Gun store moves beside Goleta daycare, prompting calls for new zoning rules

After 13 years operating in an Old Town Goleta strip mall, Goodland Guns signed a 25-year lease for a vacant former 7-Eleven that borders the Here We Grow daycare, placing the gun shop’s fence alongside the playground. The move has alarmed families, who say enrollment has fallen and that the proximity revives memories of past local shootings. Owner Dan Ashton maintains the business follows every regulation and that the relocation was driven by rising rent and limited commercial space.

In response, Goleta’s city council and the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors are evaluating mandatory buffer zones and a temporary halt on new firearms retailers near child-focused facilities. The school district board has urged a 1,000-foot separation standard, while officials stress the need for statewide guidance. Community members have organized protests and petitions, demanding stricter zoning for gun stores.