Michelle

If a city bans gun stores, is it infringing on the #constitutionalrights of individuals to bear arms?

That’s what the #SecondAmendment Foundation is claiming that the city of #redwoodcity is doing by establishing a moratorium on #gun retail.

“Simply put, the right to keep and bear arms is meaningless without the right to acquire arms and ammunition,” Executive Director Adam Kraut wrote in a letter to the city dated Oct. 28.

https://bit.ly/3OaJ3ki

Redwood City leaders discussing legal options as possible lawsuit against ban on gun retail looms

A gun rights advocacy group is accusing the city of violating its residents’ constitutional rights

Redwood City Pulse
Nov 15, 2022 at 3:19amWeb
Show threadfiberdriveNov 15, 2022
@cephira I think that as long as there is a gun store within a decent travel time, then it doesn't infringe much. However if more localities do it, it could start to infringe, in that it would put a huge burden on, especially minority and poor, firearms owners who would have to have the time off work, and the money for the long drive to pickup a gun. Not sure how this works in a legal framework, but I'm one who thinks gun rights are minority rights, and generally oppose this type of legislation.
Show threadMichelleNov 15, 2022
@fiberdrive the closest gun store is the next city over, within a 10-mile radius. Really not that far. They faced a similar challenge years ago when a store wanted to open up there.
Show threadfiberdriveNov 15, 2022
@cephira One issue I have with the actual access to firearms is that #redwoodcity can't keep that gun store in the next town over open or not, so if they close down, from an accessibility standpoint, the ban in #redwoodcity would be problematic. Again, this is ideological, not legal.
Show threadMichelleNov 15, 2022
@fiberdrive I have my own personal feelings on this whole thing, but legally, there is no problem with a gun store being that close to a school or in that area, per state law from my understanding. Optics wise, different story.
Show threadfiberdriveNov 15, 2022
@cephira I would agree there are optical, and potentially safety issues, with having gun stores near a school, but "near" is a subjective term, of course.
Show threadarcktipNov 19, 2022
@fiberdrive @cephira given the points about a burden posed by having to take time off and ability to travel… I’m curious why those are valid here but not for reproductive rights or for other aspects like much of the US being unsafe to ride a bicycle so folks have to be able to drive/own a car or afford (& have access to) a taxi. Does having a right require having access? We have the right to free expression. That doesn’t mean we have a right to access to freely broadcast.
Show threadfiberdriveNov 19, 2022
@arcktip @cephira (1 of 2) this is a fascinating thought exercise, so thank you! I think for reproductive rights, the exact same argument applies. I believe reproductive rights are rights, and not only do they need to be available, but affordable (meaning close, cheap, etc.). For free expression, I think we currently have that for the most part. With many free accounts to post to online, and the ability to protest, that is free enough
Show threadfiberdriveNov 19, 2022
@arcktip @cephira (2 or 2) I do worry that unlimited free expression can be problematic though. If what you are expressing in public is the direct harm or violence to a group of people, restricting that is reasonable. Now, how that gets enforced? I don't really know. But to keep to your question, exercising firearms or reproductive rights are individual actions; if we think about expression in that framing, I would treat it the same. As long as you can do it, it's fine.