Protest Causes Emmaus man to Drop Plan to Sell Guns

David Gardner appeared before the Emmaus zoning board on Thursday to request a special exception that would allow him to use his residence on State Road to sell firearms over the Internet. By the end of the hearing Gardner withdrew his request in response to the comments and protests from the audience, his neighbors.

Gardner had wanted to set up an Internet-based business where he could sell antique firearms and CNR firearms. CNR firearms are any gun that was manufactured 50 years from the current date.

According to Gardner, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives requires firearm dealers to have physical business that customers can visit in the event of a complication. Gardner said that he would not have any signage or advertising for his business, would only sell antiques and CNRs, he would not sell ammunition, or equipment, or hunting licenses.

He planned to store the guns in a combination safe in the shed in his back yard.

“I don’t want to change the quality of the neighborhood,” Gardner said at the beginning of the hearing. “I like living here.” He said that no more 3 percent of his sales would occur face-to-face, and estimated that this would equate to no more than 10 sales per year.

Gardner’s neighbors filled the township building. Some of them lived a block or more away. Others lived right next door or across the street. All were present to object to Gardner’s Internet business.

One neighbor, Robert Drennan, brought a signed petition against Garner’s exception bearing 56 signatures from the surrounding area.

When it came time for the audience to speak, many of the comments took on a decidedly personal edge.

“Mr. Garner’s property has almost always had a lot of things on it,” said Roxanne Michels who lives across the street and two houses down from Gardner. “I have a lot of concerns. It has been a property that stands out. It basically looks like a junkyard.”

“I don’t feel comfortable living next door to this,” said Caitlin Geir, Gardner’s next door neighbor. Geir claimed that Gardner often sold cars from his home and that people frequently visited their home asking about the cars. “I’m a 21-year-old female…we have people coming to our house all the time.”

Still others stressed that this was not a personal response. “It’s not personal,” said Carol Robinson who lives a half block away. “It’s the safety, it’s the location.”

“Mr. Gardner may feel it’s personal,” echoed Linda Geir. “I don’t want strange people showing up at the house.”

Gardner did not look up from his table as his neighbors spoke one by one.

Finally, when it was his turn to speak he said, “I’ll make it very easy. I’m withdrawing my request. This wasn’t a hearing about an Internet business. This was a hearing on Second Amendment rights. Obviously the neighborhood doesn’t want it…it just isn’t worth the fight to be honest with you.”

He put on his hat and left the room.