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Council rejects Constantine gun ban proposal
Author: Nicky Zizaza, WWMT
Published On: Apr 19 2016 04:56:20 PM CDT
A controversial assault rifle ban proposal in Southwest Michigan appears to be over for now. The Constantine village council reached a decision. WWMT's Nicky Zizaza reports the father of a Kalamazoo shooting survivor got everyone's attention.
CONSTANTINE, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) -
Controversy continues to swirl over a proposed gun ban in the village of Constantine, and Monday, the village council reached a decision.
A little more than a dozen residents showed up to village hall to express their opinion about a ban on assault rifles. But it was the father of a Kalamazoo shooting survivor who had everyone's attention.
The debate over a ban on assault rifles is far from over in the village of Constantine.
"I guess, where is it your position to tell me what it is? I can understand fully automatic. (crosstalk) Ma'am, you brought this up, but I can kill you with a hammer a lot quicker," one resident said Monday.
Passionate gun owners stepped up to reject a ban they say has no place in their community.
"I want you to think about this; Cain killed Abel with a rock. It's not a gun problem it's a heart problem," said another resident.
The hot topic in the small West Michigan village prompted the father of 14 year-old Abigail Kopf, who was critically injured during the Kalamazoo mass shooting to weigh in on an issue he says can no longer be ignored.
"It's been an ongoing epidemic, and nothing has happened; you've heard many people say with all due regard, we pray that this happens, but that is not working," Gene Kopf said.
After back and forth comments, the proposed ban introduced by Council President Patricia Weiss was ultimately struck down.
"I am enormously disappointed; I had higher hopes for our council, but everyone is entitled to their own opinions," Weiss said.
Weiss says she will not make another push, and that she only wanted the issue to be brought to the forefront.
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