Triggering a debate: Goleta City Council considers new rules for where gun stores can operate

GOLETA, Calif. — The Goleta City Council is considering changes to the city's regulations for firearms retailers after a local gun store was approved to move into a location next to a childcare center.

Goodland Guns has been approved to operate in a building on Hollister Avenue, next door to Here We Grow Early Learning Center.

The approval has sparked concern among some community members and prompted the city to take a closer look at its rules governing where firearms retailers can operate.

“I’m all for somebody having a small business, but where it's been dropped is not the right place,” community member Peg Duffy said.

Goleta currently has no gun-store-specific zoning rules

Under Goleta's current regulations, firearm and ammunition sales are treated as general retail.

That means the city does not currently have firearm-specific zoning requirements establishing a minimum distance between gun stores and places such as schools or childcare centers.

Councilmember James Kyriaco said the city needs to determine how firearms retailers should fit into the community's long-term planning.

“As long as you're going to allow people to sell guns as a business, you need to find a way to plan as a community for where that type of business should be,” Kyriaco said.

City staff presented councilmembers with several potential approaches, including changing the city's zoning code, creating additional business license requirements, or using both.

One possibility discussed was establishing buffer zones around what the city refers to as “sensitive uses,” including schools, childcare centers and parks.

Councilmember Luz Reyes suggested staff explore what different buffer distances could look like, including 600-foot and 1,000-foot buffers.

The council did not adopt a specific buffer distance Tuesday. Instead, members directed staff to continue researching potential restrictions and return with additional information.

Goodland Guns questions city's handling of approval

Goodland Guns CEO Daniel Ashton said the controversy should not be focused on the fact that the business sells firearms.

Instead, he questioned how the city handled his application and approval process.

“The public backlash right now shouldn't be about a firearms business. It should be an alarm ringing to the depths of incompetence the city has shown during the application process of my business license at the industrial site,” Ashton said.

Ashton also questioned why he believes his business was held to a different standard than other businesses.

“We're in this predicament because of the conflicting nature of overreaching regulations in our zoning, building, and fire codes,” Ashton said. “The question that I'd really like answered is, why was my business held to a different standard than the 11 other businesses I pointed out to city staff?”

What happens to Goodland Guns?

Another question facing the city is whether any new regulations would apply to Goodland Guns.

The business was approved under Goleta's existing rules. If the city adopts new restrictions on firearms retailers, councilmembers will have to determine how — or whether — those regulations would affect a business that was already approved.

Goleta Union School Board member Emily Zacarias said she does not believe it would necessarily be fair to penalize a business owner who followed the city's existing legal process.

“I don't necessarily think it's fair for a business owner who went through the lawful process to be put out,” Zacarias said. “But this is something going forward that we're going to have to address.”

Zacarias said the school district is prepared to work with the city on the issue.

“As a school district, as a representative, we're here to work with you guys to keep our community safe and make sure we're all following the laws,” she said.

No new regulations have been adopted

Supporters of Goodland Guns say firearms retailers should be treated like other legal businesses.

Opponents argue a business selling guns and ammunition should not be located so close to children.

For now, Goleta has not adopted new restrictions.

City staff are expected to return to the council with additional information and potential regulations for councilmembers to consider.