Goodland Guns gun store opening next to Goleta daycare sparks parental protests

Goodland Guns secured a 25‑year lease for the former 7‑Eleven building at 7443 Hollister Avenue in Goleta, California, and plans a soft opening next Monday with a grand opening in September. The store will sit directly beside the Here We Grow Early Learning Center, a preschool that opened in January, sharing a see‑through chain‑link fence and a bike path used by children walking to school.

Hundreds of local parents have rallied against the location, filing a petition with more than 300 signatures on Change.org and attending a community meeting organized by Moms Demand Action, where over 50 residents voiced safety concerns. City officials confirmed the firearms dealer license was approved under existing zoning that classifies the store as a sporting‑goods retailer, a decision defended by Councilmember Stuart Kasdin. Store owner Dan Ashton argues the opposition reflects a double standard, noting the business previously operated near another early‑childhood center for 13 years.