Although the Gunsmoke and Lead gun store opened on Monday, March 27, the official Grand Opening will be on Saturday, April 29, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at 813 E Hickpochee Ave. There will be a giveaway of a gun in addition to manufacturer representatives, free food, drinks and a DJ. Submitted photo/Anthony A. Narehood
Justin Liguori, owner of LaBelle’s Gunsmoke and Lead, eagerly waiting for the next wave of customers on April 3.[/caption] “There wasn’t a gun store here and a lot of people had an interest in guns,” said Justin Liguori when asked about why they chose to open a location in LaBelle, “People from Clewiston and LaBelle were going to our store in Lehigh Acres.” Business hours are Monday through Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The store is closed on Sunday. When Gunsmoke and Lead opened, 70 customers walked in the first day. The store advertised online in the “What’s Happening in LaBelle” Facebook group and relied on word of mouth. Guns range from $169 to over one thousand dollars. The best selling guns are any type of concealed carry gun and shot guns. To date, customer ages range from 25 years to 50 years old. These customers purchased guns for self-defense and/or hunting. Gunsmoke and Lead has a layaway program. Customers are required to put 20 percent down. Items $699 or less have a 60 day layaway. Items priced over $700 have a 90 day layaway. A discount of 10 percent off ammo and accessories is offered for veterans and active/retired first responders. Justin said people should shop at Gunsmoke and Lead because it is family owned and operated. “The store gives a warm feeling without pressuring people into buying anything,” said Justin, “I want to make sure customers leave with what they want. The goal is to have buyers of guns be comfortable with guns and know how they work.” “I prefer to deal with hometown people versus big corporations,” said Greg Guntrum, a customer of the Lehigh Acres location since 2014, “I like how I am told the good, the bad, and the ugly. I like the one-on-one experience. They have as good of a selection as anyone else.” The Gunsmoke and Lead store in LaBelle is the second of two locations. The first location is in Lehigh Acres and was opened in 2014 by Justin’s mom and step-dad, Dee and Bruce Jacobs. The store in Lehigh had two concealed weapons classes twice a week with 15-20 people in each class. The LaBelle store plans on having safety and concealed weapons classes as well. To obtain a concealed weapons firearms license, customers must shoot one live round. Justin required his students to shoot 10 live rounds or until the student demonstrates they are comfortable with their weapon. Justin is a National Rifle Association certified instructor for home defense and firearm safety. “If parents are looking to teach their children how to use guns, they can encourage their children to complete the Eddie Eagle GunSafe program,” said J. The GunSafe program is found online at https://eddieeagle.nra.org/ Justin’s son learned to shoot at the age of three and his daughter learned at the age of nine, both used .22 Long Rifles.