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WEBVTT THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT ABSTAINED. SOME OF THE LAWMAKERS OPPOSED TO THE ORDINANCE SAY THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO SUPPORT IT IN THE FUTURE IF CHANGES ARE MADE. MIKE WONSALA SAT THROUGH TESTIMONY FROM DOZENS OF PEOPLE AS HIS PROPOSED HOME BASED GUN BUSINESS HUNG IN THE BALANCE. SOME MOUNT AIRY RESIDENTS OPPOSED TO AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD ALLOW THE SALE OF FIREARMS IN RESIDENTAL ZONES SAID THEIR ISSUE WASN'T WITH HIM. >> THE COUNCIL WOULD BE DECIDING THE FUTURE OF THIS TOWN. IF THE COUNCIL PASSES, WHAT ABOUT THE NEXT GUY APPLIES FOR THIS EXEMPTION? VANESSA CRITICS SAY THE : LEGISLATION DIDN'T PROVIDE ENOUGH SPECIFICIS LIKE THE KINDS OF GUNS A RESIDENT COULD SELL. >> YOU WANT THIS DELIVERED BY UPS TRUCK TO YOUR NEIGHBOR RIGHT BESIDE THE SCHOOL BUS STOP? VANESSA: SOME RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY AND QUESTIONED THE KINDS OF PEOPLE A RESIDENTIAL GUN BUSINESS COULD ATTRACT. >> COULD YOU RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU OWN A GUN? TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THESE PEOPLE. WHEN YOU S THAT THIS BUSINESS MAY ATTRACT THE WRONG CROWD, THAT IS THE WRONG CROWD. THIS PEOPLE ARE FINE, UPSTANDING CITIZENS. VANESSA SUPPORTERS ARGUED THAT : IF WONSOLA OWNED A DIFFERENT KIND OF BUSINESS, THERE WOULDN'T BE SUCH STRONG OPPOSTION. >> IT IS NOT THEIR JOB OR OUR JOB TO SAY WHAT IS THE PERCEPTION. IT IS LEGAL. IT IS UNFAIR TO SAY GUNS ARE AN ISSUE WHEN YOU ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT BASKET WEAVING OR COMPUTERS. VANESSA THE 5-MEMBER COUNCIL : STRUCK DOWN THE ORDINANCE. WONSALA, WHOSE FAMILY OWNS TWO GUN SHOPS, ONE OPERATED IN A RESIDENTAL AREA, SAYS HE'LL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR HIS BUSINESS. >> W PUSHED THROUGH THE LEGAL CHANNELS AND EXERCISE THOSE RIGHTS THAT WERE SET FORTH. VANESSA: WONSALA HAS A FULL TIME JOB HE TELLS ME THE FAMILY BUSINESS IS MORE OF A HOBBY BUYING AND SELLING GUNS THAT HE , SAYS ARE OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE. WONSALA PLANS TO APPEAL THE

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A resident sparked a discussion by asking the Mount Airy council to approve a zoning change that would allow him to operate a family antique gun business out of his home. However, several people in the neighborhood fired back, saying they have concerns about the idea. After more than an hour worth of public testimony on Monday, four council members voted no on the measure and the council president abstained. Still, some of the lawmakers who opposed to the ordinance say they would be willing to support it in the future if changes are made. Mike Wonsala sat through testimony from dozens of people as his proposed home-based gun business hung in the balance. Some Mount Airy residents opposed the proposed ordinance that would allow the sale of firearms in residential zones. However, they said their issue wasn't with Wonsala. "The council will be deciding the future of this town,” Mount Airy resident Brian Bieda said. “If the council passes this ordinance, what about the next guy that applies for this exception?” Critics said the legislation didn't provide enough specifics such as the kinds of guns a resident could sell. "Do you want this delivered by a FedEx truck or UPS truck to your neighbor right beside the school bus stop?” Mount Airy resident Daniel Hadnman said. “I don't think so." Some raised concerns about safety and questioned the kinds of people a residential gun business could attract. "I'd like to ask the audience if I may,” Mount Airy resident Justin Fleck said. “Could you raise your hand if you own a gun? Take a good look at these people. When you say this business may attract the wrong crowd that is the wrong crowd. These people are fine, upstanding citizens." Supporters argued that if Wonsola owned a different kind of business, there wouldn't be such strong opposition. "It's not their job or our job to say what is the perception of safe,” Mount Airy resident Brian Taylor said. “It's legal. It’s unfair to say guns are an issue when you're not considering basket weaving or computers.” Still, the five-member council struck down the ordinance. Wonsala, whose family owns two gun shops, one operated in a residential area, said that he will continue to fight for his business. "We push through the legal channels and exercise those rights that are set forth,” Wonsala said. Wonsala has a full-time job and says the family business is more of a hobby that specializes in buying and selling guns that he says are of historical significance. He plans to appeal the council's decision.