Citing New Laws, Last Big S.F. Gun Store Will Close

One of San Francisco’s oldest gun stores is closing its doors.

Gun Exchange owners Beth and Bob Posner said they are shutting down the 52-year-old store they inherited from their father for personal and political reasons.

Part of their decision comes out of frustration over paperwork mandated by California’s new gun laws, they said.

The new “junk gun” law, which imposes stricter standards on handguns like the Saturday night special, means the store’s Model 1911 Colt, used in four wars, is considered junk. That model does not have the kind of mechanism that would prevent it from possibly going off when it is dropped, as new laws require.

The Posners are marking down their entire stock, and more than 100 people were lined up when the store opened Thursday.

The Gun Exchange is the last large gun store in San Francisco, according to the San Francisco Examiner.