Dozens of outraged residents gathered in the Poplar section of Philadelphia Sunday afternoon to protest a shooting range’s proposed plan to expand into a gun store.
The rally took place at 4 p.m. near the Gun Range on the 500 block of North Percy Street between 9th and 10th streets. The Gun Range, formerly Colosimo’s Target Range, is the city’s oldest indoor shooting range. The neighbors, community and faith leaders are opposing the range’s efforts to gain a zoning variance at an upcoming meeting in order to be able to sell guns to retail customers.
The protesters told NBC10 the proposed gun store is too close to home and churches. They also said they’re concerned about illegal guns flowing into the streets and into the hands of criminals. The previous Colosimo’s gun shop was shut down by federal officials in 2009 after investigators determined it was selling guns to straw purchasers.
“If you’re gonna start something where you’re selling a lethal product and the whole neighborhood all around you is opposed to it, go someplace else,” said Bryan Miller, the organizer of the rally.
Yuri Zalzman, the owner of the Gun Range, told NBC10 he’s had conversations with the protesters but they’ve been unable to reach a compromise.
“People are here to express themselves,” Zalzman said. “They’re supported by the First Amendment. My customers express themselves using the Second Amendment. And I love this country.”
Zalzman said he’s not backing down and has every right to expand his business.
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The protesters told NBC10 they plan on attending the Zoning Board Hearing which is set to take place Wednesday at noon.
