Gun Show? Here's What Dunedin Is Saying

A recent post on Patch about a Florida dealer hoping to hold gun and knife shows at the Dunedin Community Center sparked an outpouring of comments and strong opinions from readers.

Many commenters praised Dunedin leaders for the decision to shoot down the request. Others questioned how it was handled.

Below is a sampling of responses from Patch readers and our Facebook fans. Check out what they had to say and add your own comments below to continue the conversation.

Pat Clark: "I cannot see why anyone who uses the Community Centre for activities which encourage and foster well -being would want to see the sale of guns, which kill and maim people, in the building."

Ron Barnette, Dunedin City Commissioner: "What our Community Center does not need to host---nor any other city-owned location, I might add---is a gun and knife show on city properties! This should be obvious to any Dunedin resident. Call me a liberal or whatever, but selling the likes of AK-47's in city locations is definitely NOT in the spirit of our community vision and values....period!"

Charles Smith: "... This is a very emotional issue for some. For me I live in this wonderfull city. I love this town and the people who live and work here. To make decision based on a mistaken belief that people who sell guns want only to murder and kill is ludicrous . What logical conclusion can be based on emotion. To target a legal business licensed by the state fees taken by the city and then punished because of the product is political charged? Wrong and narrow thinking. No one has answered the question. I believe they can't without exposing their wrong thinking."

Marilyn: "Kudos to City Staff & Commissioner Barnette. Dunedin is a quiet, peacefull village. We do not need the likes of these gun dealers in our community."

Tricia Colin, via Facebook: "I would like to see maybe one or two gun shows but maybe at the Dunedin Stadium might be a better fit. I think the attendance should dictate if it is a regular bi-weekly event. Let's keep an open mind- it is not guns that kill people it is people who use the guns. There is nothing to fear but fear itself."

Patricia S Ohara, via Facebook: "fewer guns means fewer deaths"

Sign up for the Dunedin Patch email newsletter to get our top headlines delivered straight to your inbox so you won't miss a thing!