A new West Rehoboth gun shop: ‘It’s a different time now.’

Ron Hagan and I sat down and talked for a while last week. His clean, brightly lit store stands along the main drag of West Rehoboth - Hebron Road. A magnetized front screen door let the warm fall air in - and his dog in and out.

Assault rifles, shotguns, pistols, pepper spray, and Tasers kept us company as we talked. There was a time 30 years ago or so when the store might have been seen as an armory in one of the most crime-ridden areas of eastern Sussex County. Shootings, stabbings, and open-air drug dealing were part of the culture along what was then a dead-end Hebron Road.

“It’s a different place now,” said Hagan. “Now that they’ve opened up Hebron Road to the other surrounding communities, there’s more traffic, and that’s made it better for everyone here.”

A West Rehoboth community center is a focus of pride for the community, which becomes more diverse every day. A land trust is providing new housing for West Rehoboth’s traditional African-American community. Intermixed are new houses owned by people who like West Rehoboth’s proximity to downtown Rehoboth Beach. Bicycle riders on the Junction & Breakwater Trail, and the nearby Revelation brewery offer another element of vibrancy to West Rehoboth.

But we didn’t sit down to talk about West Rehoboth.

Hagan and his partners opened the American Responder Services business there last May because Ricky Catts, who opened the first gun shop in that location a few years ago, passed away and the space was available.

“It originally was a family property in a populated area of the county. A great spot for Hank and me to get started. Maybe eventually we’ll move out to the highway for more visibility.”

Hagan’s partners are Hank Rickards and their wives, Jen and Jeannie. Lifelong Sussex County people. “We both grew up in hunting and fishing families. Our dads were both Delaware State Police officers. My dad, Jerry Hagan, had a license to sell guns. Hank’s dad was Lou Rickards who a lot of people knew. We’ve both been around firearms all our lives.”

Hagan followed his dad into the Delaware State Police and enjoyed a 30-year career with the state before retiring four years ago. He led the negotiation team for 15 years and taught many younger officers in negotiating and hostage techniques. In his retirement he has been doing contract work around the world with the nation’s State Department focusing on terrorism and hostage negotiations.

Hank Rickards took another route: law enforcement on the international scale with the United States Marines. “He did two tours of duty in Iraq,” said Hagan, “and one tour in Afghanistan. His knowledge is in military weapons; mine is in law enforcement weapons.”

Rickards was on his way to North Carolina the day Ron and I spoke. “He’s gathering up materials and provisions to take south to the Carolinas for VFW posts helping in the aftermath of the hurricane. He’s state commander in Delaware this year.” The pride in his partner was evident.

Talking about guns

“It’s a different time out there now than it used to be,” said Hagan. “The main thing we’re dealing with here is personal safety. The heroin epidemic - it reminds me of the crack epidemic in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. People want protection for themselves and their families.

“I spent 30 years in the state police. I know what response time is. In best-case scenarios it’s four to five minutes. We give people the means to protect themselves and their families, and most of all we educate. That’s what I’ve been doing throughout my career. Opening up this shop was a good segue for me and my experiences.”

Hagan said his shop specializes in helping people understand and get permits to carry concealed deadly weapons. “You know the police benefit from this too. People with concealed carry weapons help and save police officers.

“I don't think the U.S. will ever be gun-free. Last I heard, there were about 800 million guns in this country. The general population has more guns than the military. Firearms are part of our history and culture. They're part of how and why we became a nation. You have to understand that the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. Bad guys don’t care.”

Hagan said more than half of the 20 to 50 people he is training and providing weapons for each month are women. "We have women’s-only classes in using handguns and self-defense - shooting and moving. Of course the gun is always the last resort. We teach avoidance, how to understand and respect a situation when you feel the hair stand up on the back of your neck, and how best to respond. Knowing where they can do something; knowing when they should stay away.

“Women are more independent now, and they know the atmosphere of sexual assault and abuse. I see them transform from shaking when they first hold a pistol to becoming confident and capable. They see this as a way of being able to defend themselves if something happens. And I can tell you this: Most of the women outshoot their husbands. Our motto is arm and educate.”

Hagan doesn’t see the gun shop as a sign of paranoia. “No, I don’t think we’re dealing in paranoia. I think we’re dealing in being prepared and vigilant - being aware of the reality of today’s world. You know there are a lot of mental health issues out there - people who have slipped through the cracks or have been protected by family or friends for whatever reason.”

Hagan said that’s the reality of the world we’re living in. “I’ve seen countries where guns are not as accessible - where governments who rule with iron fists slaughter people. That's mostly in Africa and Southeast Asia. And I think we are well protected in this country since 9/11. But there are people coming across our borders every day who can cause trouble. If society allows - takes away the ability of law-abiding citizens to have firearms - we will continue down the path of having more crime and victims. Law enforcement can’t do it alone.”