Supervisors ask fair board to ban gun shows at county fairgrounds in Antioch
By Daniel Borsuk
On a 5-0 vote, supervisors sent a letter to the 23rd District Agricultural Association requesting that the association stop the gun shows at the state-owned Contra Costa County Fairgrounds, now known as the Contra Costa Event Park in Antioch.
County supervisors were unsuccessful in seeking a ban on firearm possession and sales on county fairgrounds from the Agricultural Association in previous attempts in 1996 and in 2004.
“Gun violence and gun-related injuries and deaths continue to be critical public health concerns,” the supervisors’ letter states. “The Board of Supervisors continues to support a policy that would prohibit the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds from being used in the proliferation of this critical public health hazard.
“As the nation grapples with the effects of mass shootings, the 23rd District Agricultural Association has the responsibility to determine if facilitating guns shows on public property is the message to be sending to the public.”
The supervisors’ letter notes the fairgrounds are near a number of sensitive public areas, including a Head Start kindergarten readiness facility that is located on the Fairground property. Some 500 feet away from the Fairgrounds are Antioch High School and Fairview Park. Nearby are Live Oak High School, Antioch Middle School and Fremont Elementary School.
Prompting the gun ban were a number of requests Supervisor Federal Glover received from constituents who complained about the gun shows at the Fairgrounds. “This is an opportunity,” said Glover in reference to the election of a new governor, Gavin Newsom, who will replace Gov. Gerald Brown, who has vetoed gun legislation that would have banned gun shows at another state-owned fairgrounds, the Cow Palace in Daly City.
Alameda, Marin, Sonoma, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties have outlawed the possession of firearms and ammunition at their county-owned fairgrounds, and Los Angeles County has banned firearm and ammunition sales on its county-owned fairgrounds.
A spokesperson for the 23rd District Agricultural Association did not return a Contra Costa Herald phone call for comment on the board of supervisors’ letter.
It would seem that the letter was misdirected. It should have been sent to the Governor, who can then decide what’s in the best interest of the State. If he agrees with the County Board of Supervisors, then he can ban the sale of fire arms at this location. Authority trickles down, not up.
Thank goodness the Contra Costa Fairgrounds are owned by the 23rd District Agricultural District and not the County.
Also, the Governor cannot change things on his own – it would require the Legislature and I hope they don’t do anything.
Stupidity at it’s finest. Every restrictive gun law that California has including background checks and waiting periods apply to gun shows in California. Buying a gun at a California gun show is the same as buying it through a dealer, in fact, you may buy the gun at a gun show but you have to wait 10 days to pick it up at a licensed gun dealer and that is only after you pass a state background check.
As far as being near schools as an excuse, the gun shows are on the weekend, school is not in session. Every excuse for shutting down these shows doesn’t make any sense, so one must ask, what are these people really trying to accomplish? Why are they blaming a legal item and law abiding people for the criminal use of a gun? How about holding criminals responsible for their actions instead of putting more restrictions on the law abiding?
This is judt a further attack on law abiding citizens and their ability to exercise their Constitutional 2nd amendment rights under the law. This state is and has been run by tyranical democrat law breaking politicians. Causing a mountain of illegal gun laws and rules that do nothing in stopping gun violence. More people are killed by doctors, automobiles and accidents on ladders than any crime or death by guns. And criminals laugh at these gun laws and restrictions.
Federal glover is a piece of s*** he is one of the county supervisors that allowed the company that is cleaning treasure island and other san Francisco military owned contaminated sites and bring that contaminated dirt now resides at kellar canyon dump in bay point he is also the f*****g idiot that supported a putting a private prison in Antioch by Kaiser sand creek