Minutes 1996 1021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minutes - City of San Leandro City Council and Page - 10 - Redevelopment Agency Meeting - October 21, 1996 6.6.11 Tom Guarino, Chamber of Commerce, said he appreciated the opportunity to discuss the issue. He said the Chamber opposes taxes on small businesses and said it sends a bad message. He said the opposition is based on the issue that a single product is being targeted. He said he hoped that the Council was receiving input from businesses and urged them to listen. 6.6.12 Rubin Vargas, 564 East 14th Street, is the co -owner of Chelsea's. He said a tax is being targeted to a few businesses. He referred to the Saturday Night Special ordinance; he has turned away sellers and the guns are being sold in other ways. He said he had turned away approximately 30 guns within the last month and now the guns are unprotected. He said the Council is responsible for putting these guns on the street. He said the issue is part of a political agenda. 6.6.13 Anthony Zimiac, 564 East 14th Street, said the Council is trying to put Traders out of business. He said the government cannot protect everyone; a handgun is the only way to defend ourselves. He opposes the tax because people need to have the ability to purchase guns. 6.6.14 Alfred Rentaria, 3284 Dominic Avenue, Castro Valley, said the tax will not solve anything. He said the issue came up by the City of Oakland to put pressure on Traders. He said there is no plan for the funds. He said public officials are putting pressure on the City Council. He said he would go elsewhere to purchase a gun and this will force Traders to close. 6.6.15 Cary Walker, 471 Santa Monica, said he had purchased an automatic gun several years ago and never has used it. He said where guns are allowed the crime rate goes down. He opposes the tax and wants to know who started the idea. 6.6.16 Larry Norry, 2532 Williams Street, said Mulford Gardens Improvement Association is against the gun tax. He asked the Council not to run Traders out of town. 6.6.17 Joel Hart, 13125 Neptune Drive, said he is a long -time resident and business owner. He said Traders is being attacked. He contributes to the tax base of San Leandro; he opposes the tax. He cited Highland Hospital's traumas and said it is not the guns but the drugs that are the problem. 6.6.18 Kae McGuire, 922 Rodney Drive, works with Californians for Responsible Gun Laws. She said she is looking for an answer as to why there are 40,000 deaths by guns each year. She cited an example of 400 guns purchased by one person and now the police are trying to control the repercussions that have occurred as a result of this one sale. Taxing guns acknowledges the problem that is pervasive in society. She said guns need to be controlled and less accessible. Domestic violence and suicides are resulting from easy access to guns.