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Following national trend, Palo Alto looks to establish gun-free zones

Original post made on Mar 2, 2023

Responding to a recent Supreme Court ruling that loosened restrictions on concealed firearms, Palo Alto is preparing to join a growing movement of cities and states looking to designate certain types of spaces as gun-free zones.

Read the full story here Web Link posted Wednesday, March 1, 2023, 9:53 PM

Comments (13)

Posted by Bystander
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Mar 2, 2023 at 7:26 am

Bystander is a registered user.

How would this be monitored? Would we have to go through courthouse style/airport style screening before entering a school, a polling place, a library, etc. Personally, it would be an additional reason for me not to visit the library as it seems like a hassle.

There was a fatal stabbing of a student by another student yesterday in the North Bay yesterday. It isn't just guns that we have to be concerned about. It is a terrible state of affairs where we have to go nowadays. Violence is a way of life for some and this is reminding me of the Wild West.


Posted by John Donegan
a resident of another community
on Mar 2, 2023 at 9:34 am

John Donegan is a registered user.

The Bruen decision didn't "loosen restrictions", but merely held that the government couldn't deny an application arbitarily. This is already the law in 41 states. The government can still require a permit to carry a concealed gun, and can deny permits to criminals, the insane, the addicted, and can impose training requirements, but can not make issuance subject to an official's arbitrary discretion as to whether the applicant's personal need for protection is sufficient. And is gun violence by permit holders really a problem? When was the last time you heard of an unlawful shooting by someone holding a permit?


Posted by Nayeli
a resident of Midtown
on Mar 2, 2023 at 10:05 am

Nayeli is a registered user.

I don't think criminals care about laws. How are all of those anti-drug and border laws working? The right to bear arms cannot be infringed except through constitutional amendment.


Posted by Neal
a resident of Community Center
on Mar 2, 2023 at 10:14 am

Neal is a registered user.

These restrictions are totally unenforceable unless there is a metal detector at every sensitive location. If the gun is concealed how would you know it exists? What is the penalty for violating these restrictions? I bet there are plenty of people with concealed weapons that don't have permits. Good luck.


Posted by Mark
a resident of Menlo Park
on Mar 2, 2023 at 10:24 am

Mark is a registered user.

Attorney General Bonta is correct - the Second Amendment is not a regulatory straight-jacket. It's a Constitutional right. You would think that the top lawyer in the state would know this. Instead, the state and other jurisdictions insist on posturing and trying to institute laws and ordinances that will be challenged in court. Restrictions that will ultimately be found unconstitutional, and all at taxpayer expense.


Posted by woodChuck
a resident of Midtown
on Mar 2, 2023 at 10:56 am

woodChuck is a registered user.

Does anyone really think that a criminal with ill intent cares about "gun free zones"? What fantasy world do these people live in?


Posted by Online Name
a resident of Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
on Mar 2, 2023 at 11:23 am

Online Name is a registered user.

Speaking of other regulatory straight jackets, love how Bonta refuses to hear ANY arguments about the housing targets for EIGHT years even in the face of the drastically changed realities of job losses, remote work etc. The same could apply to the forced conversion to electricity regardless of whether people want it, whether our electrical grid can sustain increased demand, etc.


Posted by Nancy the real Nancy
a resident of Downtown North
on Mar 2, 2023 at 11:38 am

Nancy the real Nancy is a registered user.

So no guns allowed in homeless shelters?

What are they supposed to do....hide it in a bush for a kid to find?


Posted by Fr0hickey
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Mar 2, 2023 at 12:52 pm

Fr0hickey is a registered user.

Will the City of Palo Alto be liable for injuries arising from illegal violent acts in the ‘sensitive places’? If the City were to institute such a ordinance, then the City should be liable for the consequences of the law as well.


Posted by vmshadle
a resident of Meadow Park
on Mar 2, 2023 at 1:59 pm

vmshadle is a registered user.

Thanks to Gennady Sheyner for this article. Given that I was unable to find your e-mail address on the masthead page, may I offer a non-controversial comment?

In para #9, the word is correctly spelled "straitjacket."

From the Oxford online dictionary via Google:
strait·jack·et
/ˈstrātˌjakət/
noun
a strong garment with long sleeves which can be tied together to confine the arms of a violent prisoner or mental patient.
verb
restrain with a straitjacket.

Same goes for you, Mark and Online Name.


Posted by Bob
a resident of Greendell/Walnut Grove
on Mar 2, 2023 at 4:32 pm

Bob is a registered user.

This seems more for show than for any significant actual benefit to society. Criminals and deranged persons aren’t likely to obey these “safe space” rules, but people of goodwill will comply. This will make such places even more dangerous by ensuring that if any attendee is armed, it’s probably going to be someone with malicious intent whose murderous plans needn’t account for any effective interference. Everyone’s for safety, but the thinking behind these proposals seems highly suspect.


Posted by What Will They Do Next
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Mar 2, 2023 at 4:57 pm

What Will They Do Next is a registered user.

Criminals don't care whether they are in a gun fee zone or not. They don't obey laws. Another attempt to appear as if creating gun fee zones will make a difference. It won't.


Posted by Jocelyn Dong
editor of the Palo Alto Weekly
on Mar 3, 2023 at 10:14 am

Jocelyn Dong is a registered user.

Thanks, vmshadle. We've corrected the spelling of "straitjacket."


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