City Councilor Rick Lipof blamed "COVID fog" for messages sent last month to City Councilor Brenda Noel, who is now calling for the city to create an ethics commission to oversee the conduct of local elected officials.
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Wicked Local
With more than 500 attendees on Zoom and likely many more watching on NewTV Monday, multiple residents voiced their strong opinions on what should be done about potential firearms dealers in the city.
Rabbi Allison Berry, speaking for herself and the Newton Interfaith Clergy Association, called dealerships, “stores that sell violence,” while another speaker who held the opposite point of view said “the world did not end” when Newton previously had gun shops that sold legal weapons and supplies.
Some speakers, citing the Second Amendment, demanded firearms dealers be treated like any other business while others told tragic stories about gun violence during the public hearing held by the City Council’s Zoning and Planning Committee (ZAP) on the proposed firearms zoning ordinance.
Wicked Local
While thousands of people have signed onto the “Prevent Gun Sales in Newton” petition in response to Newton Firearms looking to open on Washington Street, a statewide gun-rights advocacy group said the store should be treated like any other business.
Jim Wallace, executive director of the Gun Owners Action League (GOAL), said he was not surprised to learn of residents’ objections to Newton Firearms.
“It’s not uncommon to have the ‘we don’t want you in our town’ kind of thing,” he said. “It’s basically turning into social bigotry” between residents and gun dealers.
“Considering this is Newton, I was not surprised” at the negative reaction, echoed resident Susan Huffman who is in the process of getting her license to carry. “Newton is such a hard-core left city.”