Newton Gun Shop getting pushback

Newton city councilors Wednesday night approved restrictive zoning rules for firearms businesses in the city that drastically limit where gun stores could open and impose strict control over their day-to-day operations.

The measure comes more than a month after a gun shop, Newton Firearms, prepared to open its doors at 709 Washington St. in Newtonville
Mayor Ruthanne Fuller and all 24 city councilors proposed the zoning rules in an effort to prevent the store from opening at that location, which is within walking distance of schools, restaurants, and homes.

The zoning rules approved in a 23-to-1 vote by councilors covers firearms dealers, gunsmiths, and gun ranges, according to officials.
The rules impose buffers between firearms businesses and residential areas, and away from places like schools, parks and playgrounds, libraries, and hospitals. A gun business would require a special permit from the City Council, giving officials authority over issues like operating hours and signage.

The zoning also limits firearms businesses to part of Route 9 in Chestnut Hill and an area near the corner of Rumford and Riverview avenues close to the Waltham line, the planning department has said. A third spot, along a part of North Street near Waltham, could potentially serve as a location for a gun business, but there are no existing buildings outside the buffer areas, according to the city.

Leonard Gentile, a councilor-at-large for Newton’s Ward 4, was the sole vote against the zoning measure. Gentile supports prohibiting firearms businesses in Newton and is among a group of councilors who have backed an outright ban. He said the zoning rules before councilors were insufficient.

“I’m going to vote against this tonight because we don’t have the ban, which... obviously gives us the greatest protection,” Gentile told colleagues. “And quite frankly, I don’t think that this restrictive zoning gives as much protection as we would like our constituents to think.”

Fuller and several city officials have repeatedly warned that an outright ban would invite a court challenge on constitutional grounds.

Richard Lipof, the city council vice president, was among Newton councilors who backed the controls on firearms businesses.

“This is about the most restrictive gun [business] ordinance in the country, it’s going to be one of the top five. It is absolutely workable, defensible, and it’s about our whole city,” Lipof said. “It’s about looking at the city, and saying, here’s where it could go.’ "

The zoning rules will take effect 20 days after Fuller, who supports them, signs the measure. The zoning approved Wednesday is expected to apply retroactively to Newton Firearms, and the store will not be able to open at 709 Washington St., according to Ellen Ishkanian, a city spokeswoman.

The City Council is not yet done with reviewing local regulations for firearms businesses.

Gentile and a group of city councilors have filed for an outright ban on gun businesses in Newton. Fuller has said the public hearing for residents and others to speak up about the proposed ban is scheduled for Monday, June 21.
 
I said it way back and I’ll say it again.
Towns can’t just change zoning on a whim. If the application was submitted zoning gets locked.
I don’t know if a city can just change zoning without a town meeting but I suspect city’s don’t work that way. I’ve never lived in a city.
 
Sounds like about 25 hypocrites in Newton need a good five year stint in prison to think about their illegal actions.
 
Signed into law by the mayor tonight:


Strict Gun Store Zoning Passed and Signed

Today I signed a zoning amendment passed by the City Council last night that strictly controls and limits gun stores in Newton.

The updated zoning importantly mandates that any potential firearm business seeking to locate in Newton apply for a Special Permit from the City Council which would then necessitate a two-thirds majority vote of the Council (16 out of 24 Councilors) to receive approval. The zoning amendment also incorporates buffer distances from residences and sensitive uses (e.g., day care centers and schools) resulting in only three primary, small potential locations.

The zoning amendment passed with a 23-1 vote.

As Councilor Josh Krintzman said last night, before last night’s vote and prior to this restrictive zoning, a gun store could have opened in Newton on any one of 777 parcels of land without approval of the City Council.

The zoning amendment officially will become “effective” in 20 days. But, it will apply retroactively to any uses that had not commenced or received a building permit by April 23, 2021, the date of first publication of the notice of the public hearing.

The proprietors of the proposed gun store on Washington Street near Cabot’s applied for a building permit last Friday, May 28. Therefore, with the zoning amendment now passed, a gun store at this location is no longer an allowed use.

Kudos to the City’s Law and Planning Departments for writing, noticing and docketing this effective amendment quickly, and to City Council President Susan Albright and Council leadership, including Councilor Deb Crossley (Chair of the Zoning and Planning Committee), for their partnership and hard work in getting it passed.

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.

A public hearing for residents and others to voice their opinions on a complete ban will be held on Monday, June 21. The Zoom link will be posted here.

Please know that in light of the implications of the 2nd Amendment and the current legal landscape, the opinion of our City’s Law Department is that a complete ban would likely be held unconstitutional by a court of law.

Read the FAQs, the zoning amendment passed last night, the Law Department’s answers to City Councilors’ questions, two letters from the nationally recognized Giffords (Gabby) Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence supporting the proposed zoning amendments, and other more restrictive amendments being considered by clicking here.
 
My understanding is that they can't. It seems their legal counsel similarly thinks it won't survive challenge. Here's hoping it gets tested.

I hope it not only does not survive challenge, but they win damages for the delayed opening and defamatory actions / comments by city agents.

I no longer live in the area but when they DO open I will make a point of going there to make a purchase and tell them why, while I'm there.
 
Should I put up an appropriately named website complete with pictures of Newton's public officials who voted for this anti-civil rights zoning rule? (Along with nicely written articles describing their bigoted move. )

Or would such a website just equate to childish graffiti and have no effect on these people?
 
Should I put up an appropriately named website complete with pictures of Newton's public officials who voted for this anti-civil rights zoning rule? (Along with nicely written articles describing their bigoted move. )

Or would such a website just equate to childish graffiti and have no effect on these people?
Posting the truth can never be considered childish graffiti. Go for it.
 
If I lived in Newton, I would put a big sign that just reads "Help fight racism! Say YES to minority owned regulated gun store in Newton!"

Just call anyone who disagrees a racist and watch them melt from the cognitive dissonance.

My cousin lives there and knows alot of the town's cops. Most think this shit is silly but not suprised since its pure Karensville over there.

Didn't they ban gas blowers or some shit because 5 frizzy haired ladies complained about not being able to read their erotic novels during the day? Somebody take the hit and fulfillil their fantasies, knock that 1970s dust off and maybe they'll lighten up......
 
The city needs a porn shop or a strip joint to go along with all the liquor stores, bars, and dope shop!

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Wait. They allow dope shops for druggies but not gun shops for law-abiding background-cleared citizens exercising their Constitutional and God-given rights?

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Um.. there are two pot shop within a mile on that street. The second brand new one is next to the Newton National Guard Armory.
 
Um.. there are two pot shop within a mile on that street. The second brand new one is next to the Newton National Guard Armory.

The town is an absolute joke.

But, but but.....what happened to all that money funneled into that city for YEARS with the D.A.R.E. program to try and keep kids off drugs?

THE HYPOCRISY IS UNBELIEVABLE.
 
Let’s send Antifa or BLM directions to Newton, Newtonians might then change their mind
Whether miscreants burned Newton's business district nightly in perpetuity or tanks tore up those same streets in a government occupation, Newton residents would not take it upon themselves to extricate themselves from the situation. Newton is in MA, where people are, for the most part, bred to hate and fear the very concept that people can possess firearms.

Also, a Newtonian is, among other things, a telescope. A person from Newton is a Newtonite.
 
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