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On Tuesday the Sudbury Select Board continued discussions around a firearm business bylaw that has been under development since the middle of 2023, but has undergone rapid development in the last two months. The bylaw itself would limit firearms businesses to two establishments operating in Sudbury at any given time, and they would be limited to Industrial Districts, of which Sudbury has several. Due to various provisions of the bylaw, the only parcels that would qualify are in ID-4, which includes the parcels south of Boston Post Road around Buddy Dog and moving east over to the Wayland border.
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The bylaw, as drafted, would require potential firearms businesses to secure a special permit. There are several other operational regulations included in the draft bylaw, which you can review here. (Page 110)
The Select Board remains split on the bylaw. Three members have voiced support for the approach, including Charlie Russo, Jennifer Roberts and Dan Carty. Chair Janie Dretler and Vice-Chair Lisa Kouchakdjian have stated that they do not support the bylaw, and have voiced a preference not to allow gun shops in Sudbury at all. While positions on the bylaw are nuanced and varied, the bylaw itself was largely finished on Tuesday. They discussed what hours of operation to allow for firearms businesses, setbacks from other sensitive uses like daycares and rail trails, and tweaks to other regulations in the draft bylaw.
The setbacks are the most notable hanging chad, as they want Town staff to confirm how far they can make the setbacks while still keeping enough viable parcels for firearms businesses. In prior discussions it became clear that the Select Board would have to reduce the 500 foot setback from sensitive uses in order to produce enough viable parcels for firearms businesses. Dropping it to 250 seemed to produce enough parcels to satisfy the majority, but there was some desire on Tuesday to see if they can inch that up without losing too many parcels before they mark it “final.” The Board discussed how other towns with comparable bylaws have 500-foot setbacks from sensitive uses, and in a few they are 1,000 feet, however the majority felt that the nature of Sudbury’s built environment and zoning didn’t allow for larger setbacks. Ultimately, it sounded like they were going to end up sticking with a 250-foot setback from sensitive uses. (1:21:45)
Another new wrinkle was proximity to on-premises and off-premises alcohol consumption establishments. (1:16:00) That’s legal-speak for bars, restaurants and retail stores that sell or serve alcoholic beverages. The suggested addition in the packet would mean that guns shops could not be located within 250 feet of liquor stores and restaurants that sell/serve alcohol. But there’s a restaurant that serves alcohol in the middle of ID-4, and one across the street, so if they apply the 250-foot setback to on-premise alcohol consumption the majority would lose some of the parcels that they want to make available for firearms businesses. The majority voiced a desire to keep off-premises establishments (retail stores that sell alcohol) as a sensitive use in the bylaw, so the setback would apply if a liquor store were to open in the area. Restaurants and bars that serve alcohol, however, are not expected to be included as a sensitive use, meaning the firearms businesses could open closer than 250 feet to a bar or restaurant that serves alcohol.
Most research on alcohol use and guns paints a gloomy picture, but the majority would need to allow firearms businesses to open close to restaurants that serve alcohol to keep the bylaw moving forward. Much of the bylaw has been influenced by input Member Russo received from the Gifford’s Center. But it was the Gifford’s Center representative that recommended setbacks from alcohol establishments. (Page 63) On Tuesday Russo noted that Sudbury has limited options compared to other towns due to the layout of its commercial and industrial zones.
Johns Hopkins has a recent and comprehensive report on alcohol, violence and guns here. Their research concludes with policy recommendations to strengthen laws that separate alcohol and firearms. While their research focuses on firearms inside the establishments that serve alcohol, the broad strokes are still relevant:
“Alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of firearm injury and being in places where alcohol is consumed and firearms are present also increases that risk. We recommend prohibiting carrying and possessing firearms in locations where alcohol is consumed on the premises including, but not limited to, bars, restaurants, sporting arenas, outdoor festivals, and events that serve alcohol.”
Alcohol misuse and gun violence
While the details within the bylaw often generate a variety of questions and points of view from board members, disagreement on the general approach remains the primary difference between the majority and minority of the Select Board. All members have clearly stated that they do not want a gun shop in Sudbury. But disagreements on positions have become almost a tertiary matter as disagreements on process have cropped up in recent weeks.
On Tuesday the majority relented to the minority’s request to host a public forum. That idea was previously supported by Town Manager Andy Sheehan, and he indicated staff could put together an event in mid-January, but the idea was quickly shot down by the majority who voiced a preference to focus on finishing the bylaw itself before considering a forum. (2:53:55) With majority support materializing this week for a public forum, it sounded like they would pursue some type of event prior to Annual Town Meeting, though the content and format is undecided. Whether the event ends up being an informational session or a chance for the public to weigh in, it will almost certainly happen after the bylaw is added to the warrant, assuming the Select Board votes to do that next week. Town Manager Sheehan cautioned that any further changes to the bylaw should be completed before the warrant goes to print, otherwise it could get messy with a series of amendments on the floor of Annual Town Meeting.
Other process concerns that were raised pointed to the need for more input from around the community. That included a comment from Chair Dretler that the Board of Health has not been asked to weigh in yet. Town Manager Sheehan confirmed that Sudbury Police Chief Scott Nix will be reviewing the bylaw as the countdown to the warrant article deadline approaches.
Pending some final buttoning up from Town staff, the majority did voice a desire to put the bylaw on the warrant for Annual Town Meeting at an additional meeting that is scheduled for next Wednesday, January 31.