.
Feedback

Councilman Buys Guns, Advocates for Local Gun Range

The newly sworn in councilman asked his colleagues for their consensus to consider changing the city’s code to make it easier to open a gun range within the city limits despite the recent Newtown shooting.

Despite talks of the need for more gun control laws across the country—Murrieta Councilman Harry Ramos is advocating changing the city’s code to make it easier to open a gun range in the city.

Although there has been a push for gun control following last week’s school shooting in Newtown, CT, Ramos said he doesn’t think the tragedy will make it more difficult to change the city’s code so that a gun range could open in Murrieta. In fact, he told Patch it’s like "comparing apples to broccoli."

Ramos—who was recently sworn into office—said at Tuesday's City Council meeting that he discovered there wasn’t a gun range within the city limits when he and his wife purchased his-and-her firearms on Monday. He asked his colleagues to consider adding one at a later council meeting.

“I was mortified to hear that there are no shooting ranges within the city of Murrieta,” Ramos said during the meeting. “As a citizen, even though I do support gun rights 100 percent, I am completely for properly handling guns. I don’t see how that should even be a factor in this consideration.”

Although he said he doesn’t know if Murrieta needs its own gun range, Ramos would like to change the city’s code so that if someone wants to open a gun range they can.

“The free market will decide,” he said during an interview with Patch. “I personally am against any types of codes that limit legal business within the city limits.”

A strong supporter of the Second Amendment, Ramos said he is “a little turned off” by some of California’s gun laws. To obtain a Handgun Safety Certificate when they purchased their guns, Ramos and his wife had to pass a 30-question test. Although Ramos said his wife had never even touched a gun before Monday, his wife easily passed the test.

“There was absolutely no point in this test for gun safety because my wife has never had any training,” he said. “It really just seems like a way to make money for the state.”

If the city’s code is changed after the City Council considers his proposal, Ramos said he would like to have an indoor gun range in Murrieta so that community members like his wife can learn how to properly handle a firearm.

“I hope that there are some local entrepreneurs who are willing to take on this endeavor,” Ramos said. “I think they will be very successful.”

