BNN Report
News from the CBO, Minors, CCBL, and CYL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
27 October 2311
Quincy and the Gunners Name
There has been controversy over the years with the Quincy CBO team being named the Gunners after a militia group that terrorized the Commonwealth up until 2289 when the last remnants were either imprisoned or removed from existence.
In the beginning days of the CBO, there were multiple protests about using the name. While those protests quieted, as soon as Quincy began to show some improvement as a team, the protests began again. Because of these protests, Commissioner Nate Howard and Gunners owner Smiling Larry agreed to start a commission to discuss the team name.
Here are the results of the commission, made up of 25 community members around the Commonwealth not directly associated with the CBO:
"In regards to the future of the name of the Gunners, the Commission has reached the following conclusions:
* The name of "Gunners" holds a significant negative connotation for some citizens.
* The rights of an owner are strictly protected as a means of rights to expression as long as that owner fulfills the mission of the CBO.
* The bandit group known as the Gunners is no longer a direct nor immediate threat to the Commonwealth.
* The naming rights are at the will of the team owner and no one else.
In regards to the owner of the Quincy team, Mr. Smiling Larry, he made the following arguments regarding the team's name:
* The Gunners are a known group and their graffiti and other markings are known throughout the Commonwealth.
* By assuming the Gunners name and symbolism, the Quincy baseball team has erased the group's existence in the CBO. The Gunners logo is now associated with baseball.
* Significant costs in branding and marketing would have to be repaid to Mr. Larry since a name change would go against his will.
* A community survey in the Quincy settlement showed a 72% approval rate for the team name, and only a 14% desire to change the team name.
Based on the evidence procured and on the opinion of this nominated Commission to discuss the future of the Quincy team, we conclude that the Quincy Gunners name is acceptable and should remain as long as the team owner is in support of that team name."