“Would you want a gun shop opening near an elementary school, 2 churches with nursery schools, and shops that cater to kids?” From the reactions expressed in news reports like this one and 2500 and counting change.org signatures from outraged locals, it seems a safe bet that Westchester Countians would rather have a halfway house, methadone clinic, or home for wayward Catholic priests in downtown Harrison than L&L Sports, a soon-to-open gun retailer.
“There are preschools everywhere, churches, there are kids everywhere, and it’s just not what we want for our community, and it came out of nowhere,” said Lauren Zomick, a parent. …
“It’s the location. If this were in a different part of town, maybe a little more isolated, I don’t know if there would be so much commotion about it,” said Jill Valente, a parent.
“It’s very weird that it’s at the elementary schools it’s the same road,” said Astrid Leenheers, a parent.
On the same road! As a school! L&L’s owner, Louis Zacchio, just wants to run his lawful business selling legal products in a responsible manner. As he says,
“I am taking every measure possible to protect my inventory from theft or damage,” Zacchio said. “I want to be a good neighbor. If you don’t like a product you don’t buy it, but you don’t try to put the person selling the product out of business.”
Silly man. He’s opening a firearms retailer in the New York tri-state area, one of the most gun-hostile enclaves in the country. Not an area known for its live-and-let-live sensibilities. The fact that a torches-and-pitchforks-style protest is planned for the next town board meeting on November 3 shouldn’t come as a surprise.
“It’s not illegal and it’s within the zoning so it’s kind of hard to say no,” said Harrison Town Board member Joe Stout. “It’s a legitimate business.”
If the rule of law means anything, if Mr. Zacchio and his lawyers are on the ball – L&L will already be open by then and serving the good people of Harrison. We wish him luck.