Showdown in Arlington County Over Opening of Gun Store

Sign up for the Arlington Patch newsletter!

A Marine Corps veteran who wants to open a gun store in Arlington County is being met with backlash from the local community, who have started an online petition on Change.org against it gathering more than 1,800 signatures in the past seven days. The gun store would be located at 2105 N. Pollard St. off of Lee Highway; it was formerly a Curves exercise studio.

It’s not too surprising: Arlington County is among the most liberal jurisdictions in the nation; in 2012, President Obama received 69.2 percent of the vote in the county.

In their petition protesting the proposed gun shop, local residents say they are mainly opposed to its proximity to several schools including H-B Woodlawn, Stratford, Washington-Lee High School, St. Agnes, Key Elementary and Glebe Elementary.

Comments are piling up on the petition site. Eric said: “A gun store is not the right image for our community. I will NOT use any business in this shopping center until the landlord ends this lease. I will also not eat at the landlords restaurants across the street. Period. My money is walking to landlords who care about the community and not just their fat wallets.”

Charles writes: “Sounds like yall really, really, just don’t like guns. Which I can understand. They’re loud, dangerous in the wrong hands, and scary if you haven’t had proper exposure to them. ... But I kind of get lost on all the arguments against this business.”

The would-be gun shop owner is a Marine Corps veteran: James Gates, 28 is getting his own support to open the shop and push back on the protest, from Arlington Falls Church Young Republicans. They’ve started a petition of their own:

“NOVA Firearms, which plans to open the shop, is owned by Marine Corps veteran James “J.B.” Gates. Stand with J.B., the 2nd Amendment, and small business owners everywhere by signing the Arlington Falls Church Young Republicans’ petition of support below.”

The GOP petition features an image of Uncle Sam with the slogan “We Want You to Support the Second Amendment.”

Meanwhile, the landlord of the shopping center, Kostas Kapasouris, is trying to break the gun shop lease. He tells WJLA-TV: “The community is very upset and I don’t want the community to be upset.”

PHOTO of Curves store from Change.org petition