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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-04-16 Planning Board MinutesMinutes of the pY{blic Hearing on April lo, 1981 re: Article 17 on the.Special Town Ieeting,Warrant P!1' Chairman Zorabedian called the meeting to order in Room. 133, RMHS, 62 0-----with K. Messina, E. Childress and J. Shaw present. Also present were two citizens, Mr. Malta and Mr. Adams as well as the sponsor of the Article, Board of Selectmen, represented by Ms. Maureen T. O'Brien. The legal notice as published in the Reading Chronicle and posted in Town Hall was read into.the meeting record. Selectman O'Brien then presented the facts relative to Article-17. Ms. O' Brien Stated-: - Board of Selectmen are receiving numerous requests for,-a licenses to sell handguns and a=munition from residential homes;r - Danger is present as there =-not adequate safeguards to protect again_s1 vandalism, theft and the safety of neigh- boring, residents - That even ,;when applications have been denied for good and sufficient reasons, appeals have been made to the State level and have been granted. There is one such matter pending bogore the legal system now, which cannot be discusswd. That there-are 4 different licenses that can be applied forte mos'/Arequest a license for the sale of firearms and ammunition alot the Class 3 license which would allow heavier weapons to be sold; - Restricting the. sale of firearms and ammunition to Business and Industrial Districts would provide better safeguards to the res?derts of the Town; in the Center of the Town where these districts are located, there is adequate police and fire protection to protect both the licensed.owner and the residents of the Town against theft, fire, etc. - Burglar alarm, systems far businesses of this sort can be mandated if allowed only in the Bus/Ind districts; such alarm_svstems are not practical for residences. Board members discussed this matter with Selectmen O'Brien asking how many such l-c,ehses have been issued and the reasons for being able to deny such licenses. Although Ms. O'Bi-•ien did not have the exact` figures on how manv licenses had been issued, she was able to say that suspicion of contraband `or supplying weapons to groups such as the IRA z.,ere reasons for denying such licenses, but when challenged in Court, licenses were usually granted. Mr. Malta spoxe in opposition to the passage of such a By-law stating. _ Guns used in this Town were for recreational use and to con- tinua-11v legislate this would then restrict such activity; _ F, that restriction of gun sales was discriminatory against those who enjoy the sport for recreational purposes; _ c:-- Federal and State levels investigate these matters long before the licensee can apply to the local level; The-JBq zc consider the sale of firearms and ammunition as a commodity and not as dangerous and sinister business; _ Restrict how many dealers can be allowed to operate in the Town ` and not totallv negate the sale of firearms for u-districts. 4/16Public; Hearing Page Two A.fte.r mating his presentation Mr. Malta left. Ms. O'Brien restated the Board of Selectmen's position that they do not giant to prohibit the sale of firearms and ammunition in Town, but only want to restrict the sale to Business and Industrial dis- tricts where.there is greater protection for the citizens of the Town- After a brief discussion, the Board considered their vote on this Article. Upon a motinn duly made and seconded, the Board unani- mously voted to recommend adoption of this Article to Town Meeting. Upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Board voted to adjourn the public hearing at 7:40 P.M. R--------- J Z or BJNM.