Do we not remember the violence that took place in Seattle a few weeks ago?
Or when members of the 2nd Sat art walk were caught in the cross fire of bullets.

One can only hope this store fails.

I could have sworn there was a moratorium on shops that sold ammo in Sacramento downtown. I remember during Joe Serna's term there was an allowance for Broadway bait to sell his store one more operator, but then that was it

Great--one less reason to have to leave the grid!

If these guys had a clue they would open up in the Galleria where their customers live instead of midtown... or perhaps the sheriff has space for rent next to the room where he hands out concealed weapons permits...

We had the Old Sac Armory in Midtown on J near 22nd for decades so it's not really a big deal - I'm kind of happy we'll have a gun store again. Plenty of central city residents own weapons and it might be nice to have a place in walking distance to get parts/ repairs or accessories for those weapons.

Or protection during a bath salt outbreak. Although Rio Linda to Downtown is a far naked jog for anyone.

A gun store has a better shot at survival than a restaurant. Welcome to Midtown, gun guys!

I live around the corner, hell no am I going to walk by a store full of guns every morning on my way to work. Just what my local area needs??? I just assumed some cheesy "art gallery" would move in, cleary I dont know my neighborhood.

What is this, South Sac??

Awsome. Now I can mount my dads BAR on my basket bike and a reload is just a "stones throw" away.

Its all about freedom- Jimi Hendrix

Just noticed a whopping 11 thumbs down.

It is disheartening that the City of Sacramento's land use law / zoning code doesn't trigger a public review of this type of use in a commercial corridor. Yes, folks needs a place to buy ammo and guns, however, I don't believe that an area of town vying to be a cultural/entertainment center is the appropriate location for this type of establishment. What a bummer, this town has so much potential but is continuously plagued by bad planning decisions and zoning codes that don't encourage/regulate good development.

This has to be the most absurd use of such a prime spot! I don't really care that it's a gun shop per se (however the fact that this is fine & pot dispensaries are being shut down is laughable) but this just seems like a really weird location for this kind of business. It's not like a gun shop needs a prime location - it has an existing customer base that will basically go wherever it is.

First there was the Fight Bar a few blocks down, now a new gun store, next up will be a new mining settlement and supply company just outside of Sutter's Fort. New development Gold Rush era style!

I think the driving force behind so many negative comments is that so may people associate the misuse of guns with the guns themselves. The second amendment to the bill of rights is pretty much what keeps guns available and allows gun shops in communities. Guns are used for many bad things these days, but the factors behind that are not the guns. I could point out several factors that drive the increased misuse of guns, but more importantly everyone should consider that the only way to stop a gun store from openeing in your community is to amend the constitution and bill of rights. While you might possibly see less shootings by individuals, you could also see an increase in abuses by your government. Those early colonists with guns did not lay their lives on the line and sacrifice them because they were "gun nuts", right wing nuts, or TEA bagging obstructionists. They clearly recognized their desire to control the government, both then and in the future. Eliminate the 2nd amendment, and the gun, and you'll set the stage for something like abuses of the NDAA, or even a future administration creating a treaty with other nations to enforce global or regional laws that do not recognize the rights you have now.

"While you might possibly see less shootings by individuals, you could also see an increase in abuses by your government."

I'd be interested to hear a few examples of government abuse that would be stopped by gun ownership in 2012. I'm not anti-gun but this romantic, historic notion that we need guns to keep the govt in line is a red herring in modern times. Guns are great for self-protection but if the government is going to trample your rights, I don't think they'll be doing it within shooting distance.

Do you know what they call "accidental" shooting deaths of people and family members who are so scared of who and what foxnews tells them to be scared of that they think they need a gun for "protection"? "Thinning the herd"...OK, maybe a bit harsh but seriously, if people are too lazy to drive the 5 or 10 minutes to get to one of the SIXTEEN other gun stores listed in the yellow pages in the Sac area then they are too dumb to shop for a gun at a store in the middle of a residential neighborhood with tenants RIGHT above the store. Guns are FAR more likely to kill their owners and/or family members than they are "intruders"...We do NOT need this garbage in Midtown. Not at that great site. Freaking ridiculous. BTW, the CDD Principal planner is Greg Bitter at 916-808-7816 . Call if you want to complain about this.

