NOVA Armory Fight Gets Nastier: Lawsuit Filed Against Protesters

The controversial new gun store in Arlington's Lyon Park has made good on threats to go after opponents of the store, filing a $2.1 million lawsuit against 64 people in a new escalation of the neighborhood battle.

The suit, filed in Richmond Circuit Court on April 18 on behalf of NOVA Armory at 2300 N. Pershive Drive, targets a number of Arlington residents and politicians who opposed the opening of the store and at one point asked the landlord to reconsider allowing them to open up shop in the building, according to the 16-page document.

The gun store is alleging that the residents and elected officials named in the suit have conspired to destroy the business and have unrelentingly harassed the owner and landlord, and plan to continue to do so.

"Death threats were made by mail to a sixteen year-old girl, herself Plaintiff's employee and the daughter of Plaintiff's business manager," the suit states. "Their personal telephones were made the instruments of attack, and private home addresses made public through newspaper distribution. Plaintiff's employees grew fearful and apprehensive due to the violent and vitriolic nature of the defendants' threats and rhetoric."

The suit was filed by Daniel Hawes, who is the attorney for NOVA Armory operator Broadstone Security.

The lawsuit asks for $2.1 million in lost revenue and damages.

The gun store held its grand opening last month, and gun fans flocked to the store as protesters nearby continued to voice their opposition to its existence.

The gun store's ownership wrote a letter warning of lawsuits if opponents didn't back down at the time, and now it appears they intend to make good on that promise. NOVA Armory has repeatedly claimed intimidation tactics from critics in both the run up to its opening, and in the weeks afterward.

Opponents have characterized the gun store as a bad neighbor and a bully, but proponents argue the store is simply defending itself from unwarranted attacks.