By Chad Love

The city of San Francisco's only gun shop (seriously, the only gun shop in a city of 800,000) has been cleared to re-open for business.
 
From this story in the San Francisco Chronicle:
San Francisco's only gun store can resume selling firearms as early as November after the Police Department approved a conditional permit Wednesday, first requiring the store to beef up security measures before it reopens. Sgt. William Coggan, who presided over the three-member panel that approved the retail permit, said opponents of High Bridge Arms on Mission Street near Valencia Street had failed to offer evidence backing their assertion that the store brought crime to the neighborhood. "High Bridge appears to be a reasonably well-run business," Coggan said of the shop, which opened in the late 1950s. "And even with all the restrictions and limits San Francisco puts on the store, High Bridge has the legal right to sell guns."

Steven Alcairo, manager of High Bridge Arms, said the store's owners would happily meet the department's request for increased video surveillance and waist-high barriers outside the shop to thwart any would-be thief who might try crashing a car through the front window. "It's a fair request," Alcairo said. "It's about following the letter of the law, and that's what we do."  The store's owners had closed High Bridge Arms in January and hoped to convert the space to offices, but the city denied them a permit. When they sought to reopen the gun store, neighborhood groups objected.

To opponents, Wednesday's ruling was undesirable but the conditions made it bearable. "I feel like it was a victory," said Jaime Ross, treasurer of North West Bernal Alliance. "I feel like they wouldn't have included as much as they did if we didn't raise our concerns." The store also will be required to keep display windows free of advertising, giving it an open-air look. "It won't look like such a foreboding place anymore," Ross said. "It will open it up to the street." Coggan said he had received hundreds of e-mails and phone calls in the days leading to the hearing. The overwhelming majority opposed the gun store, he said. Yet at the hearing, only four people spoke against High Bridge Arms, while 10 spoke in support.

My only question is: there are people in San Francisco who actually buy guns?

Comments (14)

from jcarlin wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

There are times when I really appreciate good ol' PA.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from jbird wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

Man I'm glad I don't live in that state. I'd think they'd do some serious business being the only gun store in that city.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Steward wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

But...if it's the only gun store, where are the gang-bangers and criminals getting their guns?

+8 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from suburban bushwacker wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

Lets us know the website when they open, I'm not promising a big purchase but i'll buy something.
SBW

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Dcast wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

I think they were trying to get it on the California list, you know the one that says "In the State of California this is known to cause cancer"! I'm sure glad I don't live in California I would have died of cancer years ago from merely existing! Now to the serious side of the article. Why do they allow any person with a minor scratch recieve a card that allows them to buy legal marijuana, and wouldn't allow someone to buy a gun? I think the answer maybe in my question, but what the hell is going on in California that place is just crazy. How many seriously sane people live there? If there is one I will question their sanity for still being there. I think California should be sank into the Pacific!

Sorry for those on here from Cali., but nothing good comes from there.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from FirstBubba wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

One of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen was driving through Kingman, Arizona; watching California disappear in my rearview mirror!!
Sounds kinda like Mac Davis and Lubbock, Tex!

Bubba

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from shadbuster wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

Hey California is a big state, San Fransisco and Los Angeles don't represent the whole state. Most of you guys who bash it probably never been here, next your going to say that the south if full of inbreed racist and the north is full of snooty blue bloods.

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Beekeeper wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

Shadbuster,

Most people do assume the south is full of inbred racists...

San Fran is what it is. It is a pity that the urban sheep tend to ruin life for those of us who enjoy firearms and outdoor activities other than passive trail walks and butter fly watching. Not that I don't enjoy butterflies.

The forboding comment speaks volumes for the opposition.

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from seadog wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

It's ridiculous that this should even be an issue anywhere in this country, but it's good for my morale--glad I live in Florida. It's a long way from here to California in more ways than one.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from jersey pig wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

isnt california overdue for an earthquake to drop it into the pacific ocean?

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Modern Day Moun... wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

This is just one of the reasons I got the "F" out of that state as fast as I could.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from quinnm107 wrote 1 year 35 weeks ago

That's why I live in AZ, guns for all [I used to live in Upstate NY]. It takes about 10min to get your gun and ammo, you fill out a quick info sheet [about 10-15 questions] and they call in your background right then and there. And now you don't even need a CCW, if you are a legal resident and can legally own a firearm, you can conceal carry without a permit.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from limalima wrote 1 year 26 weeks ago

california sucks when it comes to anything cool like guns or knives

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from mbkin99 wrote 42 weeks 1 day ago

I'm glad I left California in 97. I don't miss it at all. One question I have why is the police department dictating if a business can open or re-open?

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

from Steward wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

But...if it's the only gun store, where are the gang-bangers and criminals getting their guns?

+8 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from FirstBubba wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

One of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen was driving through Kingman, Arizona; watching California disappear in my rearview mirror!!
Sounds kinda like Mac Davis and Lubbock, Tex!

Bubba

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from shadbuster wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

Hey California is a big state, San Fransisco and Los Angeles don't represent the whole state. Most of you guys who bash it probably never been here, next your going to say that the south if full of inbreed racist and the north is full of snooty blue bloods.

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Beekeeper wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

Shadbuster,

Most people do assume the south is full of inbred racists...

San Fran is what it is. It is a pity that the urban sheep tend to ruin life for those of us who enjoy firearms and outdoor activities other than passive trail walks and butter fly watching. Not that I don't enjoy butterflies.

The forboding comment speaks volumes for the opposition.

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from jcarlin wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

There are times when I really appreciate good ol' PA.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from jbird wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

Man I'm glad I don't live in that state. I'd think they'd do some serious business being the only gun store in that city.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from suburban bushwacker wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

Lets us know the website when they open, I'm not promising a big purchase but i'll buy something.
SBW

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from seadog wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

It's ridiculous that this should even be an issue anywhere in this country, but it's good for my morale--glad I live in Florida. It's a long way from here to California in more ways than one.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Modern Day Moun... wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

This is just one of the reasons I got the "F" out of that state as fast as I could.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Dcast wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

I think they were trying to get it on the California list, you know the one that says "In the State of California this is known to cause cancer"! I'm sure glad I don't live in California I would have died of cancer years ago from merely existing! Now to the serious side of the article. Why do they allow any person with a minor scratch recieve a card that allows them to buy legal marijuana, and wouldn't allow someone to buy a gun? I think the answer maybe in my question, but what the hell is going on in California that place is just crazy. How many seriously sane people live there? If there is one I will question their sanity for still being there. I think California should be sank into the Pacific!

Sorry for those on here from Cali., but nothing good comes from there.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from jersey pig wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

isnt california overdue for an earthquake to drop it into the pacific ocean?

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from quinnm107 wrote 1 year 35 weeks ago

That's why I live in AZ, guns for all [I used to live in Upstate NY]. It takes about 10min to get your gun and ammo, you fill out a quick info sheet [about 10-15 questions] and they call in your background right then and there. And now you don't even need a CCW, if you are a legal resident and can legally own a firearm, you can conceal carry without a permit.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from limalima wrote 1 year 26 weeks ago

california sucks when it comes to anything cool like guns or knives

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from mbkin99 wrote 42 weeks 1 day ago

I'm glad I left California in 97. I don't miss it at all. One question I have why is the police department dictating if a business can open or re-open?

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.