Gun shop relocation questioned
Published on September 18th, 2002
STONEHAM, MA - A gun shop in town has at least one resident up in arms over its location at 493 Main St. because of its close proximity to South School on Summer Street.
Collectors Gallery recently relocated to 493 Main St. from 297 Main St. where they were forced out of their 19-year-old home. According to Collector’s owner, Jack Gallagher, the landlord at the previous address was renovating the property and they could not conduct business while the building was being renovated, prompting the move.
One local resident is appalled over the gun shop’s location and believes it is a result of poor planning. While walking her dog, Julie Devereaux noticed the gun shop in early August and its insulting juxtaposition with an elementary school. “In the era of Colum-bine disasters, this is a really bad idea,” said Devereaux. Although she isn’t a big gun fan, Devereaux acknowledges the rights of those who are gun enthusiast. However, she is not happy with this gun shop in her neighborhood and reminds us
Devereaux does not presently have elementary age children, but her college age son went to South School and if the gun shop was there when he was a student there, she would have been very upset. “This [location] is completely inappropriate,” said Devereaux who reiterated her point that this location is devoid of common sense.
According to the Better Business Bureau’s Website, no complaints have been filed in their three-year reporting period against Collector’s Gallery, a Better Business Bureau member.
Dr. Joseph Connelly, Superintendent of the Stoneham Public Schools is aware of the gun shop and its history in Stoneham, however he does not oppose the location. Because Collector’s Gallery has been in business for a long time in Stoneham and is merely relocating to a new address, Connelly does not feel the need to protest its existence. In fact, Connelly was made aware of the business by several parents but he did not receive a “swell” of complaints from parents of South School students.
Gallagher bought the business six-years ago and said he runs a solid business. “The place is secure and you must be 18-years-old to enter,” said Gallagher. “You must have a permit to do business here so my customers all have permits and are the safest customers you can get,” said Gallagher who was referring to the background check needed to obtain a gun permit. Gallagher has heard one or two complaints about his presence near the elementary school but quickly explains that their last address was just as close to the middle school as this one is to South School.
According to Senator Tisei’s office, no residents have voiced a complaint to him about the gun shop or its location. Tisei spokesperson Rob Harvey and Tisei’s chief of staff, said no one from the senator’s office has received a single complaint about any Stoneham gun shop.
Gallagher enjoys his new address because it is a larger retail space which is keeping his business moving along, “just fine.”
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