PINETOP - A small town gun shop is creating big time controversy with a sign banning anyone who voted to re-elect President Barack Obama.
The Southwest Shooting Authority in Pinetop, Arizona has a sign in the window that reads:
"If you voted for Barack Obama, your business is not welcome at Southwest Shooting Authority. You have proven you are not responsible enough to own a firearm."
Shooting Authority owner Cope Reynolds made the sign a few days after the presidential election. He also placed an ad in the local paper. Since then, it has exploded in popularity and gone viral.
Reynolds stands behind his anti-Obama sign’s message.
"I can’t imagine, after seeing what this man can do in four years, how stupid do you have to be to vote again to get the same thing. It's unimaginable to me," he said.
Reynolds is concerned President Obama and Democrats will use his final term to punish gun owners, and weaken Americans' 2nd amendment rights to bear arms.
The gun enthusiast might be accused of being a sore loser because Republicans didn't take back the Whitehouse, but it seems a lot of people are siding with Reynolds and his Anti-Obama stance.
He said his shop received more than 1,200 emails Saturday alone.
Reynolds said the gun shop’s phones are still ringing “every second of the day.” He's had to assign some of his employees full-time just to answer calls.
"It is doing what I want it to do. We are getting the word out. We are getting so much support of this, it's unfathomable," he said.
Reynolds admits that the feedback he’s getting isn’t all from happy customers.
“Most of it is very much positive, by far, although we do get the negative ones," he said. "You can always tell them because they either hang up on you, or they start out with some foul mouth little-minded stuff."
Since the sign went up, Reynolds said so has his business. He claims people from all over the country are now ordering from the Shooting Authority to support them.
dhwilson58 posted at 4:36 am on Wed, Jan 9, 2013.
He doesn't have to worry about a bankruptcy, there's more than enough real Americans out there that will ONLY buy from that store. I lived in the White Mountains over 17 years and went up there on weekends for another 8 years before building a house in the Springerville / Eagar Area. I totally agree and honor the sign. And.....I wouldn't expect anyone who voted for the idiot to understand the self respect behind the sign as well.
Masterrogue666 posted at 4:42 pm on Sun, Nov 25, 2012.
bubba: You stated that Bush "allows bin Laden to escape Tora Bora". REALLY? Was Bush on that mountain, SAW bin Laden, and let him sneak through the lines? I want you to look up the word "tripe", specifically the second definition, as it applies to what you wrote!
As least the ATTEMPT was made! CLINTON had THREE CHANCES to try for bin Laden, but CHOSE not to. And as for Obama getting bin Laden, wrong. Obama happened to be President when our intelligence communities finally found him. If Obama didn't give the go ahead, I doubt anyone would have voted for him! I do give him full points for taking the riskiest choice, to make sure he died! I watched his speech when Obama first announced bin Laden's death. His facial expressions didn't show much happiness to me, despite what he read. However, I would concede that maybe he was trying to be somber.
Masterrogue666 posted at 4:28 pm on Sun, Nov 25, 2012.
As long as the business is privately owned, he has THE RIGHT to sell to whomever he wishes to.
Bluepoet posted at 11:02 am on Mon, Nov 19, 2012.
And, just how would this guy know I voted for Obama? Would he ask to see my ballot, as proof of my worthiness to shop his quaint little store? Would he violate my first amendment rights, for some imagined threat to his second amendment rights?
It is laughable, on more than one level...Obama is just as much into weapons as any of these "so-called" responsible gun owners, who are so irresponsible as to buy into the propaganda that, because someone is a Democrat, they must naturally be against guns...
Childish? How about both childish, and paranoid?
StotheizzE posted at 9:38 am on Mon, Nov 19, 2012.
