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Redwood City is calling on residents to weigh in on proposed gun sales regulations following applications for business licenses from prospective gun retailers. While there are currently no gun stores operating in the city, the interest from potential retailers has led the city to review local ordinances and state legislation related to gun storefronts.
The city council last October unanimously established a moratorium on stores selling firearms or ammunition for an initial 45 days. The moratorium was extended to Oct. 23.
“The city regulates where you can buy retail cannabis, where you can get gas for your car, where you can get a massage and even where you can build a home,” former Mayor Giselle Hale said last October. “Why not explore where you can purchase a firearm?”
In response to community concerns, the city is considering new regulations impacting all retail stores selling firearms and related products, including sporting goods stores and gun shops.
Redwood City is offering several opportunities for residents to engage with the proposed ordinance:
- A community meeting at the City Hall Council Chambers on Thursday, March 23, at 6 p.m., where the proposed ordinance will be presented in English.
- A second community meeting at the Community Activities Building on April 5 at 6 pm., with the presentation given in Spanish.
- An online survey available until April 10 for residents to share their input.
Last November, just four days after the council unanimously voted to establish a moratorium on stores selling firearms or ammunition for an initial 45 days, the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), a Washington-based firearm advocacy nonprofit, sent a letter to the city, advising the city to remove the temporary ban or face litigation.
Redwood City encourages residents to visit the city website to learn more about the proposed regulations, take the survey, and access additional information.