That suggestion about "too lazy to drive 5 or 10 minutes" is an excuse made to justify the shortage of neighborhood-serving retail businesses in the central city like hardware stores, home electronics stores etcetera--or even gun stores. Many of us live in the central city because we really do enjoy the convenience of being able to walk to do our shopping. As mentioned above, there was a gun store in the same neighborhood until a few years ago, so it's not like this is some radical new use that has never been seen in Midtown before. And in some ways it's nice to see a new business open that isn't in the culture/entertainment market sector.

Gun stores are tightly regulated by the government, generally depend on a high degree of shop security, and generally a lot of their regular customers are law enforcement officers. They also tend to be places where people hang out for a while. Like most hobbyists, shooters often like talking about their hobby, which turns a gun shop into a hangout of sorts, a "third space" to some extent like a cafe, barbershop or tattoo studio (another maligned business type.) So they bring something positive and unique to the neighborhood.

And while I'm sure a lot of customers at this store will be neighborhood residents, it will also draw shoppers from outside the central city (and possibly outside the city) to shop in Midtown, because there aren't very many gun stores in the Sacramento region overall--and if they stay open late enough, they will catch some downtown workers on their way home.

For some the issue is about guns violence and there's nothing wrong with being sensitive to that and abhorring it. For others, the issue is about the right to bear arms. And there's nothing wrong with people wanting to protect their constitutional rights (as the courts have interpreted them). And still for others it's about whether or not this is an appropriate location for such a business. Out of all these the latter seems to be the most on-topic and worthy of discussion in the context of the article.

A few people on here seem to only use SacPress comment section to promote their particular ideology --regardless of the topic. I've seem my share of discussion boards grind to a halt when people do that. I'm also guilty of straying off-topic and being too sarcastic --but I will try to do better because I really do appreciate the public service that SacPress provides our community and the ability for people with such diverse viewpoints to share their opinions.

I feel the shop will be a welcome addition to Midtown. I'm not sure why people are so up in arms (pun intended) over a new business setting up shop in Midtown. The folks who are behind this business identified a need in the community and are stepping up to supply that need. Last time I checked, Weapons and ammunition are taxable goods. Even better! I'm no gun nut, But I do believe in free enterprise and locally owned small businesses. When I am in the market for a weapon, It's comforting to know I will be able to shop in the City I live in instead of the Unincorporated County or across the river in Yolo County.

I guess I'm just ignorant, and I know this is a well used argument, but take away the gun shops and take away guns from "the people" and all you have is a vulnerable community. The bad guys will get their guns. The police can't be their johnny-on-the-spot when the bad guy comes through the door, gags, binds and shoots your family. The bad guys love gun laws... it makes it safer for them when they come through your door. I do think it would be great if a local gun shop also provided gun safety workshops in collaboration with SacPD.

i wonder which people think is worse to have in their neighborhoods, a gun shop or a McDonald's?

I find it beyond ironic that a story about a McDonald's going in in Oak park made the front page of the Bee while at the same time a gun store has apparently been approved for the former Cornerstone restaurant location at J St. and 24th in Midtown. It is not the gun store per se that I and many of my Midtown neighbors object to(though there ARE 16 other gun stores listed in the Sacramento yellow pages) but that it is a very unfortunate and inappropriate location(being in the middle of a residential neighborhood and only two blocks from two different schools) and that there was NO advance notice or chance for public comment. According to Principal City Planner Greg Bitter In current code there isn't a requirement for a public hearing or discretionary planning permit for a gun store in the city.

A McDonald's drive through restaurant needs a planning permit but a gun shop smack dab in a residential community does not. Like I said, ironic.