San Francisco's last gun shop to close as supervisors pass gun control measure

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- San Francisco's Board of Supervisors has unanimously passed a new gun control measure. And the belief it would pass is one reason the city's only gun store is closing.

The sponsor of the ordinance says Congress has failed to act, so the city needs to step up. It is tighter and tighter regulations like his that has convinced San Francisco's last gun shop to hang it up.

A few accessories and even fewer firearms are all that's left at High Bridge Arms, the one and only gun store in San Francisco is closing after more than six decades.

"All the bad guys can still get theirs," said gun store customer Steven Walker. "Now it's just making it harder for law abiding citizens to come in and protect them and their families here in the city."

The store's general manager says there are a variety of reasons for closing, including the owner's decision to retire. But in his words, the straw that broke the camel's back was when they got word of the legislation proposed by San Francisco Supervisor Mark Farrell.

"First it mandates the videotaping of all gun sales here in San Francisco," he said. "And second of all, mandates the electronic transmission of ammunition sales data directly to our police department."

His legislation passed unanimously at city hall.

"I think they need to address more along the lines of the illegal activities being done in the street and to address violence in general, not just with guns," said High Bridge Arms General Manager Steven Alcairo.

Farrell says other cities already have laws with similar requirements for firearms and ammunition sales. And even though this is San Francisco's only store and it's now going out of business, Farrell says the new law will be in place should anyone else try to set up shop.

"I do believe the city of San Francisco will be safer because of it and better off for it," he said.

Hundreds of t-shirts have been sold at High Bridge Arms, noting the end of an era. The last gun store closes at the end of the week.