JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. -- The room was packed with people. There were some sporting "I support the Shoot Zone" stickers and others waving signs of opposition.
They were all inside the Jacksonville Beach City Council Chambers for one issue: an indoor pistol range proposed to be built on Penman Road just a couple of hundred feet from the Montessori Tides School.
"The vision is to create a place that's a safe environment for women, men, children to come and gather in the local community and practice in the safe use of firearms," said local attorney Cord Byrd.
But it didn't take long for the Jacksonville Beach planning commissioners to voice their concerns. They ranged from a potential decrease in property values to a simple issue of safety.
"The smallest chance is not worth what we're talking about here," said Commissioner Terry Deloach.
On Monday, with a vote of 4-0, the commission voted to deny the building of the pistol range.
Local parents, like Steve Kowkabany who currently has twin 3-year-olds attending Montessori Tides, said it was a decision worth cheering for.
"Such a relief. Such a huge relief," said Kowkabany. "We wish them success. We hope they go somewhere, but you can't cram it down the throat of the community."
But not everyone left smiling. The sticker-side of the room, including retired police officer Sam Bass, couldn't help but feel disappointed.
"I would have gone there myself. I thought it would be real safe, I did," Bass said.
If approved, the indoor pistol range would have moved into the building that is currently Atlantic Laser Office Products.
