Tweet If you can’t ban gun ownership, what’s the next best (or worst) thing? Banning the purchase of a gun and ammunition, right? After all, if you make it incredibly difficult to purchase a gun, some otherwise would-be gun owners will choose to go without, and if you’re a gun control fan, that’s a good thing. The town of Newton, Massachusetts is set to take another step towards a backdoor ban on gun shops tonight, when the local Zoning and Planning Committee meets to discuss a new firearms retailer that’s trying to open its doors downtown, much to the dismay and horror of hoplophobes who’ve flooded the mayor and council members with demands to do something to prevent the store from doing business.