On the Change.org website, a petition with 19 signatures asks the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce to: "Remove the Gun Store in Los Gatos."
The petition, started by Los Gatos resident Max Swisher, states that gun retailer Templar Sports "is endangering to the nearby neighborhoods and gives youth access to firearms."
It then encourages signees to ask the Chamber "to revoke the license of the new Gun Shop in downtown Los Gatos at 611 University Ave. The shop will give youth the access to firearms and will endanger surrounding neighborhoods."
It is illegal for minors to purchase firearms in the state.
On the gopetition.com website, a similar effort began Jan. 12 and had more than 830 signatures as of Tuesday evening. Its main language: "I do not support a gun shop in the town of Los Gatos."
The petition's target is Los Gatos Mayor Barbara Spector. It states that , less than two weeks after the Dec. 14, 2012 tragic shootings in Newtown, CT.
The petition's creator is Shannon Susick, who lives in unincorporated Santa Clara County.
"In addition to the poor timing and lack of community knowledge or public hearing, the zoning and licensing permits for this gun shop selling weapons and ammunition were approved without due process," the petition language states.
"We are requesting full public disclosure, hearing and review by the Planning Commission. Please help in stopping the gun violence in our nation by action here in our home town," the petition continues. "It is the very least we can do to honor & support so many who have lost their lives or loved ones and to ensure safety and peace in our community."
Critics say both petitions show the ignorance, misinformation, and manipulation behind the anti-gun shop contingency in and out of Los Gatos. They say the gopetition.com effort wording originally read: "I am opposed to selling automatic weapons in Los Gatos."
State law, however, has restricted the sale of automatic or assault weapons for 20 years, just as it requires all gun purchasers to undergo fingerprinted California Department of Justice and FBI background checks. In addition, purchasers must take a written test and demonstrate safe firearm handling. Minors are prohibited from purchasing any weapons and California has the longest wait periods in the country—10 days—to obtain a weapon.
There's been a lot of criticism of non-Los Gatos residents who support Templar Sports. However, opposition to the gun store is now coming from non-Los Gatos residents as well.
One of the signees and promoter is Saratoga resident Rishi Kumar, a former member of the Saratoga Planning Commission and founder of the Saratoga Cares Foundation. He also runs an annual Bay Area talent competition “Saratoga’s Got Talent.”
On Feb. 7 he sent a email to his friends explaining the gun retail controversy in Los Gatos, telling them that the shop had opened "right on the route to schools and Vasona and Oak Meadow parks, near the bocce ball restaurant, an area frequented by kids and families."
Many of the supporters of guns at the first Los Gatos Town Council hearing about the issue on Feb. 4, Kumar wrote, were "imported" from other areas around the state.
"We need more local people to speak out against having a gun shop in our midst. The shop is NOT a sporting goods store, as they implied in their permit application. They sell only guns, ammunition, and a few fishing rods," he wrote.
Critics also say there's no way to determine if one person signed the petition a dozen times due to the inability to track the authenticity of each signature.
Hundreds of gun shop supporters have also petitioned the Los Gatos Town Council members and the town itself in support of Templar Sports through a one-paragraph letter that was copied and then signed by Los Gatos residents.
—For comprehensive coverage of Los Gatos gun retailer Templar Sports' opening in town, please see our topic page by clicking here.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/biden-buy-shotgun-buy-shotgun_702989.html
AMEN!
I saw many of my friends who live in Los Gatos, where I live, at the 2nd hearing and about 90% carried signs saying, "I support Templar Sports."
Looking for the truth rather than pushing an agenda. This is more than can be said for the conventinal media. Keep Up the Good work!!
After they had delighted themselves by coming up with half a dozen ways they could attack firearms owners in Los Gatos, those arrogant, self-righteous morons felt they could lecture us on how wonderful this process was, how much they respected our 2nd Amendment rights, and how certain they were that we would all come together to support them. At that point I had to leave to avoid vomiting all over their nice carpets. If anyone wants to organize a recall of these statists, I'd be eager to help fund it.
Having a gun store open in LG is no different than having a new newspaper, radio station or even place of worship open in town. If you disagree with what they are "selling", then don't buy their products. You have the freedom to make that choice.
I have confidences in Mayor Spector. She is bright, Fun, Articulate and extremely intelligent, Barbara was a neighbor of many years, and I would never questions her work ethic, or commitment, and she is so smart, what she does not know she will learn the issues, Jenson.... the jurors out,,, Lots of baggage not sure about her thoughts. Trying to like her but not sure at this point, Just my thoughts, By the was I am one of those Evil gun Owners... I hunt, Trap, Fish, stalk wild animals. Process the meet in Los Gatos and give the meat to others in Los gatos, Sorry, I am not as refined as Sandy, but I do live in a big house in Los Gatos and Support Templar sports....
I do not have any problems with on-line petitions, if they are factual. Which neither of these are. 1) Both referenced petitions are based on emotions and personal views, not facts. Mr. Swisher states that the Templar Sports location is "downtown". That would be the first time I've ever heard that area considered as "down town". The rest is nonsensical falsehoods, as are some of the reasons signers gave for signing. At least one signer signed it, for no other reason than, to state his profanity laced (In my opinion, not a way to be taken seriously.) rebuttal. One of the reasons, from a Santa Clara resident, is so full of......false statements and emotions it would be laughable, if not for the fact that people will/do actually believe her statements. "stop the gun shop", second petitioner, states “opened for business on 12/27/2012 less than 2 weeks after the tragic shootings in Newtown Ct.”. As if Templar Sports had a waited until after the tragedy in CT to apply for a business license and open its doors. And yes, there was "due process". Due process as was on the Town books at this time. 2) I also do not have any problems with them because they are totally meaningless and, without the ability to verify signatures, invalid.
1) What does it cost a town, if any, to service an event stemming from gun violence? Single, couple, multiple… wounds, death. 2) Does a town have to bear/ share any cost for any major devastating event stemming due to, guns, parts and accessories, sold from its town? 3) Is a town required / recommended to carry any liability policy to that effect? 4) If yes, what would be the summed cost to the town? For the benefit of 2nd amendment and guns, I sincerely hope the answer to all these questions are in the negative. So towns need not have to contemplate between current cost and future costs. As per Los Gatos weekly, “retroactive action against Templar could lead to litigation, a staff memo warned”.
Buy a shotgun, and if the recoil is too much for you, your partner, your husband, your mother, your father, your grandmother, your grandfather, your son OR your daughter....blame the VP. It was HIS idea. Or, don't buy a shotgun and complain when you have a home invasion and the police don't show up for 12 minutes..........or so. LE is NOT there to protect you. Protecting yourself, and your family, is YOUR job. Not theirs.
http://thegunwire.com/blog/youtube-video-buy-a-shotgun-joe-biden-lying-ar-15/
Seriously, when are the lies and histrionics going to stop? It is a legitimate business, selling legitimate merchandise (and guns ARE sporting goods by the way) to peaceful, law-abiding, adults and following all the laws and procedures on background checks. I think some of these people would be a lot happier if a NAMBLA store front and kiddie porn shop opened up.