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REGULAR MEETING JUNE 13, 2011 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />three 4’ shelves worth all in locked display cases. He stated that Wal-Mart does this in <br />numerous stores throughout the country, there are a number of stores in Indiana which <br />they are also re-introducing this and this is the only one that requires a special hearing. <br />He stated that they have also tendered a plan of operation to assure that Wal-Mart will be <br />acting responsibly and safely. He noted that it is not required in the zoning ordinance but <br />in the initial conversations that he had with Councilmember’s Varner and Oliver Davis <br />that they wanted additional details understanding the operation. He stated that they are <br />happy to do that and be locked into the Plano gram that sets forth the location for the <br />firearms. They are not close to any other business selling firearms, they are not close to a <br />church, a school, or a child care facility, and there is a 200’ foot separation requirement <br />in the ordinance. He stated that with those items in place they are not going to adversely <br />affect any of the neighbors or the health or safety of the community. These are all <br />obviously legal products Wal-Mart point of sale transaction goes through the national <br />background check and fill out all the appropriate federal forms and there are additional <br />procedures that are set forth in the plan of operation. He stated that he hoped that they <br />have addressed all previous concerns by Council. Mr. Calderon asked for the Council’s <br />favorable consideration. He stated that the Wal-Mart Store Manager Scott Ruoff is also <br />present to answer any questions. <br /> <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis stated that with the new State rulings regarding firearms <br />how will that affect Wal-Mart in the future. <br /> <br />Mr. Calderone stated that in the future and if they had filed this after the state law had <br />passed, there probably wouldn’t have been a filing. What the new law does is that it <br />affects the ability of local governments to regulation by using zoning and these types of <br />restrictions that they are going through. Realistically, the City is getting a better deal <br />because they are willing to lock themselves into what they are telling the Council in <br />terms of what the shelf space is going to be the fact that they are only doing rifles and <br />shotguns for hunting purposes, no handguns, no tactic weapons, etc. He stated that it is a <br />better deal because they are promising you and it is part of the petition and always has <br />been. <br /> <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis stated that if this bill would not pass tonight, Wal-mart <br />could wait until July 1, 2011 and let State law take over and can pretty much do what <br />they want and won’t have to have Council approval. <br /> <br />Mr. Calderone said that was probably so. <br /> <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis asked Mr. Calderone to go over where the sales of firearms <br />are going to take place within Wal-Mart. <br /> <br />Mr. Calderone advised that as stated in the plan of operation that any time there is a point <br />of sale of a firearm it must take place back at the sporting goods area, following the <br />background check etc. At that point a Store Manager has to supervise the finalization of <br />the transaction and actually carry the firearm out of the store with the customer once they <br />exit the store then the customer can take the firearm and go about their business. He <br />stated that this is a safe practice and one that they do nationwide. <br /> <br />Councilmember Davis asked Mr. Calderone his opinion on the Channel 16 news article <br />dated May 29, 2010 “Man admits to December shooting after Wal-Mart ammunition <br />theft.” <br /> <br />Mr. Calderone stated that as he understands it and the Wal-Mart Manager is here, is that <br />the store procedure and remember that ammunition is regulated differently but the <br />process is the same, the young man who secured the ammunition back in the supporting <br />goods is taken to the front cashier to check out asked the cashier to see if he had “the <br />right ammunition” and then just took off. It was a late night transaction. It was theft and <br />just happened to be ammunition. The ammunition other than shot gun shells are all under <br />lock and key in display cases back in sporting goods areas. <br /> <br /> 30 <br /> <br />