the gun shows.
Posted by Tennessee Jed, a resident of the Jensen Tract neighborhood, on Apr 10, 2012 at 6:09 am
So what's your point! Half the people in this country are fat. And as far as being board, it's incredible to me that you can determine that just by looking at anyone in the crowd.
Posted by TAK, a resident of the Oak Hill neighborhood, on Apr 10, 2012 at 9:00 am
Don't like guns - don't buy one. Don't like gun shows - don't go to one. I'm probably a little overweight but I'm certainly not bored and I do like gunshows.
You're far more likely to be injured/killed by an automobile than by any of my guns. I feel far more comfortable in an Arizona restaurant knowing 1 out of 5 people there are armed than I am in California where only criminals and politicians are armed.
Posted by Informed Resident, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Apr 10, 2012 at 9:33 am
The media should clarify that the 1998 shooting at the Fairgrounds happened during the July Fair event, NOT during a gun show. I recall that the shooter was a gang member from Richmond and he DID NOT buy his gun at a gun show.
Posted by Janice R. , a member of the Valley View Elementary School community, on Apr 10, 2012 at 10:25 am
Guns actually do kill people, when they are in the hands of unlawful, insecure, angry and anti-social people.
In all of my husbands and my years of attending various gun shows across the Western United States and participating in shooting and sporting events we have never encountered anything but law abiding, socially conscious, courteous and respectful like-minded folks. Unfortunately there will probably never be a consensus on this issue as long as there is an inane fear of firearms by certain members of society whose knee-jerk reaction to stem any further violence is to simply outlaw all weaponry.
The criminal element will NEVER abide by any such laws or rulings that affect their ability to possess guns, drugs, stolen vehicles, property, etc. The law-abiding citizenry (still at least) has a Constitutional right to gun ownership and to protect their self, family and property. To take those rights away will surely only lead the lambs to the slaughter by the unlawful ones.
Posted by Some Dude, a resident of the Avignon neighborhood, on Apr 10, 2012 at 11:11 am
Janice is right; why people fear guns is beyond me. They're designed solely for one purpose: to kill. See? Nothing to worry about! So come on down and bring the kiddies and remember, when teaching your kids about the joy of killing things, start with small, safe things that pose no threat and can't fight back, like bunnies and kitties.
Posted by Sam, a resident of the Oak Hill neighborhood, on Apr 10, 2012 at 11:12 am
Janice R. said: "In all of my husbands and my years of attending various gun shows across the Western United States and participating in shooting and sporting events we have never encountered anything but law abiding, socially conscious, courteous and respectful like-minded folks."
So are you saying that you think that 100% of the people who attend gun shows are "law abiding, socially conscious, courteous and respectful like-minded folks"? Not a single bad apple among the lot in all your years of attending gun shows?
I personally don't have any problems with responsible, law-abiding people going to gun shows and owning guns as long as they use the guns AND secure the guns properly. Unfortunately, I remember reading a few news stories where burglars would break into a home and make off with the owner's unsecured guns, which sort of nullifies the argument that citizen ownership of guns helps to fight crime. In these particular cases, citizen ownership of guns simply gave the bad guys a few more guns to play with. If you're going to own guns, be sure to securely lock them up so that the bad guys as well as any kids can't get to them.
Posted by Gabrielle Giffords, a resident of another community, on Apr 10, 2012 at 11:26 am
"I feel far more comfortable in an Arizona restaurant knowing 1 out of 5 people there are armed than I am in California where only criminals and politicians are armed." Signed, Gabrielle (if I hadn't been shot would have probably been in a car accident) Giffords
Fact is, get EVERY SINGLE QUESTION wrong regarding guns and children (minors) on the CAL test for gun ownership and one STILL PASSES the test.
Fact is, stupid people -- with problems compounded by hatred, fear and paranoia -- are who end up owning guns. Read Tennsee Jed, Steve from Parkside, TAK and Stan ... for starters. See what I mean?
Posted by TAK, a resident of the Oak Hill neighborhood, on Apr 10, 2012 at 2:07 pm
I am in the process of buying a new gun right now. To do so I must be 21 years old and pass a national agency check to verify that I have never committed a felony or been judged to be mentally incompetent. Additionally I have to have certification that I've passed a handgun safety course; in my case certified by 20 years of honorable service in the US military. Anyone buying a gun from a gun show dealer has to pass the same checks. Anyone can walk in but only those passing the requirements can purchase a gun.
I regret being called a killer of bunnies & kitties. I love my three cats and the only thing I've killed other than in war is a lot of paper with circles on it. Actually I don't always kill the target but I do seriously wound it.
Posted by Janice R. , a member of the Valley View Elementary School community, on Apr 10, 2012 at 5:57 pm
To answer our beloved "Sam."
