Newton, MA
Mayor Ruthanne Fuller signed a zoning amendment passed by the City Council (23-to-1) that strictly controls and limits gun stores in Newton.
An additional amendment, to be voted on in the near future, will amend the zoning ordinance further to completely ban gun businesses in Newton.
These amendments smack of bigotry and civil rights violations. Why ban gun shops? Are they afraid criminals will shop there? Or it will somehow increase the trafficking of firearms? Does somebody really think that, if a town does not have a gun store, then crime will go down or it will be safer in that town? Of course not, this is all laughable.
To be averse to the opening of a gun store betrays one’s bigoted hysteria. People who supported this amendment are bigots – plain and simple.
Gun shop clientele are some of the most safety conscious and law abiding members of society. The fear mongering spread about gun shops is where the bigotry is revealed. This clientele holds different beliefs than some people yet the only difference is that they are merely trying to exercise a fundamental civil right – and some people do not like it – so they are pushed out of town (with a amendments like this) disallowing gun shops. Bigotry.
It is a fundamental civil right to own, buy, and sell a firearm.
To send any comments to all of the bigoted City Councilors please use the e-mail citycouncil@newtonma.gov. Your e-mail will be delivered to each of the 24 Councilors.
Ward | Ward Councilor | Councilor at Large | Councilor at Large |
---|---|---|---|
One | ![]() Maria Scibelli Greenberg (617) 631-8691 |
![]() Alison M. Leary (617) 821-5619 |
John Oliver No Picture Available |
Two | ![]() Emily Norton (617) 795-0362 |
Tarik J. Lucas No Picture Available |
![]() Susan Albright (617) 527-7108 |
Three | ![]() Julia Malakie (617) 610-2509 |
![]() Andrea W. Kelley (857) 297-2177 |
![]() Pamela A. Wright |
Four | ![]() Christopher J. Markiewicz (617) 332-7231 |
![]() Leonard J. Gentile (617) 527-5446 |
![]() Joshua Krintzman (617) 558-0699 |
Five | ![]() Bill Humphrey (617) 862-2045 |
![]() Andreae Downs (617) 329-1261 |
![]() Deborah Crossley (617) 775-1294 |
Six | ![]() Brenda Noel (617) 620-2721 |
![]() Alicia Bowman (617) 257-8270 |
![]() Victoria L. Danberg (508) 641-4500 |
Seven | R. Lisle Baker (617) 566-3848 No Picture Available |
![]() Marc C. Laredo (617) 527-9889 |
![]() Rebecca W. Grossman (617) 467-5195 |
Eight | ![]() "Nothing is the right location (for gun shops) ." Holly Ryan (617) 244-1133 |
![]() Richard A. Lipof (617) 332-8909 ext. 24 |
![]() David A. Kalis (617) 504-3301 |
The proposed amendment is to add a new section 16.I that no new building or structure shall be constructed or used, in whole or in part, and no building or structure, or part thereof, shall be altered, enlarged, reconstructed or used, and no land shall be used, in any part of the Town: “For the manufacture, sale, or lease of any Weapon, Machine Gun, Ammunition, Bump Stock, Large Capacity Feeding Device, Stun Gun, or Trigger Crank, or by any person engaged in the business of a Gunsmith inany zoning district.”
Wellesley is a town that highly values diversity, dignity and respect for all individuals. As the Chief Executive of the Town, the Select Board recognizes its responsibility to make the following declarations:
The Board opposes unequivocally any expression of hate, prejudice, intolerance or discrimination toward any individual or group;
The Board is committed to engaging the Town on race, equity and inclusion through broad and collaborative public engagement; and
The Board denounces any form of racism, discrimination or intolerance as a threat to the safety and well-being of the public. We call upon the entire Wellesley community to welcome every resident, visitor, employee and resident student in the Town.
Name | Title | Term |
---|---|---|
![]() Catherine Johnson |
Chair | 2017 to 2022 |
![]() Kathleen Woodward |
Vice Chair | 2018 to 2021 |
Patricia Mallett | Secretary | 2019 to 2024 |
Thomas Taylor | 2020 to 2025 | |
James Roberti | 2018 to 2023 | |
Sheila Olson | Associate Member | Until June 2021 |