03-27-17 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING MARCH 27, 2017 Councilmember Davis asked, Where are we regarding the State delegation? Have you reached out to them? Where do they stand? How willing are they to champion this cause, in your own correspondence with them, whether Democrat or Republican? Mr. Miller responded, I'm not sure about what all the numbers are, in terms of who might be in favor or not in favor of it. That ultimately will be determined by people who will take this into the State House. Councilmember Gavin Ferlic stated, I think the idea is that Everytown is going to build consensus around the State for a number of communities passing similar resolutions, and then execute more of a conservative strategy to work with different State legislators, State senators. Councilmember Davis asked, So, your goal now is not necessarily to go straight to the State House? Councilmember Ferlic responded, Exactly. Councilmember Dr. Varner stated, So, this is why I asked that the resolution be read. With regard to federal firearms law, background checks are required for handguns, not for every gun. We addressed one (1) line of the resolution and removed one (1) paragraph, I believe it was. The modified resolution —it's only a page—it ought to be read so that everyone who is sitting here knows what's in the resolution. Unless they got the packet, they don't know what's in it. A member of the public called for a point of order, but Council President Tim Scott denied him, stating that this was the time set aside for Councilmembers to ask questions of the presenters of the bill. He enumerated the rules of the proceedings and asked that everyone be silent as Councilmembers asked their questions. He then gave the floor back to Councilmember Dr. David Varner. Councilmember Ferlic apologized for misunderstanding Councilmember Dr. Varner regarding the reading of the resolution. Councilmember Ferlic proceeded to read the entirety of the resolution for the Council and public. Councilmember Dr. Varner asked, So, I guess the question I was getting at was: the resolution, as it's written, is suggesting background checks on every firearm? Mr. Miller responded, Yeah. Dr. Ferlic responded, Any sale of a firearm. Mr. Miller continued stating that in a compromise bill —which is not what they are proposing — what the State does could have exclusions to it. Councilmember Dr. Varner responded, But that statement isn't in the resolution. Mr. Miller responded, I'm just telling you what typically happens. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Those wishing to speak in favor of this bill: Jan Brown, 1213 Humboldt Street, South Bend, IN, stated that she has been a resident of the near northwest neighborhood for thirty -five (35) years, and that prior to retirement she worked as a psychiatric social worker in the community. Ms. Brown stated that she has seen students be the victims and perpetrators of gun violence. She stated that guns are too easily available to young people and people who are in bad mental shape. She recounted an anecdote of a young girl who witnessed her mother getting shot in the face by her boyfriend. Ms. Brown asserted that if the man had not had a gun there was still the possibility that he may have found a way to kill the woman—but guns make it easier to do. Douglas Sparks, 5188 Water's Edge Court, South Bend, IN, stated that he serves as the Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Northern Indiana. Bishop Sparks stated he is honored to be a part of one of the largest ecclesiastical group against gun violence in the nation, Bishops Against Gun Violence, which has among its membership seventy -five (75) bishops nationwide. He 23