City officials are so put off by gun retailers that they regulate where these shops may be located — much in the manner of liquor stores. However, one such business was grandfathered in because it was in operation for 65 years.
But it was near an elementary school, and the city fathers were irked by its mere existence.
The Martin B. Retting gun store recently went up for sale along with its large sign proclaiming “GUNS” and a painting of a rifle. Some parents and local officials complained in recent years, so when the business became available, Culver City sprang into action.
Specifically, the government bought the gun store. For $6.5 million.
City staffers admitted the price was “high” but believed that the outlay was worth it to keep another firearms retailer from taking its place. Megan Oddsen is a member of local gun control group Culver 878. She confessed the price was steep, “but it’s an investment in the safety of this community and our kids.”
Does anyone believe a child could just walk into the gun store and purchase a weapon? Closing this store has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with “feelings.”
One Culver City resident, Gary Zeiss, spoke out against the spending of millions of taxpayer dollars simply to shutter a lawful business. “This is bad governance hiding under a social issue that needs to be addressed, no question,” he said.
Another citizen, Marta Valdez, noted that “purchasing that property is not going to solve that problem.”
She’s right. But it will make some anti-gun zealots feel good about themselves, and apparently that’s enough.