calistar December 21, 2012 at 04:51 pm
As a teacher here in Murrieta I would REFUSE to carry a gun. I was almost shot accidently with a .44 Magnum by my ex-husband. He was a "mountain man" from Virginia and was born and raised around guns. He practiced gun safety but still almost killed me at close range when I was looking out my bedroom window at an accident that had happened down the road. Luckily for me I heard the gun c*ck. Gun accidents happen, even to the most careful. Besides, our school is already armed with Murrieta PD. Somehow, even though he is here and appreciated, I don't feel confident that he could protect us from an assailant with an assault weapon. Yee haw! Back to the wild west we come!
calistar December 21, 2012 at 04:53 pm
Wow! Now I know what liberty sounds like!
calistar December 21, 2012 at 04:55 pm
Also one near Oceanside. Get in your car and drive to whatever range you want.
Jay of Murrieta December 21, 2012 at 05:02 pm
I think the point he is trying to get is why restrict a legal business from operating not where he can shoot.
LetsBfair December 21, 2012 at 05:38 pm
@calistar:You wrote this..Heaven forbid they allow a dispensary to do business in peace here in Murrieta but a gun range is ok. Crawl back whence forth you came, Mr. Ramos. I pray that your family is never affected by gun violence like mine has.
@Calistar: Council member Ramos was the ONLY Councilmember to stand strong and vote with the California Constitution and the citizens of California by voting NO on allowing the City attorney and the Police chief from harassing Co-ops. Council member Ramos said he NEVER took any drugs and never smoke anything. He said he has to STAND with the PEOPLE who voted so he voted FOR the Co-ops. Go to a city council meeting and know the facts. He is on YOUR SIDE. The only one.
LetsBfair December 21, 2012 at 05:43 pm
What did Councilman Ramos do that upsets you? He was talking cordially with everyone. Everyone was having a good time. This man served his country for 20 years in the Marines. He did tour after tour fighting Islam while our country embraced the monsters he was protecting you from. Councilman Ramos simply supports the State and Federal Constitution he gave 20 years defending. Ramos was a nice guy sitting up there with a "police state" loving city council that votes "Neutral" when they should be supporting the citizens of Murrieta's right to vote.
LetsBfair December 21, 2012 at 05:47 pm
Amen Newman! Amen! Councilman Ramos loves his country and wants to ensure that our city council follows the State Constitution like it or not. He believes in the Constitution and does not believe in the corruption of this city council. Murrieta is still $217,000,000.00 in debt. This is what your current group of crooks have done to our city.
http://murrieta.patch.com/articles/gutted-redevelopment-agency-still-owes-217m
LetsBfair December 21, 2012 at 05:49 pm
@Shane. If someone is not like you they are ignorant I guess. Ramos spent 20 years protecting YOU with an automatic weapon. He is simply protecting his home and his family. If I guy comes to your house and begins to attack your family I guess you will "Reason" with him. You are not a man but a sissy..
calistar December 21, 2012 at 05:51 pm
I NEVER said Mr. Ramos didn't support the dispensaries, I said the council. You don't know me or anything about me. I was at the counsel meeting on Tuesday for your information.
Steve Newman December 21, 2012 at 05:54 pm
And I bet you were against the quarry- don't want any ground disturbance to shake your jello mold.
LetsBfair December 21, 2012 at 06:12 pm
Too funny Newman. Lives on a fenced property? too funny.
LetsBfair December 21, 2012 at 06:15 pm
Your comment lumped Councilmember Ramos in with the others when he was the only member to stand up. What did he do that got you so upset that he needs to "crawl back whence you came, Mr Ramos". Your council votes 5-0 all the time. For the first time in 4 years you got a 4-1 vote.
LetsBfair December 21, 2012 at 06:19 pm
Amen Mike Smith!
LetsBfair December 21, 2012 at 06:55 pm
Our city council has done nothing. Our police are thugs. Councilmember Ramos is a good man who loves America and believes in YOUR RIGHTS. He believes the government has NO RIGHT to spy on you. He believes YOU have the right to vote and have your votes heard. He believes that if YOU vote in a new law he will respect it and stand behind YOU.
Gerry Nance December 21, 2012 at 08:12 pm
Gun control means putting rounds on target to neutralize a threat.
Charlie December 21, 2012 at 09:35 pm
It is not conservatives against guns. It is the left wing liberal who now control the country. If you are against law abiding citizens having guns move to Mexico where it is against the law to own guns except for tje cartels who run arouns killing their citizens. With our imigration laws gone by the wayside I now believe morte then ever our citizens need to arm themselves or it will be the same masacares here - only bad guys will be carrying guns. Our current powers to be would love to see us unarmed and fall prey to criminals. If you punch me I will punch you back - if you shoot at me and I don,t die I will definitely shoot you and not in the leg. Vote conservative and join the NRA
calistar December 21, 2012 at 09:43 pm
