Responding to a wave of concern about sales near schools, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday temporarily halted new gun shop approvals and kickstarted a process to permanently buffer children from firearms retailers.
In a 4-1 vote, the board greenlighted a 45-day moratorium on new gun shop planning permits.
In addition, the supervisors directed county planners to draft a proposed ordinance that would ban gun shops within 1,000 feet of preschools, K-12 schools, child care centers, parks, playgrounds, youth centers, houses of worship and other gun shops across the unincorporated county.
“It’s about acting now before we find ourselves asking why we didn’t,” said Second District Supervisor Laura Capps, who proposed the new rules with Third District Supervisor Joan Hartmann.
Tuesday’s decision comes in response to the relocation of Goodland Guns. It’s moving from Old Town Goleta to a former 7-Eleven market at 7443 Hollister Ave.
The shop in July secured a long-term lease next to the Here We Grow Early Learning Center, a daycare center and preschool.
In recent weeks, parents sought help from the Goleta City Council and Goleta Union School Board. They condemned the store’s relocation as a danger to children. The school board on Aug. 20 passed a resolution urging Goleta city officials to create 1,000-foot buffers.
The Goleta City Council on Tuesday evening was expected to discuss such buffer for the city—and other zoning or land use changes that could lead to the possible closure of the gun store.
Goodland Guns owner Dan Ashton told the News-Press on Friday he worries his and other local gun shops would suffer unnecessarily under new rules.
At the county, officials said they expect the proposed ordinance to come back to the board for consideration in March. Later this month, the board will consider extending its emergency moratorium for up to 10 months and 15 days—to give planners time to craft the permanent ban.
In addition to buffers, the ordinance is expected to include new gun shop security proposals. Other measures would require firearms retailers obtain a county conditional use permit, which would negate over-the-counter store approvals and allow the public a chance to weigh in.
In yet another new rule, the proposed ordinance would prevent firearms sales by home-based dealers in residential neighborhoods. The new ordinance would not affect Goodland Guns or other existing gun shops.
First District Supervisor Roy Lee said he fully supported the measures. Fifth District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino said he appreciated the proposal focused narrowly on land use policies.
“There’s a lot of details still to be worked out, but I support the overall concept,” said Lavagnino, who’s retiring at the end of this year.
His departure tees up a fresh campaign issue as candidates Maribel Aguilera and Ricardo Valencia face off in an election race to succeed Lavagnino.
Board Chair Bob Nelson, who represents the Fourth District, voted no on Tuesday and framed the discussion as good people taking different sides.
“There’s another view out there in our county,” Nelson said. “I for one would… have no problem having my kids go to a preschool next to a gun store, because I really do believe the best thing for a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.
“There would be a large contingency next door—if there was a mass shooting—next to a preschool of somebody who was lawfully trained and knows how to use guns appropriately,” Nelson said. “It’s another perspective. I know it’s not one that’s shared down here on the South Coast, but it is widely shared in the North County, especially in my district.”
Numerous members of the public spoke to the board in favor of restricting gun sales.
“A thousand feet is less than zero-point-two of a mile, which seems very reasonable,” said Becca Tucker, a volunteer with Moms Demand Action, which advocates for gun safety and responsible ownership.
Supervisor Hartmann described the proposals she championed as reasonable first steps toward positive change.
“Our emails and phone lines were just buzzing,” Hartmann said. “This really resonates… Naturally people are worried about what guns symbolize for children and children’s health. To have them near schools and places where children learn and play is just counterintuitive. It doesn’t make any sense.”
Similarly, Supervisor Capps said the proposals were not about the 2nd Amendment; rather, they’re a proactive move that’s more reasonable than trying to outright ban gun stores, she said.
“We spent some time looking all across the state, what are the policies,” Capps said, adding some jurisdictions are trying to ban gun stores. “And then they get wrapped up in the courts, and it takes forever, and we decided no that’s not a good way to go. So this is a very measured approach.”
