Gun Retail Operation Pitched In Southington Neighborhood

SOUTHINGTON, CT — The town's zoning board Tuesday, March 21, is hosting a public hearing for a home occupation permit for a prospective firearms dealer on Mount Vernon Road.

The Southington Planning and Zoning Commission hearing is at 7 p.m. at the John Weichsel Municipal Center, 196 N. Main St.

Testimony will be sought on Southington resident Kurt Guillemette's application to start a small gun retail operation at his 1900 Mount Vernon Road residence.

After the hearing is closed, the PZC will likely vote on the home occupation permit application.

According to documents submitted to the town, Guillemette's proposed gun retail operation would only be on the weekends.

Guillemette said he would likely only meet with about four customers on weekends and a typical transaction would take about 30 minutes, reads a letter from Guillemette to the town's zoning office.

He said he is a certified NRA instructor and he teaches pistol courses at the Bell City Rifle Club in Southington.

Guillemette said he has been working in the firearms industry for seven years and has worked at two gun stores.

He said he also works as a towing manager/dispatcher/safety officer for a Bristol company.

The applicant classified his propspective endeavor as being a "small, part-time hobby."

Neighborhood abutters have already been notified of Guillemette's application and of the public hearing.

For all documents related to the 1900 Mount Vernon Road gun retail application, click on this link.

For the agenda of the March 21 Southington Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, click on this link.