Gun Rights Groups Oppose Prohibition of In-Home Firearms Businesses

Leaders of gun owners rights groups and limited government organizations are publicly opposing a proposed ban of in-home firearms businesses in Ames.

Representatives from the Iowa Firearms Coalition, Liberty Iowa PAC and Campaign for Liberty said they have collected more than 400 signatures from residents who say they don't want the City Council to add firearms to the list of prohibited home occupations.

Jeff Burkett, Iowa Firearms Coalition president, told the Ames City Council during its meeting Tuesday, that the proposed ban was based on emotion rather than factual evidence.

“It seems to me, to be more of an emotion based argument,” Burkettt said.

The Ames City Council unanimously approved in September, a first reading of an ordinance that would add firearms sales to the list of prohibited home businesses. Earlier this year, a group of neighbors petitioned the council to add firearms to the list of prohibited home occupations when they learned that their neighbor, George Seaton, had a permit allowing him to operate a firearms business in his home.

But Suzi Howk, said their fears are unfounded. She lives next door to an another in-home firearms business, Dragoon Trail Armory on Carroll Avenue, and said she wouldn't have known the business existed if her neighbors hadn't told her about it.

“There is no impact on the neighborhood whatsoever,” she said.

Seaton's neighbors said the perceived fear was enough for them.

“Had we known that there was a neighborhood arms dealer, we would not have purchased the home,” Ben Schmitt told the city council before a second reading of the ban on Tuesday.

Another neighbor, Kathy Dobbins, said she believed that a fear about neighborhood firearms business would deter people from buying her home if she sold it in the future.

Council Member Peter Orazem said in essence this was a dispute over property rights.

“We have an inalienable right to property and it's the state's obligation to secure those rights,” Orazem said adding that residents felt a neighborhood firearms business would affect the enjoyment of their own property.

“It doesn't matter if you don't believe they have the right opinion or the right facts ... We can't negate those feelings,” Orazem said.

Orazem said people choosing to live in a neighborhood with an in-home daycare makes sense.

“I never heard of anyone in this town saying that, what they are looking for in a neighborhood is the ability to buy firearms without having to drive,” Orazem said.

The city council unanimously approved a second-reading of the ordinance Tuesday after brief discussion. A third reading of the ordinance is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 23.

SEE MORE ON PATCH

• POLL: Should Firearms Sales Be a Legal Home Business in Ames?
• City Council to Discuss Adding Firearms Sales to the List of Prohibited Home Businesses