Residents Protest Gun Store Set To Come To Newton

NEWTON, MA — As a gun store is set to open in Newtonville, a number of residents are up in arms, and their efforts have gotten the attention of the mayor.

On April 15, residents got wind that a gun shop was set to open at 790 Washington St. in the space formerly occupied by Supreme Cleaners. The proposed location is on the same block as Cabot's Ice Cream and the Garden Remedies Cannabis shop. A sign in the window of the store reads "Newton Firearms FFL Firearms Dealer By Appointment Only."

Within hours, someone created a Facebook group "Stop Gun Stores In Newton," which has more than 1,700 members just four days later. The group posted a petition Friday morning urging the mayor to find a way to change the zoning law so as to keep gun shops out of the city.

"Research is clear that more guns in a community lead to more deaths through homicides, suicides, and accidental shootings," the petition reads. "As we emerge from a global pandemic with soaring rates of depression and anxiety, especially among youth, it is particularly disturbing that a gun store should be opening now."

Within hours thousands signed it and that evening Mayor Ruthanne Fuller released a statement in response.

"I am deeply concerned about a firearms store which has started taking the steps to potentially open in Newtonville at 709 Washington Street near many homes and restaurants and proximate to schools," she said, adding that she'd encouraged Council President Susan Albright, Councilor Rick Lipof to bring the matter before the council.

The city is set to consider an amendment to the city’s zoning ordinance that would only allow firearms sales related uses in certain zoning districts in the city. It will also require firearms sales uses to be approved by special permit by the Newton City Council, and create specific special permit criteria, including a buffer zone between a firearms dealer and homes and schools.

Although there have been gun shops in Newton in the past and no specific ordinance, given today's climate residents want the city to prioritize changing the city's zoning regulations to ensure that gun stores don't even think about opening in the city.

The City Council has broad authority to regulate the location of firearms dealers, but because of Constitutional protections, city officials say the more firearm sales are regulated, the more likely such regulations will be subject to a court challenge.

That's not deterring those opposed to the prospect of a gun shop opening in town. Residents are organizing picketing events, and have raised nearly $2,000 in less than 24 hours to put toward the creation of signs.

Fuller said she expects the zoning ordinance conversation to go before the Zoning and Planning Committee for a public hearing on May 10, which will be open to public comment. The committee will then discuss and make recommendations to the full City Council for a final vote.

Patch was unable to reach the owner of Newton Firearms, who appears to be a Newton resident.

There are several gun stores nearby, though not in Newton currently:

• Sports and Gadgets, Brookline: This shop sells mostly sports equipment but also sells air and airsoft pistols air rifles, air hunting rifles and BBs.
• Law Enforcement Equipment Inc: This Waltham firearms shop sells firearms to law enforcement but also regular citizens.
• gfaArmsTec, this gun shop operates in Natick.
• J&J Arms, Dedham.

Read more about Newton and state firearm regulations.