Dublin Weighs 1,000-Foot Buffer Between Gun Shops, Schools

DUBLIN, CA — The Dublin City Council will consider municipal code amendments requiring gun stores and shooting ranges to remain at least 1,000 feet from K-12 schools.

Earlier this year, the council imposed a temporary moratorium after the city received an inquiry about opening a firearm retailer and shooting range adjacent to the new BASIS Independent School at 7950 Dublin Boulevard.

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In Dublin, firearm dealers are currently regulated as retail businesses, and indoor shooting ranges are regulated as indoor recreational facilities, and Dublin''s existing zoning rules allow the proposed business. This prompted city officials to examine whether additional restrictions were necessary. In January, the council approved a 45-day moratorium, and extended it through January 2027 as staff reviewed firearm regulations, Second Amendment case law, and policies in other jurisdictions.

Staff reviewed regulations in other jurisdictions, and found that 34 California jurisdictions have adopted separation requirements for firearm-related businesses. City staff now recommend a 1,000-foot separation between firearm-related businesses, and public and private K-12 schools. The proposal would exclude roughly 947 acres, or 83% of Dublin's commercially and industrially zoned land, outside the restricted areas, according to a city staff report.

The city may also explore requiring indoor shooting ranges to document compliance with federal and state workplace safety and environmental regulations during the building permit process.

The council is not adopting an ordinance Tuesday. Instead, they are asking the council for direction to prepare municipal code amendments, which would go before the Planning Commission and return to the City Council for final action.

See here for more information, and here for Tuesday's full agenda, which includes several supplemental documents for this agenda item.