http://www.apbnews.com/cjsystem/justicenews/2000/06/06/nra0606_01.html
NYC Takes Aim at NRA Store Plan
City Council Tells Gun Group to Stay Out of Town
June 6, 2000
By Robert Anthony Phillips
NEW YORK (APBnews.com) -- The City Council has rolled out the unwelcome mat for the National Rifle Association.
The council unanimously voted this week to urge the NRA not to open a theme store and restaurant in rejuvenated Times Square, saying the promotion of guns has "no place in such an entertainment venture."
But council members admit there is little they can do to prevent the NRA from opening a planned food and entertainment complex offering merchandise and virtual shooting games. Guns won't be for sale. The group is now scouting for a location in Times Square for its NRASports Blast store.
Council member Christine Quinn proposed the resolution to pressure the NRA to abandon its Times Square merchandising venture. Her chief of staff said the resolution was aimed at sending the NRA a "strong message."
"We thought that placing guns and weapons in a fun, family environment was sending a violent and wrongheaded image to America's children," said Maura Keeney, Quinn's chief of staff. "Times Square has become a family oriented part of New York with the Disney Store, ESPN Sports Zone and a wax museum. Guns, gun-related paraphernalia and the NRA do not fit into that."
NRA fires back
The NRA shot back at the council's snub, saying it was "political correctness run afoul" and still plans to hunt for store space in the New York.
"It is certainly unfortunate that the council doesn't support the interests of the thousands of sports-shooting enthusiasts who visit Times Square," said Kelly Whitley, spokeswoman for the NRA. "Shooting is a family oriented sport and families participate in it."
In May, NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre said the pro-firearms group was taking aim at the Big Apple by planning to open the sport-shooting store, drawing the wrath of gun control advocates.
Saying that more Americans shoot guns than play baseball, fish, ski, mountain bike or hunt, LaPierre said the NRASports Blast store would encompass several thousand square feet and feature branded merchandise, electronic shooting games, and virtual trap and skeet shooting.
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has stated that he doesn't believe the NRA store will ever be built and that, if it is, such a complex will have a tough time surviving. The mayor has not said whether he is for or against the NRASports Blast store.
NYC Takes Aim at NRA Store Plan
City Council Tells Gun Group to Stay Out of Town
June 6, 2000
By Robert Anthony Phillips
NEW YORK (APBnews.com) -- The City Council has rolled out the unwelcome mat for the National Rifle Association.
The council unanimously voted this week to urge the NRA not to open a theme store and restaurant in rejuvenated Times Square, saying the promotion of guns has "no place in such an entertainment venture."
But council members admit there is little they can do to prevent the NRA from opening a planned food and entertainment complex offering merchandise and virtual shooting games. Guns won't be for sale. The group is now scouting for a location in Times Square for its NRASports Blast store.
Council member Christine Quinn proposed the resolution to pressure the NRA to abandon its Times Square merchandising venture. Her chief of staff said the resolution was aimed at sending the NRA a "strong message."
"We thought that placing guns and weapons in a fun, family environment was sending a violent and wrongheaded image to America's children," said Maura Keeney, Quinn's chief of staff. "Times Square has become a family oriented part of New York with the Disney Store, ESPN Sports Zone and a wax museum. Guns, gun-related paraphernalia and the NRA do not fit into that."
NRA fires back
The NRA shot back at the council's snub, saying it was "political correctness run afoul" and still plans to hunt for store space in the New York.
"It is certainly unfortunate that the council doesn't support the interests of the thousands of sports-shooting enthusiasts who visit Times Square," said Kelly Whitley, spokeswoman for the NRA. "Shooting is a family oriented sport and families participate in it."
In May, NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre said the pro-firearms group was taking aim at the Big Apple by planning to open the sport-shooting store, drawing the wrath of gun control advocates.
Saying that more Americans shoot guns than play baseball, fish, ski, mountain bike or hunt, LaPierre said the NRASports Blast store would encompass several thousand square feet and feature branded merchandise, electronic shooting games, and virtual trap and skeet shooting.
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has stated that he doesn't believe the NRA store will ever be built and that, if it is, such a complex will have a tough time surviving. The mayor has not said whether he is for or against the NRASports Blast store.