The board of directors of the Orange County Fair and Event Center voted Sept. 23 to try not to block an upcoming bill banning gun displays at the fairgrounds.
Senate Bill 264, drafted by Sen. Dave Min (D-Irvine), which would effectively ban gun exhibitions at the Orange County Fair and Event Center, has been passed by the Assembly and Senate and is awaiting the governor’s signature before it becomes law.
At the September 13 board meeting, the board considered sending a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom about the financial impact the ban would have on the fairgrounds, as well as about ১ 1 million a year in Western gun crossroads. They also considered approving the agreement with the organization before 2022, which would be considered law because it would be done before the bill became law.
The meeting was filled by many people who represented both sides of the issue, board members and public commentators.
Min, who spoke during a public comment, said that while board members could not agree with the bill, he claimed that there was a ban on displaying guns when voters voted for him in November 2020.
“When I was growing up, County Fairgrounds was known as a family-friendly place. In addition to the county fair, you will have a rodeo … and other family-friendly events, “Min said during the meeting.” Today, they are almost synonymous with gun demonstrations. Event centers often host more than that.
In his comments against the gun display, Minn said there have been many killings with legally purchased firearms, adding that the gun show is not a “family-friendly” place.
“The fact of the matter is that we are in a crisis of gun violence in this country, in this state, and yes, in this community, and the gun show is definitely a major contributor to this crisis. It’s an important step towards making our community safer, “said Min.
Board chairperson Natalie Rubalcava-Garcia countered the remarks, saying it was not her sole responsibility to determine what was family-friendly.
“His statement is not correct. I just want to put it on record. This board is intended to be point-neutral, and it is not really up to us to explain that one of the events held at our fairgrounds is not family-friendly. There are different types of families who like to do different kinds of activities, ”he said.
Director Robert Ruiz also questioned Minn, seeking more evidence on his community’s claim to remove the gun show.
“There are a lot of unanswered questions here,” Ruiz said. “I know the senator told most people in the district that this gun show wants to go away. Now we just wonder if a vote was taken by the selectors? And what was the result of this survey, or is it just his opinion?
Newly-appointed director Melahat Rafiet, a Democrat who was appointed to the board by Newsom on Sept. 21, said the board needed to consider the ethical implications of the gun show.
“I was told that we were writing this letter to inform the governor of the loss [of funding]; I am sure he is aware of it, ”he said. “He has signed up to do whatever he can to support this kind of legislation. So I don’t think it’s our job to let him know what’s going on. ”
Finally, the board has decided to table both the letter and the pre-approval agreement by January, where they will decide what to do after the bill goes into law.
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This News Originally From – The Epoch Times
