The owner of an Arizona gun store said he will not sell weapons to customers
who voted for President Obama because "you have proven that you are not
responsible enough to own a firearm."
Cope Reynolds, owner of the Southwest Shooting Authority (
http://www.southwestshootingauthority.com/ ) in Pinetop, Ariz., posted the
new store policy in a newspaper advertisement - as well as on a sign posted
on the front door.
"If you voted for Barack Obama your business is not welcome at Southwest
Shooting Authority," the ad reads. "You have proven that you are not
responsible enough to own a firearm."
The Southwest Shooting Authority is a family-owned, family-run business that
Reynolds opened in 2004. He told Fox News that he's absolutely serious about
the new policy.
"I'm a small business owner," he said. "If you are dumb enough to vote for
Obama again - after four years of this - I don't think you are responsible
enough to own a firearm. I don't care who it makes mad."
Reynolds acknowledged that folks coming into his store probably didn't vote
for Obama anyway, but he's still making a statement. He said he's concerned
about how President Obama's policies could impact his small business.
He also posted a letter on the Ammoland website that read in part:
http://www.ammoland.com/2012/11/09/southwest-shooting-authority-of-ar...
"To Whom it May Concern:
I thought you all might be interested in this. We will try to demonstrate
once again that the bottom line for our business is principle, not money.
Yes, it has been damaging at times but our values are intact. Effective
immediately, if you voted for Obama, your money is no good here. You have
proven beyond a doubt that you are not responsible enough to own a firearm.
We have just put a sign up on the front door to save you the trouble of
walking all the way in here."
Reynolds said they've been deluged with telephone calls from supportive
Americans - some from as far away as New York and New Jersey. One caller
placed an order for hundreds of dollars worth of ammunition.
But others have not been so supportive. Reynolds said there have been lots
of "vile, rude, and hateful comments."
"I hate it because my 17-year-old son answers the phone and the light into
him," Reynolds said. "They call us stupid rednecks and racist."
The family has also received two death threats. But Reynolds said he's not
that worried about safety.
"We're able to wear our guns in Arizona and we wear on 24-7," he said. "We
train regularly."
At the end of the day, Reynolds said it really doesn't matter what happens
to his company - the signs are staying up.
"If we lose the whole business it doesn't matter," he said. "The bottom line
is - my values."
