Neighbors call for security boost after gun shop opens

Mayor Buddy Dyer said the Orlando Police Department will keep an eye on Washington Shores, where neighbors have been concerned about a new gun shop that opened in the neighborhood.

However, city commissioners said Monday they can't take legislative action because state law bars local officials from regulating firearms.

Several residents spoke at Monday’s City Council meeting and asked for additional security in the west Orlando neighborhood near Lake Mann, fearing that criminals could target the shop to steal weapons.

“We’re a little concerned that we’re doing revitalization in the community and we’re looking at making sure that our kids are secure in the schools…but they’re leaving their schools and walking past the gun shop,” said Rich Black, who lives nearby. “There are a lot of things that go on in our community. In our community, they don’t really argue a whole lot — they just shoot and ask questions later.”

Black added, “I see it as a public safety issue.”

B&H Police Supply opened at Orange Center Drive and Goldwyn Avenue in a parcel alongside a convenience store and barber shop. The neighbors who spoke Monday said they’re concerned the business — which expanded to Orlando from its other location in Merritt Island — was close to homes, a day-care center and Washington Shores Elementary School.

Calls to the owner weren’t returned Tuesday.

A sign posted on the door of the business reads the entrance is limited to active or retired military and law enforcement, fire rescue, private security, pilots and Transportation Security Administration workers and those attending law-enforcement academies.

The store’s website shows it sells firearms, ammunition and tactical gear.

Bishop Kelvin Cobaris, who said he was representing the African American Council of Christian Clergy, told city commissioners he was interested in negotiating a new location for the store.

He also said he spoke to the owner of the store when he became aware of the situation.

“At the end of the day this is a man with a retail store, but we just don’t want the retail store in our community,” Cobaris said.

Several parts of town have “special plans” or “overlays” that restrict the types of businesses that can operate in a given area. Those often include food trucks, nightclubs and fortune tellers.

However, Commissioner Sam Ings said if restrictions were placed in Washington Shores gun stores couldn’t be included.

The discussion was to continue at a community meeting Wednesday night at the L. Claudia Allen Senior Center hosted by Ings and state Rep. Bruce Antone, D-Orlando.

An OPD deputy chief was also scheduled to attend to assess the situation, the agency confirmed.

Dyer said he and Police Chief John Mina were aware community’s concerns.

“There are additional things that OPD is going to be doing in and around that area,” Dyer said. “I don’t think we’re going to have a proliferation of gun shops.”