BURRILLVILLE – A resident who plans to serve as a licensed dealer for locals hoping to purchase guns was approved for a firearms license for his residential home in a split vote by the Burrillville Town Council this week.
Howard Cook said there will be no retail sales from his property at 1350 Douglas Turnpike, noting the process is heavily governed by federal and state law.
“It would be by appointment only,” Cook said. “I’ve gone through the inspections. I’ve had the police chief sign off, fire, building…”
Cook outlined the process, noting that those who hope to buy a gun must legally go through a licensed firearms dealer. His business, Spookenmyer Tactical, will accept and file the required paperwork, to be sent to the FBI and local authorities for background checks. After the mandatory seven day wait period, he said, the customer can return to pick up their purchase.
“It wouldn’t be a retail space. It’s more transactional than anything else,” Cook said. “There’s not going to be any inventory to look at or anything like that.”
At a public hearing on the application on Wednesday, Dec. 10, several of Cook’s neighbors said they were opposed to the idea.
“I’m a direct neighbor of Howard,” said Anthony Mussulli. “I have three small children – four and under – living right next door.”
“I’m fully in support of the right to bear arms – just not necessarily the right to deal arms in a residential neighborhood,” Mussulli said. “I don’t really love the idea for my kids’ safety.”
Neighbor Dave Leduc also expressed concerns with licensing the operation in a residential zone, noting he’s already had a problem with visitors to the property parking on his lawn.
“I do have an issue with the location of the gun dealership,” said Leduc. “It probably should be a commercial storefront-type zone.”
Leduc said one of his concerns was the potential for test firing.
“We’re in a farming zone – nice and quiet – and I’d like to keep it that way,” he said.
That question was echoed by resident Bruce Powers, who also asked about the plan for security.
“I don’t think a gun shop or a selling of guns should take place in a residential neighborhood,” said Powers.
Cook addressed some of the concerns noting that there will be no test firing on the property because he does not have the legally required space of 500 feet, and that those who want to test their gun could instead do so at Wallum Lake Rod & Gun Club, where he is a member.
Any guns on the property, he said, will be kept in a locked safe as required by federal law.
‘It’s not taken lightly,” Cook said. “The ATF certainly isn’t something I want to tangle with.”
The transfers, Cook said, would be to people he knows at a rate of less than five or ten a week, and he will not sell ammo.
“I’m not willing to take that liability,” he said.
Cook said he could work out the parking issue with neighbor Leduc, noting he has five kids at the house and it’s caused by visitors to the property.
“That’s not associated with any business,” said Cook.
Town Solicitor William Demitri verified that the use is not prohibited in any town zone, and that the license must be renewed annually.
“There’s no shooting. There’s no ammunition. It’s just a transfer operation,” said Councilor Dennis Anderson. “I really can’t find any solid reason to deny his desire to have a little expansion of a home business.”
“I also see no reason to deny this. There’s nothing in the statute that calls for it,” said Town Council President Don Fox. “Unlike most of the people who came up, I am a supporter of the Second Amendment. I don’t see any problem with it.”
Councilors voted 4-2 to approve the license, with Councilors Anne Brown and Kevin McDaniel casting dissent. Councilor David Houle was not present at the meeting.
Well this turned out to be a scam, I’ve searched for his website any business information, how to use his services. It’s all dead ends.
I agree with those who oppose this license in a residential area. I’m sorry but I don’t support the second amendment because guns always end up in the wrong hands. Just what we need another gun distributor especially after what just happened at Brown, in Australia and to the Reiners.
Sounds like a great idea…ask the Brown University victims and their families how they feel right now…
“Unlike most of the people who came up, I am a supporter of the Second Amendment. I don’t see any problem with it.”
Don Fox’s statement is reductive. Opposition to introducing a firearms retailer in a residential area does not imply opposition to the Second Amendment or to the rights of fellow Americans.
Residents raised concerns about zoning, safety, and neighborhood impact. Reframing those concerns as opposition to the Second Amendment misrepresents what has actually been said by his constituents, instead shifting the discussion from land use to a perceived limitation of rights.
“I’m fully in support of the right to bear arms – just not necessarily the right to deal arms in a residential neighborhood,”…so you don’t FULLY support the right to bear arms
I really don’t see how those are incompatible statements. Being able to possess weapons is not the same thing as be able to sell and market them whenever and wherever you want.
There are concerns with running any business in a residential area. A business selling expensive (presumably) firearms is likely to draw a lot of unwanted attention to what’s otherwise a quiet area.