Gun Sales Debate Moves From Pinole to Pleasant Hill

Rick Tedjakusuma wants to buy and sell guns online, using his Pleasant Hill condo as a base of operations. And so far, city hall is giving him the green light. But it might be taking a second look now that the issue has come under community scrutiny.

After a story was , eyebrows began going up. The property managers of the Tres Lagos North development had no idea until a reporter called that one of their residents was planning such an operation, and they seemed none too happy about it.

last month, primarily over concerns about the proximity of large numbers of weapons sold in residential areas, which, by definition, has a concentrated number of residents in the area.

Gun advocates are adamant about the right not only to bear arms, but to sell them from private homes. They fear any attempt to ban sales in one area will lead to bans everywhere else. And if someone were going to attempt a robbery or holdup, would it likely be a business that dealt in weapons?

On the extreme ends, gun control is one of those stubborn, seemingly-intractable issues in which people see things one way or the other, with no hope of reconciliation. But, as with all things political, there seems to be vast middle where reasonable people can come to some agreement.

An outright ban on all weapons seems not only unlikely, but not even particularly necessary. Though tragic accidents happen more frequently than anyone would like, a great many gun owners know how to keep their weapons safe from the hands of children and thieves.

And it is unlikely that most people will approve the notion that fully automatic weapons, rocket-propelled grenades or guided missiles should be available for home protection or deer hunting.

But the home sale issue is more nuanced, a little trickier. Councilman Michael Harris told the Times that the council, which has not addressed the issue to date, would be receptive to neighborhood concerns, particularly if Tedjakusuma planned to store weapons in the condo.

Should gun sales be allowed from private homes if transactions ae online? Tell us in the comments.