A gun shop and shooting range next to a family pizzeria? I can’t imagine what the Tyrone Town Council was thinking when they approved this earlier this month.
According to a 2010 Washington Post investigation, “There is a relentless criminal demand for guns. New guns are at a premium.” And according to a 2012 report by WLS-TV/DT, “Gun shops are natural targets for thieves.” Want to see the actual robberies of gun stores? Just go to YouTube, there are plenty of videos.
Gun stores are so vulnerable to thefts that the International Association of Chiefs of Police recommends that gun stores “Install barricades that prohibit vehicle access through store entrances and window displays.”
Additionally, the Association recommends that gun shops should “Ensure a direct connection to local law enforcement.”
Oh, good, our 16 member police force needs to be stretched a little more thinly.
I’m not against guns per se, I’m just mighty uncomfortable eating pizza and shopping for groceries next to a huge cache of firearms. Locating a gun shop and range in a shopping center with family businesses is simply not safe. The Tyrone Town Council needs to reverse its decision immediately.
Irene Cheyne
Tyrone, Ga.
