C’ville puts hold on indoor gun range plan

Children’s clinic nearby; doctors object

A plan to permit an indoor shooting range in Collierville was put on hold Monday night by the town’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen when doctors from a nearby children’s clinic objected.

Business owner Mike Italiano is seeking permission to create a shooting range inside a warehouse at 177 Abbington Road near the intersection of Poplar and U.S. 72.

Dr. Gi na Hanissia n and her husband, Dr. Ara Hanissian, operate a clinic on the other side of the road. They said their pediatric clinic is so close that the shooting range would be visible to visiting parents, who might feel intimidated and take their children elsewhere.

Moreover, Ara Hanissian said guns can discharge accidentally in the parking lot. “People are imperfect and they’re going to make mistakes.”

Italiano told the members of the board that the chances of a bullet escaping the facility were practically zero, since the shooting area would be surrounded by bulletproof materials on all sides. “I submit to you that will take, like, the magic bullet that killed Kennedy for that to happen.”

Alderman Maureen Fraser said that as a mother, she could see why parents might feel intimidated by a shooting range next to their child’s clinic. She proposed barring the presence of such businesses next to health facilities like the pediatric clinic.

Alderman Tom Allen said the board was hitting Italiano with last-minute requirements that hadn’t been brought up at earlier discussions. “We’re changing the rules on the gentleman, a nd I don’t think that’s fair whatsoever.”

The meeti ng ended with the board deciding to table the issue until its Feb. 22 board meeting. The decision left Italiano, the business owner, fuming. “So you’re going to put my family on the street!” he said to alderman John Stamps afterward.

Italiano calmed down a few minutes later. In an interview, he a nd business partner Jim Kohan repeated their contention that the range was safe. They also said guns are so widespread that people are probably already bringing them to the pediatric clinic parking lot anyway.

Technically, Monday’s discussion aimed to create general rules for all indoor gun ranges, not just Italiano’s. If the general rules are approved, Collierville authorities would then look at specific plans for Italiano’s gun range.

I submit to you that will take, like, the magic bullet that killed Kennedy for that to happen.” Mike Italiano, owner of the proposed range on the chances of a bullet escaping the facilty