On Thursday, the Philadelphia City Council passed the controversial “Stop and Go” bill aimed at curbing the use of bulletproof glass in “beer delis.” Members of the Asian community, however, claim removing the glass will lead them to have to buy guns to defend themselves.
WPVI reports after an amendment, the “Stop and Go” bill proposed by City Councilwoman Cindy Bass passed with a 14-3 vote in the city council. The original bill, aimed at targeting “beer delis,” demanded that storeowners take down the Plexiglas separating them from their customers. According to Fox 29, the new version of the bill grants the Department of Licenses and Inspections the ability to ultimately decide whether the glass stays or goes by 2021.
The major opponents of the bill have been members of the Asian community.
One of the store owners said, “I was a victim of a robbery when I was 10-years-old and I don’t want that to happen again.”
“If you took the bulletproof glass from our store, there will be more people dy[ing],” another storeowner said.
City Councilman David Oh said, “If we take down the safety glass, they're not changing their business model. They're not moving. What they will do is purchase firearms. I think that is a worse situation than what we have today.”
Adam Xu, from the Asian-American Beverage Merchants Association, said, “Once the bulletproof glass coming down, everyone fears for their life. Now we've got to choose between living and making a living. And that’s it. So if we want to continue the business, we have only one option. You know, and I know, and the whole public knows we'll have to carry guns.”
Bass said the bill would protect people from stores that sell things people can use to get high.
In addition to removing the Plexiglas, the bill also called for accessible bathrooms and to provide seating for 30 people.
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