Town grants home-based firearms-dealer license for 1350 Douglas Turnpike after neighbor objections

The Burrillville Town Council voted to grant a firearms-dealer business license to Howard Cook, who plans to operate Spokenmeier Tactical from his home at 1350 Douglas Turnpike. Cook told the council he already holds a federal firearms license and described the planned operation as appointment-only transfers, with firearms stored in a dedicated safe and transactions recorded in ATF-required acquisition-disposition (A&D) records.

“It's appointment only,” Cook said, describing the process: dealers ship a firearm to his FFL, he logs serial numbers in an A&D book, and the purchaser completes Form 4473 and the FBI background check before pickup following any waiting period. He told the council he would obtain a second safe for business inventory and carry FFL-specific liability insurance he said meets town requirements.

Several nearby residents opposed the license during the public hearing. Anthony Mazzulli, who said he lives adjacent to the property, said he supported gun ownership but not a firearms-dealing business in a residential neighborhood and raised safety concerns given his young children. “I moved into the neighborhood thinking having a gun dealer next door would never be a possibility,” Mazzulli said. Dave Laduke, who said he lives across the street, raised parking and noise concerns and asked that any approval include mitigation for on‑street parking, saying he had photographs documenting parking impacts.

Cook answered questions about test firing and ammunition, telling the council there would be no on-site test firing — he belongs to a nearby gun club where test firing could occur — and he said he would not handle ammunition sales or gunsmithing. The town solicitor summarized relevant licensing requirements, noting the town’s code requires a license to sell or transfer firearms and that chief of police sign-off and building-location rules apply.

During deliberations councilors said they saw no statutory basis to deny the application and urged Cook to work with neighbors to address parking. The council approved the license; the minutes record a roll-call outcome recorded as 4–2 in favor.

The council chair noted the license is renewable and suggested neighbors could raise parking issues at renewal if problems persist. Cook was congratulated and the council closed the public hearing.