Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Needles CA a '2nd Amendment sanctuary city'

Needles declared itself a “2nd Amendment Sanctuary” city; wants exemption to some state gun laws – San Bernardino Sun - Sandra Emerson:

June 24, 2019 - "One of San Bernardino County’s easternmost cities wants to be a sanctuary ... for gun owners. Needles this month declared itself a 'Second Amendment Sanctuary City' a message that city leaders say is partly about support for gun rights and partly a desire to get an exemption from state law so out-of-state gun owners can travel through town and for residents to purchase ammunition. The former railroad town of about about 5,000 is near the Colorado River, close to the Arizona state line, and city officials say that California’s gun laws are prompting Arizona residents to stay out of Needles, hurting business in the town....

"City Council, which made the declaration during a meeting on June 11, eventually could consider all or any of three possibilities — an exemption from the state’s gun laws for Needles and a 65-mile radius surrounding the town, a request [to] the state to allow the city to recognize concealed weapon permit holders from neighboring Arizona and Nevada, and a request to the county to allow sheriff’s deputies to not enforce weapons violations by California, Nevada and Arizona residents who are following their [own] state’s rules.

"California, which has some of the toughest gun laws in the country, does not recognize out of state concealed carry permits, nor does the state issue such permits to out-of-state residents. However, Arizona and 23 other states do recognize California permits....

"City officials may also request the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s department to direct its deputies to use discretion [so] that an out-of-state resident would be asked to take their gun back across state lines, or be allowed to unload the weapon and place it in the trunk or locked container, as is required in California, rather than face potential criminal charges....

"In addition to exemptions for licensed gun owners, [Mayor Jeff] Williams said they are looking to lessen restrictions on ammunition purchases for California residents in Needles. It is illegal [to] purchase ammunition out of state, then transport it back to California. Ammo must be purchased in person at a vendor licensed with the state’s Department of Justice. Online orders must be shipped to one of these vendors, not to a buyer’s home. For Needles gun owners this means driving more than 100 miles [to] purchase ammunition in person, or to pick up online orders, from a California-licensed vendor, even though there are ammunition stores just a few miles across the river....

"Steve Lindley, program manager with the Brady Campaign & Center to Prevent Gun Violence in Los Angeles, said ... [h]e believes Needles isn’t likely to be granted an exemption from state gun laws, in part because such a move could set off a flurry of requests from other border communities ... 'asking for those same exemptions'....

"Williams ... said his community plans to meet with the Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol and state legislators to discuss their request. He added that they are talking with other border cities that might be interested in joining them."

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