Daycare concerned after gun store unexpectedly moves in next door

An early learning centre in Hamilton, New Zealand is concerned after a gun retailer unexpectedly opened next door, but says they have plans in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the children, families and staff.

Gun City’s Hamilton store relocated down the road on Anglesea Street last month, setting up shop next to Rainbow Kids Early Learning Centre (Rainbow Kids), which has been operating at the site for nearly a decade.

Nicole Turner, the business and accounts manager for the centre, told Stuff they didn’t want parents to feel they weren’t taking the situation seriously or without care, but also didn’t want to “unnecessarily worry or alarm” them.

“My biggest concern is that parents may become worried about the location and potentially decide not to bring their children to Rainbow Kids because Gun City is next door,” she said.

“We have worked hard to build a safe and welcoming environment for our families, and I would hate for this situation to affect their confidence in our centre.”

Ultimately, the business wanted to see Gun City relocate to a more appropriate location, Turner said — somewhere “away from the early childhood centre”.

Gun City owner David Tipple, when asked for a response to the centre’s concerns, told Stuff on Tuesday: “I believe that it is wrong to blame inanimate objects for tragedies caused by the evil or insane decisions of humans.

“Humans intending to cause harm have done huge damage with a motor vehicle, a match or a knife; none of which are so carefully and successfully controlled as the inanimate objects we sell.”

Last week, a man was shot and killed by police in Auckland as he ran towards a busy shopping centre with an air rifle stolen from a Gun City store.

Learning centre raised concerns with council

Turner said there was some discussion that the store may be coming to the area, but Rainbow Kids wasn’t contacted, and it came as a surprise.

“The only reason we became aware that Gun City was moving into the premises was when the signage went up,” she said.

When Turner realised the gun store was located immediately beside Rainbow Kids, she contacted Hamilton City Council with safety and wellbeing concerns — and with questions about the consultation process.

The council explained that because the store was considered a permitted retail activity, there was no resource consent process and therefore no formal opportunity for neighbouring properties to make submissions.

Turner said the situation had left the centre feeling there was a significant gap in the system.

“Our centre has been operating in this location for close to 10 years, caring for babies, toddlers and preschool children and it is extremely concerning to find that we have no say in whether a firearms retailer can be established immediately next door.

“Our concern is about whether there should be greater consideration given to the location of a firearms retailer when it is immediately next to a facility attended by young children and their families every day.”

Gun City treated as retail activity

Grant Kettle at Hamilton City Council said that a firearms retailer such as Gun City was treated as a retail activity under the district plan and that no resource was required for the Anglesea St location.

Because it was classified as a permitted activity, no resource consent was required, leaving neighbouring properties with no formal way to make submissions.

“The district plan does not specifically address the sale of firearms in relation to nearby sensitive activities such as early childhood centres, and no assessment of this proximity is required,” he said.

“For the same reasons, there are no planning provisions that enable council to consider or assess wider community or social impacts associated with this type of activity.”

Kettle said firearms retailers were subject to separate regulatory controls at a national level, including licensing, security and operational requirements.

“These matters are administered by New Zealand Police,” he said.

In a statement, Firearms Safety Authority director of partnerships and communities Mike McIlraith said it couldn’t comment on the specific case.

But generally speaking: “The oversight of the FSA is limited to activities which occur inside the premises, and it has no jurisdiction over wider questions of resource consent and planning.”

“Firearms dealers and their employees must operate in accordance with their relevant firearms licences, which are dealers’ firearms licences and employee licences and endorsements.”

McIlraith noted that firearms dealers were required to “act safely and responsibly when they deal in arms items, to exercise skill and care in their activities [and] have secure storage facilities”.

Additionally, dealers could only test firearms at a certified shooting range.

“Anyone who has a firearms licence is also required to act in the interests of personal and public safety, and to transport and carry firearms and ammunition safely when they are in a public space.”

This article has been reproduced with the permission of Stuff.