Call for Cow Palace gun show ban getting louder

In an effort to take a stand against gun violence, San Mateo County officials will consider Tuesday adding their voices in support of a state Senate bill aimed at banning gun shows at the Cow Palace in Daly City.

Introduced by state Sen. Scott Wiener in May, Senate Bill 221 will ban sales of guns and ammunition at the Cow Palace after a vendor contract expires in 2020. The bill also includes an exemption for gun buyback programs organized by law enforcement. Because the Daly City facility is owned by the California Department of Agriculture’s Division of Fairs and Expositions, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors cannot restrict gun shows there, according to a staff report.

In proposing a resolution in support of the bill alongside board President Dave Pine, Supervisor David Canepa is hoping local officials can send a strong message to state legislators that the promotion of firearms at the five gun shows presented by Crossroads of the West each year at the Daly City venue is not appropriate, especially in light of recent school shootings in Parkland, Florida and Santa Fe, Texas.

“The state should not profit off the sale of guns,” said Canepa, whose district includes Daly City. “It’s time for the Legislature, it’s time for the governor to say no to the gun lobby … we don’t need guns at the Cow Palace.”

The board’s vote on the resolution will come just days before the promoter’s third gun show of the year, set to begin Saturday, June 9, and end Sunday, June 10.

Canepa said it’s not the first time county officials have called upon state legislators to prohibit gun shows at the Cow Palace, noting resolutions urging them to enact a ban were adopted by previous boards in 2003 and 2009. He said he supported the effort in 2009 when he was mayor of Daly City, but was disappointed by Gov. Jerry Brown’s decision to veto the bill.

Canepa is hoping this time, statistics like those generated by the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health at Stanford showing firearm-related injuries claimed the lives of 1,918 children and young adults in California between 2013 and 2015 will convince Brown and others that enough is enough.

“It is my hope that this year the governor will sign this bill,” he said. “Guns are being used on our children at an alarming rate. When will it stop?”

Lori Marshall, CEO of the Cow Palace, and Bob Templeton, owner of the Crossroads of the West Gun Show, were not available for comment.

Though Canepa noted the Cow Palace’s location near the border of San Francisco and Daly City has also been particularly affected by gun violence, he said it’s become an issue that affects all residents, whether they live in cities or suburbs.

“What I hope is accomplished through this particular bill and Sen. Weiner’s legislation is that we keep in mind … those who have died … so there aren’t future victims.”

Supervisors meet 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 5, at 400 County Center, Redwood City.

anna@smdailyjournal.com

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