In a follow-up to the story we ran two weeks ago, we are pleased to report that NOVA Armory, the suburban Virginia firearms store that came under attack by local residents in an effort to get it shut down, beat back an appeal on May 11, 2016, that asked the Arlington County Zoning Board to revoke its small business occupancy permit.
The five-member board voted to uphold issuing the occupancy certificate to NOVA Armory. The board members, however, were quick to point out that their unanimous decision was based on zoning rules rather than the Second Amendment.
Local Second Amendment supporters, wearing “Guns Save Lives” stickers, as well as droves of others packed the Arlington hearing room to show their support, and numerous Arlington residents and representatives of local organizations spoke on behalf of NOVA Armory.
However, three women appealed the permit and tried to get the occupancy certificate repealed, claiming that “the application for the certificate of Occupancy contains false and misleading information and therefore the permit was issued in error.”
In the end, the Zoning Board followed the law and issued the occupancy certificate.
NOVA Armory tweeted its thanks to supporters after the hearing.
“Thanks to everyone that came out this evening!” they wrote. “The sea of orange made a difference! It was a great night for gun owners in Arlington!”
The opening of the store earlier this year raised the ire of locals who said they didn’t want a gun shop in the area, sparking protests and an ugly legal battle that culminated in NOVA Armory suing dozens of protesters recently.
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