Law abiding citizens do not need assault rifles. Period. End of the story. I support the right to carry a gun, however, I don't think our forefathers could even fathom a gun such as this when they wrote the 2nd Amendment.
calistar December 21, 2012 at 09:49 pm
I also want to apologize to Councilman Ramos for the comment made earlier. I pray he is the "good guy" you say he is.
mike smith December 21, 2012 at 11:10 pm
@LetsBfair, I like the way you think.
LetsBfair December 21, 2012 at 11:28 pm
@calistar. God Bless You. You will find out that he is not a smooth talking as the current city council. However, you are going to see a 20 Year retired Marine who "WILL NOT" vote against the people and he will always support the Constitution, both Federal and State. There will never be a vote from Ramos that will back stab the people of Murrieta. Councilmember Ramos does NO DRUGS. None at all. However, he voted in favor of the Co-op only because it is legal under California State Law. The other members lied to him at the council meeting and told him it is still Illegal in California. He stuck with the fact that the people voted and he held his ground with only 2 weeks in office. Our city got their first 4-1 vote in a long time. God Bless all of you patriots. Especially those of you that fight to give us the opportunity to be free enough to write our comments on the patch. God Bless you all.
LetsBfair December 21, 2012 at 11:32 pm
He was smiling and the rest of the city council was smiling with him. They were all in agreement. He was just being nice and sharing that after 20 years of being a Marine for the first time ever his wife allowed him to purchase a gun for her. He is a Marine and he wants to go shooting with his wife. Its her first gun and he wants to get her lessons and practice and certification since she is afraid of guns. He simply said in fun that there are no ranges in Murrieta.
LetsBfair December 21, 2012 at 11:34 pm
Ramos believes in the Constitution both State and Federal so he probably is not a conservative since the rest of the city council claims they are republicans. Ramos vote against the city council supporting States Rights. That makes him the biggest conservative on the city council.
LetsBfair December 21, 2012 at 11:36 pm
If someone opens a range I would be with Newman and you would have 2 charter members right away.
Beach mom December 22, 2012 at 12:55 am
I'm with Ramos!!
LetsBfair December 22, 2012 at 01:03 am
Amen Beach mom!! We need more regular people who truly believe in the freedom of their citizens running for office. If you watch the video from the city council meeting you will see a refreshing change. God Bless Beach mom..
Oldtimer Lu December 22, 2012 at 01:47 am
There is a lot of people with guns out there. And sales are brisk and have been for at least the last 4 years. I think having a safe place to go shoot would be a good thing. My grandmother used to have a shotgun by the door and we never thought anything of it. Its better to respect guns rather than fear them. We also ought to reopen the mental hospitals. And another thing, how about arming those ROTC teachers? And bring Junior ROTC classes to middle schools?
LetsBfair December 22, 2012 at 03:37 am
Amen Oldtimer. Take it a step further and give the citizens of california the right to carry once again so that citizens can stop these terror attacks. The "first responders" will always be a citizen first. God Bless Lu.
Mary December 22, 2012 at 12:33 pm
Someone, LetsBfair, is telling stories. Ramos is not a 20 year Marine, he is a 10 year. He was released on disability, but never served in combat. ( how’s that work? ) He grew up in and with the Bronx gangs, so drug free is doubtful. During his campaign he stated he had read the municipal code top to bottom, but yet he didn’t know until AFTER he had purchased 2 weapons that, first, there were no ranges in Murrieta, and that second, there was no allowance for them in the code (something read from top to bottom?). Spending that amount of money and learning AFTER THE FACT about these things, mortification was his reaction, and not said in fun. Purchasing 2 weapons begs for other questions. Certainly one household doesn’t require 2, especially with small children in the house. If for sport, then anyone would have already known IN ADVANCE where they could be used. I submit the dual purchase came with an expectation to carry, something very unnecessary, especially in this valley. Ramos’ priorities are not only a bit out of whack, they are highly suspicious.
BTW, in my view of the council reaction, they weren't smiling. The reaction was in amazement that Ramos would speak of a duel gun purchase shortly after the Sandy Hook incident.
Steve Newman December 22, 2012 at 06:13 pm
Law abiding citizens, the key phrase there, need whatever they can get to protect their families from the not law abiding gangbangers who have automatic weapons and more. And the forefathers wrote the 2d Amendment based on an idea, not a weapon.
Alec Hidell February 21, 2013 at 12:10 pm
We DO have mental hospitals; they are open and thriving. They are called PRISONS.
We need more. We can easily afford tent prisons out in the desert, as in Maricopa County Arizona. Works great there. We can also put our criminal aliens there in the work camps (illegal entry=crime). 10 years BEFORE deportation. That's how Mexico does it to the Central Americans who sneak across their southern border.

