Business & Tech

Supporters Turn Out on Behalf of Proposed Gun Shop; Discussion to Continue Next Month

No decision was made at the West County Board of Zoning meeting to approve a conditional use permit for Valley Guns & Ammo.

A packed room of mostly supporters spoke out at a Wednesday meeting about  on Lewelling Boulevard.

The meeting of the West County Board of Zoning addressed issues including the safety issues of putting a gun shop near San Lorenzo schools and residences and inconsistent zoning regulations.

The applicant, John Teixeira, previously owned the former Castro Valley Gun Shop on Redwood Road starting in the 1970s. In 2009, the shop was bought out by gun store.

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Over the years, Teixeira has built a strong following of fans and friends, most of whom attended the meeting. More than 30 of them came to speak in support of Teixeira, saying he's a "genuine guy" with multiple state-approved licenses and certificates and years of gun safety experience.

"This shop would be an asset in the area,” said Charles Plummer, Sheriff Emeritus of Alameda County. “You’ll have someone who knows what they’re doing and (who would) be able to help you with your (firearm) problems.”

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Teixeira said that although there are neighboring stores such as Walmart and that sell guns and ammunition, they do not handle repair work, consignments or disposal of unwanted guns.

He said often people illegally sell guns at garage sales because these services aren't offered at their local gun shops. He hopes to prevent this by offering locals in the East Bay, especially in the unincorporated areas, these services.

In addition to regulating safety in his shop and the community, Teixeira said he plans to equip the facility with surveillance cameras, mesh wires protecting the windows and security poles to prevent any break-ins. Teixeira will also store the guns in safes and run cables through each one.

Financially, he said the gun shop would provide the community with tax revenue and would occupy a building that has not had a stable tenant in years.

He said he knows people who travel as far as Manteca to buy guns.

“That’s taking money away from San Lorenzo," Teixeira said.

The Opposing Side

With time running out in the meeting, board members Frank Peixoto, Jewell Spalding and Dawn Clark called for any opposing speakers.

Three San Lorenzo residents spoke out against the proposed location of the gun shop. They relayed concerns expressed at a board meeting held in August.

“My issue isn’t the gun store. My issue is the location," said Kathy Martins, interim administrator of the SLVHA.

Since the board meeting, she said she's received nearly 50 calls on the issue, mostly from San Lorenzo Village residents who are against the opening of the shop at that location.

SLVHA president Art Wydler said that since the target consumer of the shop is residents of the unincorporated areas — particularly Castro Valley, Ashland and Cherryland — why not have the shop be located closer to their most populated business areas?

Kathy Ready also worried about the location being so close to the headquarters of a motorcycle club, and bar. She asked that certain conditions be put on the permit if the application is approved.

Spalding ended the meeting by asking staff when a possible date would be set to meet again and continue the discussion on the application. Staff mentioned it would be sometime in the beginning of December but have yet to secure a date.

"We intend to continue this action so that when the new date comes up, anyone who hasn’t spoken can return and speak, and we will have a new staff report,” Spalding said.


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