Phoenixville Man Gets the Go-Ahead To Open Home Gunsmith Business

With the backing of numerous character witnesses a Phoenixville man won unanimous approval to operate a part time gunsmith shop out of his home.

David Tenhagen told members of the Phoenixville Borough Council that he will operate his shop on a very small scale and that his cusotmers will essentially be by invitation only.

Tenhagen presented a long list of precautions and rules he intends to follow, including no signs on his home, no live firing of weapons, strict logs of customers and their weapons.  He fielded questions from the council and the public during the hearing, which lasted about 45 minutes during the Phoenixville Borough Council Meeting on Tuesday night.

Several neighbors testified that having a legal gun repair shop run under strict federal and state guidelines would actually make them feel safer on Buchanan Street.

One woman who says she has lived in the borough more than 40 years said "there's no guarantee that this is always going to be safe. It's nothing against him, it just seems scary."

In response to that concern Tehagen told the council "It's been my experience that when there are legal firearms crime is low. When there are illegal firearms crime is high. I'd be more worried about the drug dealers."

Several people who identified themselves as people from the applicant's church and who have gone shooting with him over the years spoke on Tehagen's behalf.

At the end of the hearing the council voted unanimously to approve a conditional use permit for Tehagen to operate his part time gunsmith shop out of his Buchanan Street home.