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REGULAR MEETING JUNE 13, 2011 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />department on various and different projects in the City with what had to deal with the <br />sale of firearms. He stated that they have put in their petition that they will self restrict to <br />only shot guns and rifles. This is only for sporting goods in fact they think it is a better <br />idea to have this type of good in the sporting goods department where it is an accessory <br />use and not a separate around the store it is much more innocuous that way. It is no <br />different than going into Dick’s Sporting Goods which has a larger selection and folks <br />can go in with their families and whether they are buying a t-shirt or pair of tennis shoes, <br />it the same kind of thing. With all do respect basically what folks are saying is no gun, <br />no ammo sales, but the zoning ordinance does allow for these things upon a Special <br />Exception Petition and under the existing zoning district allows for the sale of sporting <br />goods whether it’s within a department or a stand alone sporting goods store. So from a <br />zoning perspective this petition makes sense it’s been passed by the Area Board of <br />Zoning Appeals on through the Council Committee, gone through the process without <br />any complaint by anyone who received notice with respect to the concern of their <br />property values. He asked the Council for their favorable consideration. <br /> <br />Council President Dieter advised that he is aware of what the new State Law is going to <br />invoke, however, what the people here tonight are concerned about is that this more of a <br />community based concern. He stated that the last time he was at Dick’s Sporting Goods <br />store they closed at 9 p.m. He stated that his concern is selling ammo after 9 p.m., which <br />is a bad thing as far as he is concerned. He stated that he doesn’t feel that it is necessary <br />to sell ammunition after 9 p.m. <br /> <br />Councilmember Varner stated that he is understanding in considering Wal-Mart’s <br />request, however, he would like to see a friendly amendment not to sell ammunition after <br />7 p.m. and not again until 8 a.m. <br /> <br />Councilmember Henry Davis stated that the whole spirit of the conversation makes him <br />uneasy. He advised that there have been numerous shootings all over the city in the past <br />several weeks. He stated that 90% of those shootings happened in his district. He stated <br />that he isn’t sure if this is just coincidence or just bad timing for this special exception but <br />would just let the State Law supersede. He stated that he is truly frustrated with gun <br />violence and hearing people being shot and killed. He stated that he is not in favor of this <br />bill. <br /> <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis stated that one of the reasons that he is encouraged to vote <br />on this bill tonight is not because he is a gun advocate, but because Wal-Mart is putting <br />st <br />more restrictions on themselves than what they would have had to do with the July 1 <br />ruling by the State. He understands all the concerns raised tonight about gun violence <br />st <br />and respects those concerns. He stated that if they wait until July 1, then they won’t <br />have the extra restrictions that this special exception has. He stated that he feels they will <br />be given the citizens of South Bend a better service by putting in some levels of <br />st <br />protection in at this present time now that they would not be allowed to do July 1. <br /> <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis asked if crime had gone up in any of the areas where Wal- <br />Mart has re-introduced gun and ammunition sales. <br /> <br />Mr. Calderone stated that he does not have any statistics. The re-roll out is relatively <br />recent. He has not heard of any complaints. They work to provide communication to <br />their constituents through their public relations people. Wal-Mart does this not only in <br />Indiana, but all around the country, thousands of store have it and do it responsible, <br />consistently with their policies that are designed to be safe for those communities. They <br />are not interested in doing anything other than selling guns for hunting and sporting <br />purposes nothing else. Nothing has been traced back as far as he knows to any of the <br />activity in Indiana. <br /> <br />Councilmember Oliver Davis asked if they could put more teeth into this bill by <br />incorporating language to restrict the time of sale of ammunition. <br /> <br />Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand advised that at this stage she did not think <br />the Council could make it a condition of the Resolution before the Council tonight. She <br /> 32 <br /> <br />