Agenda

Return

C. 79

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor
Date:	October 9, 2018

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

REFERRAL TO PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE TO REVIEW BANNING GUN SHOWS AT THE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 10/09/2018

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Supervisor Federal D. Glover, (925) 608-4200

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: October 9, 2018
,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

REFER the issue of banning gun shows at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds and a review of regulations governing the purchase and sale of guns at gun shows to the Public Protection Committee.

FISCAL IMPACT:

No fiscal impact.

BACKGROUND:

The Contra Costa County Fairgrounds are owned and operated by the 23rd District Agricultural Association. The 23rd District is a “state institution” under section 3953 of the Food and Agricultural Code. Because the Fairgrounds are owned and operated by a state institution, the County is not authorized to prohibit gun shows held on state property. A few other counties have banned gun shows at county fairgrounds, but these bans have been at fairgrounds owned by counties themselves, rather than by the state.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

There was local interest in eliminating gun shows at the Cow Palace (which occurred 5 times annually according to media reports). The Cow Palace is owned by Agricultural District 1-A, also a state institution. That effort resulted in the need for special legislation to be carried by Senator Scott Weiner and Assemblymember Phil Ting to disallow gun shows on the Cow Palace property. The bill was signed into law by the Governor earlier this month. Attached is a copy of the bill (SB 221).

This referral to the Public Protection Committee will assist with facilitating a public discussion as to whether or not Contra Costa should similarly pursue an effort to disallow gun shows at the state-owned County Fairgrounds property, which happens to be located directly across the street from Antioch High School and is in the vicinity of several other school and a Headstart facility (see attached map). This referral also seeks to determine whether facilitating gun shows on public property is an appropriate message to be sending as the nation continues to grapple with mass shootings, which seem to have become more commonplace in our society. Specifically, rules and regulations governing the purchase and sale of guns at these shows are different than those governing similar transactions at brick and mortar gun dealer storefronts.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

The referral will not be made to the Public Protection Committee.