(DUBLIN, Calif.) — Dublin City Council is leaning toward tighter rules for firearm retailers and indoor shooting ranges, with councilmembers signaling support for stronger distance requirements around schools and additional environmental and workplace-safety oversight.
The discussion came as the city continues reviewing its regulations following an inquiry about a proposed firearm retailer and indoor shooting range near BASIS Independent School in downtown Dublin.
Under Dublin’s current zoning rules, firearm sales are treated as a retail use, while indoor shooting ranges are classified as indoor recreational facilities. The city placed a temporary moratorium on new firearm retailers and indoor shooting ranges earlier this year while staff reviewed whether additional regulations were needed.
Staff presented several possible approaches to the council, including maintaining the existing rules, establishing a 500-foot separation from schools, using standards similar to those applied to tobacco retailers, or requiring a 1,000-foot separation from K-12 schools.
Photo Credit: City of Dublin / The four options presented to the City Council.
Councilmembers ultimately indicated that they preferred moving forward with a modified version of the tobacco-retailer approach, known as "Option 3," while continuing to research the stricter 1,000-foot approach.
Under the direction discussed by council, the city would establish a 1,000-foot separation from K-12 schools and a 500-foot separation from certain other sensitive locations, including parks, playgrounds, youth centers and libraries. Councilmembers also indicated they did not want firearm retailers and indoor ranges separated from one another.
Vice Mayor Jean Josey argued that there was a meaningful difference between firearm-related businesses and tobacco retailers and supported modifying Option 3 rather than adopting the proposal exactly as presented.
“I would recommend Option Three, but without that piece of it,” Josey said, referring to separating firearm businesses from one another. Josey also argued that there would likely not be enough firearm-related businesses in Dublin to justify requiring separation between them.
Councilmembers also focused heavily on environmental and workplace-safety requirements for indoor ranges. The proposed oversight of the facility would involve documentation related to requirements administered by agencies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and California Department of Toxic Substances Control.
Vice Mayor Josey called for an ongoing compliance process rather than a one-time review, saying, “It would need to be an annual thing, not a one and done."
Councilmember Michael McCorriston said the city should make sure environmental issues and compliance requirements are fully understood before moving forward, saying, “As long as we have a very good understanding of the environmental concerns, what we can do, and the compliance aspect, I’m not sure if waiting around for something to happen with OSHA is necessarily the answer.”
The discussion also touched on constitutional rights and the Second Amendment.
Councilmember John Morada said they had expected to discuss “constitutional fundamentalism and our Second Amendment,” before adding, “just because one can, doesn’t mean one should.”
With the council's discussion of Option 3, city staff said conversations with residents appeared to show opinions generally falling between Option 3 and Option 4. The city’s staff also clarified that the council was not being asked to formally approve a new ordinance at the meeting. Vice Mayor Josey said, “We really need direction on an option that we then are going to take to the Planning Commission."
After council members indicated their preference, staff confirmed the direction. “Option Three is the one,” Josey said.
Staff then clarified that no formal vote was necessary because the council was providing policy guidance. Mayor Sherry Hu confirmed that the discussion was intended only for "guidance."
The direction allows city staff to continue developing potential changes to Dublin’s municipal code before the proposal moves through the Planning Commission and eventually returns to the City Council for final consideration. The city’s official September 1 meeting recap confirms that council requested staff draft changes to the municipal code concerning "land-use regulations for firearm retailers and indoor shooting ranges."
No final ordinance establishing the new restrictions was adopted during the discussion.
To add to or correct any information in this report, please email me at yashi.s@lead4earth.org or leave a comment below.
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