Newsletter & Alerts

Get the best stories each day and important breaking news

Subscribe

Not from Murrieta Patch? Find your Local Patch »

Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Alec Hidell June 14, 2013 at 05:46 pm
Why spend millions on a current president who is causing young Americans to die in Afghanistan andRead More is contemplating invading Syria and Iran as well?
Jeff Kleiner June 17, 2013 at 11:56 am
Conservo, Extremist ideology is DEAD. Even the Conservative John Roberts court, would not enter aRead More law that was so full of prejudice and discrimination against minorities and seniors......Hooray for America!!!!! Conservatism continues to LOSE every fight in its battle against Constitutional freedoms for all. Roy Holmgren loses AGAIN!!! Now Amnesty and Republicans will never win another election.
Jeff Kleiner June 17, 2013 at 03:31 pm
Public Policy Polling, deemed the most accurate polling firm for the 2012 elections, finds that onlyRead More 41 percent of Americans trust Fox News while 46 percent do not -- down from a 49-37 percent ranking in 2010. The news comes one week after the network hit a 12-year low in the coveted 25-54 demographic for primetime.
Jeff Kleiner June 17, 2013 at 03:32 pm
Everyone knows....FOX NEWS LIES
Alec Hidell June 12, 2013 at 07:47 pm
imagine the reality check you soccer moms will have when you have hurt someone ELSE's kid. bewareRead More of enraged parent! slow the heck down!
Jeff Kleiner June 12, 2013 at 11:06 pm
Randolfo, Serafin has no traffic control training. She uses a website as her teacher, that is set upRead More by some Far Right Extremists to scare people about big government. Now, shes going to tell the professionals in the city and surrounding cities, how long yellow lights should be. She has nothing else to do with her time except read Right Wing fear sites and listen to the Rush's and Glenn Beck's of the world who love to scare OLD WHITE REPUBLICAN CONSERVATIVES into there wild eyed conspiracy theories. Diana right now is in Hawaii looking for someones birth certificate or wait.....worried the Murrieta police bought an armored vehicle......shes a paranoia freak......drones Diana, drones are looking for you!! Let the professional traffic engineers figure out whats right for our city....BE AFRAID, DIANA, WMD's are coming!!! WMD's!!!
WrigsMom June 13, 2013 at 11:07 am
Our family has received 2 red light tickets and I would still rather have them. We live very nearRead More Nutmeg & Clinton Keith. The intersection there is very wide and it is not uncommon for some idiot turning left on to Clinton Keith to jump out in front of the on coming traffic. One family member was involved in an accident there due to that very bone head maneuver! Now with the red light camera gone we have to worry about the traffic blowing the light on Clinton Keith. Not that it didn't happen before, but now it is an ongoing problem. Just the other day a as I was about to enter the intersection some stupid guy making a left turn jumped out in front of me and another nitwit blew the red light. I was almost broadsided and hit head-on! Maybe the red light cameras don't deter I don't know, but it sure made me pay a little more attention after having to pay the $396 fine! I hated paying the fine, but I did the crime! So I can't complain......grow up people!
YUP June 12, 2013 at 10:39 pm
Most Christian Churches teach that one must be saved in order to be a Christian. It's in the bibleRead More in Romans 10:9
Sew Good June 14, 2013 at 09:16 am
Jesus was immersed. If you are baptizing to follow him, why do it any differently?
YUP June 15, 2013 at 10:54 am
Absolutely correct "SEW GOOD"!!!
Jeff Kleiner June 12, 2013 at 05:09 pm
I didn't see a fire coming over the Ortega Hwy at 1:00 pm.
Lad June 9, 2013 at 11:47 pm
Thank U murrieta fire for responding so fast to my fire call . :) And i hope the city desides to doRead More a clean up . You know all the drug addicts go back here .... clear the brush please !