“This is my first gun store...and my last.”

So says John Waldman, who after about a couple of years in business, has closed his Georgia Ballistics store on Peachtree Industrial Blvd.

The 43-year-old Waldman tells WSB Radio seeing news headlines of repeated mass shootings, often with young children as targets, is a big reason. And, the level of weaponry suspects use in those attacks.

“It hit me more to where if people use my items, it’s going to be even worse. And I just can’t do it. So, I decided to close the store because of that,” says Waldman of the higher-grade guns and accessories he was selling...but no longer.

“If you go to a normal gun store, you’ll look at stuff, and it’ll be like cheap things, medium-grade things. I was doing bullet proof vests, night vision goggles, thermal, saws. Everything that fits in small backpacks. I was doing all tactical stuff. That also hit me effectively, because my stuff is for trained people to clear villages in other countries. I don’t want it to clear a school with my kid.”

Waldman has a 10-year-old son and is the dad in the lives of his fiancé's three children, all under the age of 10.

Waldman says his son’s questions about school shooting training, and why it was necessary - shook him.

“It’s just easier for me to know that at least nothing I sell will hurt my son, or your son or daughter.”

Waldman owns guns and says he has no issue with law-abiding citizens that do. For him, it is about safety and training for those that would have weapons and certain accessories. And for those individuals who should not have those items at all.

As for how he feels about stricter gun laws - “This is where I know I’m going to be hated. Tougher gun laws only help criminals, and they don’t help law-abiding citizens.”

Reaction to Waldman closing his store is across the spectrum, especially on social media. “The customers that I have are supportive. They hope I find something else, and they thank me for it even for what I’ve helped them with. And then, the other side in the last couple of days, it’s just been threats, ‘I’m ‘an idiot’, I’m ‘not Second Amendment material.”

Waldman says he’s not looking to make waves with his store closing - it’s only about his own reasons for doing so.

As for what’s next? “I have no idea. I’m just going to take the hit, and even if I get a lousy job, it’s still better than having to deal with this. I can sleep better. I might not be happy, but I’m going to be happier that my son is at least given a better chance, so to speak.”

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