The town of Dedham is considering the possibility of creating zoning regulations around gun stores after outcry from residents and business owners ahead of the planned opening of J&J Arms, a brick-and-mortar gun shop located 500 feet from a playground.

Following pushback on social media and letters sent to town officials from angry residents, a meeting has been scheduled for Thursday evening at Dedham Town Hall to discuss the possibility of amending the town's zoning regulations. Dedham currently has no zoning restrictions regarding gun shops.

The gun shop is slated to open on Bussey Street in September, though the exact move-in date is unknown. Local business owner Miriam Kattumuri said its vicinity to Condon Park, which holds a popular playground, is too close for comfort.

“Knowing that there's going to be a gun shop [near] our business just scares me so much because I have kids everywhere,” Kattumuri said, watching her four children play in a parking lot. “I just don't feel comfortable. It's very scary.”

Kattumuri, whose business is also on Bussey Street, said if the gun shop becomes a permanent fixture, she may consider moving her own shop to another location.

Andrew Couture, the lawyer representing J&J Arms owner Joshua Cruz, said there are also supporters for the shop in the community.

"There are supporters for this for the store. Not everybody is against it," Couture said in a phone interview with WGBH News.

Dedham is already home to one gun store, AAA Police Supply, located on Route 1.

Angela Maxwell owns a barbershop across Bussey Street and said she’s worked in Dedham for 40 years. “It doesn't belong in this town,” Maxwell said. “I think there's a lot of people concerned about that.”

Glenn Stivaletta has owned property on Bussey Street for 14 years.

“I'm against guns,” he said. “My brother was murdered by gun, and a lot of people have the same problem. Guns are no good for anything.”

An online petition that calls for the shop opening to be blocked was published Tuesday, and had gathered over 1,900 signatures as of Wednesday evening.

In response, Couture, published a separate petition asking for support of the shop’s opening.

“The crazed anti-gun fanatics have started a petition to cease the shops lease and stop this legal business,” the petition reads. “The owner of the shop has received hate mail constantly and is subject of harassment.”

As of Wednesday evening, Couture’s petition had garnered over 750 signatures.

Couture said Cruz plans to go “above and beyond” what is required by state law when it comes to gun safety, and will offer firearm safety courses.

“A state of the art security system, cameras, you name it, he's going to have it,” Couture said.

Couture said he plans to teach classes on Massachusetts firearm law at the facility.

“J&J Arms is focused on safety and security above everything else,” Couture said.

Couture said the business may eventually relocate after moving in on Bussey Street, but as of yet that is undetermined.

“This store is going to be around for as long as the lease is around,” he said. “Then we may look at the option of going to a different area of Dedham.”