But Franklin Schools Superintendent Mike Sander was not too pleased with the district’s new neighbor.
“Unfortunately, it’s there across the street,” Sander said of the gun store. “We don’t like it and expressed our displeasure to the city manager’s office.”
School districts across the region and the country have been taking steps to beef up security at their buildings to avoid tragedies such as the shooting massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut in 2012. So a gun store opening up next door to a school has left a sour taste in the mouths of some residents.
“I know it’s a business, but it shouldn’t be that close to a school,” said resident Orville Griffith. “These teens might go across the street, buy a gun, then go across the street and shoot up (the school).”
Wetzel said that’s unlikely for a couple of reasons. First, his store isn’t open during school hours (store hours are 4 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays). Second, to come into his shop, you must be at least 18 or with a parent or guardian, he said.
Wetzel said he hasn’t had one complaint from a concerned resident since opening.
“I took the initiative and said, ‘Hey, my kids go to school here, too,’” he said of his decision to close during school hours. “I know parents who are not educated about firearms will complain. I understood that going in, so I said I’m not going to be open during school. Show them respect and get respect from other people.”
There are no laws that prohibit gun shops from locating near schools. In fact, cities are prohibited from regulating and zoning gun shops per federal law, said Franklin Law Director Donnette Fisher.
The Ohio Supreme Court has upheld the law since 2008, she said.
According to U.S. Department of Justice, once a gun store customer leaves private property located within 1,000 feet of a school with a firearm, they may be in violation of federal law unless the firearm is unloaded and is contained within a locked container or a locked firearms rack that is on a motor vehicle.
Fisher said the city’s planning commission unanimously approved a permit for Wetzel on Oct. 13.
Franklin Police Chief Russell Whitman said Wetzel is a second-generation federal firearms dealer who has been conducting business in Franklin for many years out of his residence.
“We have not received any complaints nor have we found any violations,” Whitman said. “New businesses are always welcome here in Franklin, and we wish Mr. Wetzel much success.”
But resident J.R. Nance said he would feel better if the gun shop’s location was at least a couple of miles away from the school.
“Because of the kids,” he said. “I feel it’s dangerous.”
Wetzel said he wishes schools offered more education to students about firearm safety “so there wouldn’t be accidents.”
“If you have firearms, you teach your kids firearm safety,” he said. “That way if they go to someone’s house and find a gun, they won’t get shot.”
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