Politics & Government

UPDATE: Gun Store Removes Sign After Public Backlash

The mayor said a sign that reads "Twinsburg Public Safety and Firearms Coming Soon" should never have been posted.

Twinsburg residents expressed anger and outrage last week over a proposed gun shop, our news partner WEWS Channel 5 reports.

  •  “I think it’s a horrible idea,” said Krystal Lee, a Twinsburg cosmetology student.
  • “I’m unhappy about it,” said Joyce Kropf, a Twinsburg resident.
  • “What is the city thinking?” said Randy Nock, another Twinsburg resident on Twitter.

Last week, the city’s mayor said the business owner posted a sign that said “Twinsburg Public Safety and Firearms Coming Soon” at the former Pete’s Home Bakery location at 10683 Ravenna Rd.

UPDATE: The Twinsburg Bulletin reports the sign was removed following the community's backlash. 

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Procop said the owner didn’t have approval to put the sign up because the city hasn’t received a business application from him yet.

The owner of Twinsburg Public Safety and Firearms couldn’t be reached for comment, but on the business’ Facebook page, it read:

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“We had extensive conversation with the city of Twinsburg building department, and during those conversations, we were assured the current zoning allowed us to operate as a firearms retailer. We have verbal and written approval to do so.”

Procop said the store would be better suited in what’s called an interchange district – a place with fewer residences, schools and neighborhood businesses.

“Especially with everything going on in the news right now, all the shootings, I think it’s a horrible, horrible idea,” Lee said.

The owner, who the mayor said tried to open a gun shop in Twinsburg’s historical district earlier this year but was denied, has until Thursday to take the sign down or apply for a temporary business permit.

For the full story and more comments from the mayor, read the entire WEWS article. 


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