Yes, yes, yes and hmmmmmmm come to think of it, absolutely yes. No disrespect sir but your comment sounds ominously similar to a good deal of the objections from people who have based their initial assumptions on the "gun crowd" from the stereotypical portrayal that the media likes to use into making us all look like inbred, toothless, neo-fascist, heartless killers. If you saw me around my grandchildren last Easter Sunday or at one of the downtown events that my ladies groups participate in or even coming out of church you might change your tone slightly young man.
Oh and regarding ANY of Gods living creatures, until we're that hungry or poor we've never laid single "bunny or kitten" to rest for sport of food. Fish on the other hand, we're guilty on a monumental or biblical scale.
Posted by Some Dude, a resident of the Avignon neighborhood, on Apr 10, 2012 at 8:16 pm
I presume you mean a tool...of righteousness!
Seriously, though, folks--guns are more important than ever in this savage time we live in. Gone are the protections of 20st century civilization, and now we need to arm ourselves against the possibility that King George III might return from the dead and try to reclaim the colonies. What if our armed forces get all wiped out? Then Pleasanton gun owners to the rescue, sez I!
Also, keep in mind all the life-threatening peril lurking around the corner in daily Pleasanton life: socialists, Mamma Grizzlies, parcel taxes, Skittles, abortionists, Kay Ayala, Terror Babies, death squads, Swankvillians, non-Christians, low-income housing, union thugs, new grocery stores, shifty-eyed, hoodie-wearing teens, coaches who don't give your kid enough playing time, a lot of paper with circles on it, Stacey & Kathleen, encroaching acceptance of homosexuality, evolution, overpaid teachers, Tim Hunt's new light bulbs, global warming, the lamestream media, Obama's plan to build madrassas on Neil Street, freedom-hating liberals, contraception, womans what don't know their place, Solyndra, and many more things to be afraid (very afraid!) of.
Arm yourselves, people! Shooting solves all of life's problems!
Posted by Barbarossa, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Apr 11, 2012 at 8:35 am
I enjoy the commenters who continue to trample a FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT which wasn't granted by the Bill of rights, but a isolated from the power of government.
"In order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its (government) powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added:". "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
This was settled in 2008 by the Supreme Court in Heller V. D.C.
Do the commenters voicing "no" fell the same about the exercise of free speech? Is the Fairground a sensitive place where free speech would profane ones ears?
Of course not, yet when it involves guns, people seen the "Oakland image" rather then the law abiding local citizens whom would benefit from this show.
Stop letting fear uncertainty and doubt control your actions.
It is absurd that the County has drug this out near a decade, and just now conceded that they could have the show if they wanted to cable lock the guns down...
Posted by Tom, a resident of another community, on Apr 11, 2012 at 10:07 am
Just about the safest place you can be on the Alameda County Fairgrounds is in the middle of a TS gun show, guns tethered or not.
In the trial the county has stated many times that the Nordyke's gun shows are held in a lawful manner with no illegal gun sales and no problems.
The reason why the county wants to ban them has nothing to do with safety, they want to make the exercise of our second amendment rights as difficult and inconvenient as possible. Instead of allowing comparison shopping and seeing a wide variety of new and used firearms, they would rather limit you to the few remaining small brick and mortar shops who all have small inventories and limited selections. Then they try hard to get rid of those shops too.
Gun owners and people who believe in our constitution are tired of dealing with this crap. We are going to have our gun shows and support our local shops.
We are going to protect ourselves when the police can not and make crooks think twice before they decide to harm people.
All of you people who would ignore the constitution are lucky because those crooks don't know how easy a target you are.
Posted by Jim G., a resident of the Ruby Hill neighborhood, on Apr 11, 2012 at 11:56 am
"Posted by Informed Resident, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Apr 10, 2012 at 9:33 am
The media should clarify that the 1998 shooting at the Fairgrounds happened during the July Fair event, NOT during a gun show. I recall that the shooter was a gang member from Richmond and he DID NOT buy his gun at a gun show."
Posted by Oliver Hevvy, a resident of the Val Vista neighborhood, on Apr 11, 2012 at 6:33 pm
Banning gun shows because some people got shot is like banning free speech because some people scream f*ck and n***** in public.
I hope the ruling is overturned, Offhand, it seems unconstitutionally broad.
As far as the likelihood of a gun crime at a gun show, not gonna happen. You'd have to be a world class fool to pull a gun at a place like that, and you'd be dead before you hit the ground.
Posted by Why, a resident of the Birdland neighborhood, on Apr 12, 2012 at 4:52 pm
Some dude...
Why does having a gun mean you kill living things?!? I think you are the one with the sick and twisted mind assuming, guns = killing living things all the time.
I really hope you never get a gun cus I'm going to assume you will go around killing living things.
Posted by Adam, a resident of the Grey Eagle Estates neighborhood, on Apr 12, 2012 at 5:02 pm
Dear "Why"
You make a very good point. I use my .44 Magnum to do gardening all the time. And I use my double-ott shot gun to stir whatever stew I have in my kettle.
View in an RSS Reader
E-mail this topic.
Print this topic.
