Imperial Beach, a family-oriented community, is making headlines as they dealt with retail gun sales in their city, by unanimously passing a new ordinance this week, which ended a temporary ban on issuing permits to gun retailers, according to FOX 5 San Diego.
Mayor Paloma Aguirre said the city aimed to find an ordinance that was a right fit for the community. The new ordinance includes laws for permits, firearms storage, access to guns, and age restrictions. Businesses with gun sales would be limited to a commercial mixed-use zone along Palm Avenue, with buffers around schools and parks to ensure everyone's safety in the community.
In June, the city enacted a 45-day moratorium on permits after Stephanie Gilreath, a local woman, applied for a business license for her sporting goods store, as reported by San Diego Union-Tribune. Her store, Outdoor Woman, would primarily sell outdoor gear with gun sales constituting only about 10% of the business.
During the moratorium, the city's legal counsel researched over 100 ordinances from other cities to find an appropriate fit for their community, considering various socio-demographic factors. Imperial Beach City Council voted unanimously to proceed with the new ordinance, which takes effect immediately, mentioned in KPBS.
Gilreath's motivation to open a store that focuses mainly on women's outdoor gear and also sells guns is personal, and comes from her own experiences finding it challenging to discover proper gear for herself and her daughter. Having previously operated a home-based gun business, she also intends to create a welcoming atmosphere for women seeking to purchase firearms.
Although Gilreath expressed her appreciation for the efforts behind the ordinance, she mentioned her disagreement with some of the age restrictions imposed. She believes that more emphasis should be placed on firearms education and safety for children. However, according to Imperial Beach's Chief Administrative Officer, Erika N. Cortez-Martinez, quoted in the same KPBS report, these particular regulations might not apply to Gilreath's store given that her business will focus on selling firearms only for 10%.
With the new regulations approved, Gilreath moves forward with the process of obtaining her business license and hopes to open her store in the fall. Offering the sale of handguns, rifles, and shotguns, she aims to work with the city and the community to overcome any challenges and build a successful business.
Mayor Paloma Aguirre expressed her gratitude and support for Gilreath, acknowledging that had it not been for her, the city might not have developed the ordinance that fits their community best. Aguirre looks forward to helping support Gilreath's business and attending the store's ribbon-cutting ceremony in the future.
