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May 24, 1992

Office, Editorial 985-2131

Committee recommends
removing gunshops from
residential neighborhoods

NORTH VANCOUVER District Council’s planning and
development standing committee has recommended that
firearms dealers be precluded from operating in district

residential zones.

By Martin Millerchip
Contributing Writer

Council will consider altering
the home occupation provisions of
the zoning bylaw next week in the
wake of an April 27 self-inflicted
shooting death on the premises of
North Shore Firearms Ltd.

The shop's owner, Frank
Macey, has subsequently decided
to liquidate his stock and hus
agreed to stop selling guns from
his residence in the 906-block of

. East 14th Street.

But some neighboring residents
were surprised and horrified to
discover such a business was
located in the same block as an
elementary school.

NORTH VANCOUVER
DISTRICT COUNCIL

Brian MacDonald, a resident on
East 15th Street, appeared before
the standing committee on Tues-
day night to press for changes in
the zoning.

MacDonald said there seemed
to be a communications gap be-
tween district staff and the RCMP
over the terms of the existing zon-
ing.

Macey has admitted to district
staff that he was selling guns from
his premises in cuntravention of
the bylaw provision that states,
*“*No commodity shall be solid on
the premises except that which is
made on the premises."*

But Macey told staff that he
was unaware of this provision,
and his business licence, which he
does not plan to renew, classifies
him as a ‘‘distributor."’

While district building and
permit inspectors might have been
unaware that guns were being sold
at North Shore Firearrns, Mac-
Donald told the committee that
the RCMP. certainly knew but
were unaware that such dealings
were in contravention of the zon-
ing bylaw.

MacDonald said that current
regulations that require a permit
to carry a gun from point A to
point B were adequate.

“tam not an advocate of more
legislation, but | don't want point
A in’ my neighborhood,”’ said
MacDonald.

Firearms dealers could stiff. be
located in commercial zones even
if counci) alters the home occupa-
tion provisions of the district's
bylaw.

EE a Sa PO CE I IE aT)
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