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REGULAR MEETING MARCH 27, 2017
<br />people can't, because they don't have the option to move from their once beloved neighborhoods
<br />that are turning into crime areas. So, I —and we, as the Islamic Society of Michiana-- definitely
<br />do support this ordinance for the safety of all.
<br />Those wishing to speak in opposition to this bill:
<br />Leonard Grummell, with a business at 2402 South Michigan Street, South Bend, IN, stated that
<br />he is retired military, a former South Bend police officer, and a retired gun dealer. Mr. Grummell
<br />stated that he does not disagree with the basic tenets of the bill, but that he was present to "set
<br />straight the half - truths, the untruths, and the misconceptions that the people who have written
<br />this resolution do not understand —one (1), the law; two (2), honor; three (3), integrity." He had
<br />copies of the federal firearms Form 44 -73. He stated that this form, six (6) pages in length, must
<br />be filled out by anyone attempting to purchase a firearm in the State of Indiana. It is also the
<br />same form that must be filled out at gun shows by any federally licensed firearm dealer. He
<br />stated, There is no gun show loophole. You've been lied to and misled. He stated that, according
<br />to federal law, at a gun show he cannot sell a firearm to anyone who lives outside of the State of
<br />Indiana; that the purchaser must present a valid photo ID; that he must determine whether or not
<br />the purchaser is a convicted felon by asking the purchaser for their Indiana license to carry. He
<br />stated that Indiana has the highest percentage of gun owners of any state and has the lowest
<br />crime right of any state east of the Mississippi River. He stated, When you write this resolution,
<br />you're saying half - truths and —I don't like to say it, but most of it is lies purported by Michael
<br />Bloomberg. Everytown for Gun Safety is not for gun safety. Mr. Grummell stated that
<br />Everytown is aiming to take guns away from legal gun owners such as himself. He asserted that
<br />a gun -free zone, such as the County -City Building, is not an inherently safe place. He stated that
<br />most gun violence is perpetrated by drug dealers and gang members, and that gun dealers are not
<br />criminals. He concluded by saying, Indiana is a great, safe state.
<br />Jesse Davis, P.O. Box 10205, South Bend, IN, stated that the resolution would do nothing to
<br />prevent a criminal from acquiring a firearm because they do not purchase these guns from legal
<br />sources. Mr. Davis added that there already are straw purchase laws, citing the fact that his
<br />sister -in -law tried to buy a gun for his brother for his birthday and couldn't, despite being his
<br />wife. He stated that the only people these new laws will affect are law- abiding gun owners such
<br />as himself. He explained that anytime he has purchased a firearm, he has had to have a
<br />background check done by the Department of Homeland Security.
<br />Philip Kowalski, 1937 Berkeley Place, South Bend, IN, extended an apology to Stephen and
<br />Joellen Miller for their loss. Mr. Kowalski echoed previous comments regarding the
<br />pointlessness of gun -free zones and the fact that gun control laws adversely affect law- abiders
<br />rather than criminals. Mr. Kowalski stated, Criminals will ignore and disregard any additional
<br />gun control laws. Quite simply: enforce the laws we already have to the maximum extent.
<br />Making it more illegal serves no purpose.
<br />Joseph Wilfing 2405 Erskine Boulevard, South Bend, IN, stated, A lot of data that has been
<br />talked about was based upon when the Brady Bill was being established in 1993 and 1994. The
<br />forty percent (40 %) of guns that are purchased legally over - the - counter is false. In 2004, John
<br />Hopkins Press, in a survey of incarcerated individuals that had been incarcerated for gun- related
<br />violence: eleven percent (11 %) were purchased through a licensed gun dealer; friends or family
<br />was at forty percent (40 %); on the street, thirty -eight percent (38 %); stolen guns, ten percent
<br />(10 %); gun shows —the supposed gun show loophole — account for 1.7% of firearms utilized in
<br />violent situations. He stated, On average, about 200,000 women use a firearm every year to
<br />prevent sexual abuse. 2,500,000 times a year, a firearm is used to protect or defend their person,
<br />or their property. Citizens shoot and kill two (2) times as many criminals a year as law
<br />enforcement. What you're doing is wasting the taxpayers' money with this. He concluded by
<br />stating that this resolution would be against the State Constitution, further stating that the Indiana
<br />Constitution does not allow municipalities to meddle in State legislature.
<br />Daniel Lucas, 919 East 4h Street, South Bend, IN, urged the Council to not take the word of
<br />those against the bill —to go and get the data from the FBI. Mr. Lucas stated, The statistics will
<br />tell you what it's all about. He stated that President Obama had to, in one particular instance,
<br />correct himself when he said that forty percent (40 %) of all the guns from Indiana went to
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