I have a favor to ask. Can we please get different lawn signs regarding the proposed gun store in Newton? Every time I see one it irks me. At first, I had trouble identifying why–I don’t like guns and I don’t want a gun shop in Newton.
Then it hit me. It’s those 2 little words at the bottom of the sign “In Newton”. Since the death of George Floyd, I have watched with pride as our community has come together to support our neighbors. We have protested, added new lawn signs to let our neighbors know Black Lives Matter, that we support immigrants, to stop Asian hate, to embrace diversity. We have hung our Peace rainbow flags. Mayor Fuller appointed the Police Reform Task Force to identify ways that everyone in our community can feel safer. It felt like real progress.
Then, the “Stop Gun Stores in Newton” came and it made me realize that although many of us are willing to talk the talk, when it comes to being truly inclusive, we are not ready to walk the walk. These signs say “not in my backyard–you can have gun stores in other communities but not ours”. If we are truly embracing diversity and saying we want to change, wouldn’t we be saying that our community is no more exclusive than any other community?
If the issue is that we don’t want guns to be sold because guns are dangerous, that there are too many shootings, that easy access to guns is sending the wrong message then shouldn’t the lawn signs read “Stop Gun Stores” or “We Need Better Gun laws” or “Gun Control Now!”?
Let’s show Massachusetts that we have learned the lessons and heard the voices from this past year. Let’s drop the “in Newton”.
Agree 100%. Also do I have his right? Smith & Wesson can manufacture AK47’s in MA but is prohibited from selling them here, and are permitted to sell them elsewhere?
Excellent observation. Beyond that it seems the focus isn’t on banning but rather limiting.
Newton has never been more divided than it is today and that has absolutely nothing to do with the gun store.
@alison, you are my new hero. So on the money.
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Have you ever heard of the Constitution? The 2nd amendment is there for a reason. Car, knives and hammers are dangerous too, let’s ban those.
Where can I get my pro-gun sign?
Lisa – Yes, guns illegal in Massachusetts, are made in MA and sold to people in other states. In 2018 Bloomberg News ranked MA as the largest gun producing state, making 1 out of 4 new guns sold in the US, including guns used in Parkland, FL, and Aurora, CO.
I’m a liberal as the next person but banning guns isn’t the answer. Responsible ownership and gun laws are the key. School shootings aren’t the fault of the gun. Where are the parents and teachers? These kids aren’t Opie Taylor today and murderers tomorrow. Something is pushing them over the edge. Until we pay attention to that you can blame whatever you want but the problem isn’t solved.
We have the power to change local zoning with respect to gun shops. We don’t have the power to revoke the 2nd amendment. Of course we all want change at the national level, but this is a local campaign and it absolutely makes sense to say “In Newton”.
Has anyone ever heard of the Bill of Rights in Newton? The Bill of Rights is a limitation on government against The People of this great nation. Destroy one and you walk the path to destroy them all. STOP scapegoating law abiding citizens for the crimes of those whom never follow the laws of this great nation. Firearms in the hands of law-abiding citizens are THE great deterrent to the criminal element. Ask yourself this question when do the police arrive during the act of someone being victimized. During the crime or after a person is a victim to take the report and clean the mess???
In my opinion I think we need to focus more on the drug problem in this country than the gun problem because when there’s a gun problem that usually been a drug-related dealing incident or overdose going on because of drugs how much drugs are smuggled in this country is very unknown because they cannot control it and more people die every year of drug overdose and alcoholism then guns and I’m a legal person that owns a gun and why don’t we get guns from the criminals instead of focus on us legal people that have the right to carry guns let’s get that done first
Agree w/Allison. The signs demonstrate privileged progressivism at its worst. Once again, the City has shown it can be on the right side of an issue generally (combating gun violence) while actually not doing anything to stop it, and in some ways, making it worse. The only results will be to (1) kneecap a legitimate business, (2) embolden the opposition and ensure high litigation costs for years to come, (3) shift the burdens elsewhere and (4) signaling to everyone else, “hey, we’re better than you. Yes, gun violence is a problem, but we’re doing our darnest to make sure that we don’t have to really deal with it”. This is yet another reason why, in the end, progressives can’t win.
Anyone is welcome to make new signs.
The signs were designed to encourage the city council and mayor to take action on a local level about a specific aspect of the gun control issue. That was the level of control Newton residents had on this particular issue at this particular time. However, to imply that the leaders of this group aren’t committed to all issues related to gun violence is completely inaccurate.
Well, if the leaders of this group aren’t committed, I am sure many of us agree that they should be.
It is interesting that the topology of politics is not so much that of $R^1$ as it is $S^1$. In the end, there is no practical difference between where we end up as a result of privileged progressivism or Trumpist totalitarianism.
Honestly, as someone who often champions Progressive causes (like #BlackLivesMatter, #StopAsianHate, and especially #StopAntisemitism), I feel the “stop gun store signs in Newton” are overkill.
Why? It’s the wrong way to protest a local zoning issue. Especially one that has been largely nipped in the bud by denying the initial permit and tightening the zoning laws to limit where a gun store can open inside Newton (or a cannabis dispensary, for that matter). It never reached the point where the store may actually open, not even the point of a street protest.
In other words, it’s largely a non issue at this point.
I agree with what you’re saying, but since the group with these signs was specifically trying to stop gun stores in Newton using zoning I understand why this language was used.
Elmo – Please reread my comment carefully. I said the statement that the leaders of this group weren’t committed was NOT accurate. They ARE committed to this cause.
Phil – We agree – it’s now a nonissue, but that’s as a result of a lot of hard work, in a very short period of time, on the part of a significant number of city employees, councilors, and citizens. The signs are down now and have been for a week. No one whom I spoke to considered a people protest to be a good political strategy in this case.