Proposed Newton Gun Shop Won't Open On Washington St. After Vote

NEWTON, MA — The gun shop set to open on Washington Street will not be able to open, after the Newton City Council Wednesday night approved strict zoning rules for firearms businesses, gunsmiths and gun ranges in the city.

The City Council and Mayor Ruthanne Fuller proposed new zoning rules in an effort to prevent the store from opening. That came in response to pushback from residents who argued it was no place for a gun shop as it was within walking distance of schools.

The new rules will take effect 20 days from Fuller's Thursday approval and apply retroactively to Newton Firearms, the proposed Washington Street gun shop.

"Newton now joins just a handful of communities in Massachusetts that have restrictive zoning that requires a special permit and limits firearms businesses to only specific areas buffered from sensitive uses," Fuller said in a statement.

While it does not create an all out ban on firearms businesses, it makes opening one very difficult in town. After two hours of discussion the City Council approved the rules that would create buffer areas between firearms businesses schools, parks, libraries, hospitals and places of worship and homes. City Council would have final say on operating hours and how signs are displayed.

If Newton Firearms still wanted to open in town, it could, but it, or any gun shop business would be relegated to the corner of Rumford and Riverview avenues or North Street near Waltham, or along Route 9 in Chestnut Hill.

City Councilor At-Large Lenny Gentile, who supports a ban on firearm businesses, was the only person to vote against the zoning measure, saying the proposal just wasn't enough.

"Quite frankly, I don’t think that this restrictive zoning gives as much protection as we would like our constituents to think," Gentile said during the meeting.

He and several other city councilors are proposing a ban on gun businesses in Newton. A public hearing for residents to weigh in on that is scheduled for June 21.

But Fuller and city lawyers have said they are concerned such a ban would be challenged in court on constitutional grounds. Other local lawyers said during a May 10 meeting they disagree.

Where Residents Stand

May 10 was the first time residents had the chance to weigh in on the proposed zoning regulations the city council drafted in response to pushback on the possibility of a gun shop opening in Newton. Most expressed a desire for very strict zoning, if not an outright ban. Some said they carry weapons to respond to potential hate crimes. A couple men said they carry guns to synagogue because they are fearful of acts of antisemitism. One man said he carries a gun because he is gay and wants it for protection.

Although the mayor was alerted of a gun shop called "Newton Firearms" was beginning the licensing process in late March, residents learned of the proposed shop around April 15. They set to work and petitioned the city to do something to regulate their location, if not ban them. Within 12 hours, hundreds had signed the petition.

On April 16, the day after the petition launched, the mayor and City Council docketed proposed amendments to limit the dealers to certain zoning districts, require special permit approval from the City Council, and buffers between a store and sensitive locations.

Then a week later, the city's Inspectional Services Department issued a stop work order at 709 Washington St., because the store owner did not have a building permit, which is necessary to do the type of renovation work being done, according to the city.

The City Council's Zoning and Planning Committee began deliberations last month on how to regulate where firearms can be sold in Newton. For two hours, councilors discussed everything from whether the city had the power to ban the sale of guns, to the possibility of creating a specific zoning ordinance specific to gun shops.

Related:

• Residents Protest Gun Store Set To Come To Newton
• Newton Issues Stop-Work Order To Planned Gun Store
• Owner Of Proposed Gun Store Applied In January ...

Watch the two-hour special City Council Meeting: