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E-mail StoryCity Council to weigh in on gun control case
| Tuesday, Mar 25 2008 3:08 PM
Last Updated: Tuesday, Mar 25 2008 3:21 PM
The Bakersfield City Council will take up the issue of gun control Wednesday as it considers a resolution about a case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.
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The Bakersfield City Council will meet in a closed session at 5:15 p.m. and hold its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at 1501 Truxtun Ave. You also can watch the meeting live on KGOV.
An agenda and background information can be found under the city government link at www.bakersfield.city.us.
The city isn’t considering a change to any of its own laws, but instead will consider whether to weigh in about a Washington, D.C., law. That law, banning handguns in the city, was struck down by an Appeals Court and is now being considered by the Supreme Court.
Bakersfield City Councilman Zack Scrivner said the city should send a message to the federal government that the Second Amendment provides an individual right, and that no government should be able to infringe on that right.
He said he’s comfortable with the idea that the federal government is overturning a local law, in this case.
“Cities should not be able to adopt laws that violate the Second Amendment, or any amendment, to the Constitution,” Scrivner said. “It’s perfectly appropriate for other municipalities to voice their support for the Appeals Court.”
He said he had not talked to any other member of the council about the issue.
In other action, the council will consider:
• An agreement with Caltrans for the Centennial Corridor study. An agreement adopted by the city, Kern County, the Kern Council of Governments and Caltrans in January set out conceptually what the different agencies will do to put together a plan for connecting Highway 58 from downtown to Interstate 5. The agreement to be considered tonight fills in the legal details.
• A contract for installation of a traffic signal at Old River Road and White Oak Drive.
• Appointing Lyle David Martin to the Keep Bakersfield Beautiful Committee.
• Appointing Nancy Talbot or Ann Sullivan to the Historic Preservation Commission.