Obama has been the best thing to happen to Mr. Reynolds and the rest of the gun sellers and manufacturers in this country. Talk about smacking a gift horse in the mouth: read this little story and tell me how stupid people like Reynolds look when they don't want Obama in the White House.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/02/21/firearms-group-calls-obama-greatest-gun-salesman-in-america/
retired03 posted at 8:55 am on Mon, Nov 19, 2012.
little minded? dude do you hear what you are even saying? You do something as childish as this and you call people calling and probably calling you an A hole is little minded? Besides that... you are doing what the typical extreme right do, discountng the fact that those who voted excersized their right to do so and that right includes voting for who they saw fit, not what you believe. It is up to history and history alone to determine how the president is doing., not you and your jaded view. Your stunt was cute, but, I doubt in 2 weeks folks will even pay attention to you. That's number one and number 2, contrary to you and the rest of the exteme right, democrats do go hunting, and carry concealed weapons, another right they excersize. I will give you this, your stunt got you the attention you sought.
bubba posted at 6:48 am on Mon, Nov 19, 2012.
loose stool .....Please post the name of your business so people can avoid your unethical business practice. At least this store owner lets people know up front. Do you have the have the conviction of your opinion to do this? I doubt it.
Irons1 posted at 6:46 am on Mon, Nov 19, 2012.
Wouldn't buy from this jerk, anyway. Lots of gun stores out there. Enjoy your bankruptcy
Irons1 posted at 6:45 am on Mon, Nov 19, 2012.
Then I wouldn't hire you and I would make darn sure no one else did either
loose stool posted at 5:16 am on Mon, Nov 19, 2012.
Im a small busness owner and if I come to your home or office to do work and I see an obama sticker on your car, you get charge more.
Deddzone posted at 8:49 pm on Sun, Nov 18, 2012.
Sounds like Mr. Reynolds needs to "cope" with the election results. I voted Obama and I own several guns. So this guy gets his 5 seconds of fame and no one ever hears about him again....
Can you imagine if Romney voters were banned from buying guns--the outrage! The screams of 2nd Right admendment rights being violated. Why do rightwingers never practice what they preach?
Pragmatic posted at 8:45 pm on Sun, Nov 18, 2012.
One or two Supreme court judges and the 2nd amendment is history. Actually Obama has had his eye on the constitution from day one. Read his own words in his books. Freedom is not this administrations strong suit, government control is the name of the Obama game.
ekmc8 posted at 8:42 pm on Sun, Nov 18, 2012.
Anything perceived to be influencing votes is an illegal practice, so much so that Valley businesses giving discounts to those wearing an "I Voted" sticker were called by the State Attorney's office and told to cease. Although no one is running to the polls any longer, this can be easiy seen as punishing and discriminating against those who didn't agree with the views of the shop owners...it would NEVER be permitted if it was in another context (i.e. religion, race, education level, hair color, etc.), so how is this even slightly acceptable? It's in poor taste and should be seen as such, depite anyone's personal party affiliation.
OldMan posted at 7:00 pm on Sun, Nov 18, 2012.
Interesting. Some people prefer, or their intellect dictates, to package individuals based on a single aspect.
What if I voted for Obama, and am an avid gun owner?
What if I am against abortion, but favor the Affordable Health Care Act?
What if I am in favor of the death penalty, but against Citizens United?
Can someone give me some direction?
downtownresident posted at 2:48 pm on Sun, Nov 18, 2012.
Ateam1,
I'm gainfully employed and don't need handouts. My wife and I make an obscene amount of money. I see no reason to lie and cheat and present false propaganda to get this cult member who would be king elected under false pretenses.
Remember Olivia Cortez?????????????
Mitt has never met a normal working person in his life. He considers himself royalty.
The best candidate won. Get over it.
bubba posted at 1:50 pm on Sun, Nov 18, 2012.
And this part is priceless......"I can’t imagine, after seeing what this man can do in four years, how stupid do you have to be to vote again to get the same thing. It's unimaginable to me," he said......Cope did you vote for Bush a second time? Two unfunded wars, allows bin Laden to escape Tora Bora to continue the war, 4,487 U.S. soldiers dead, 32,233 seriously wounded, and for what? How stupid do YOU have to be to vote again to get the same thing Cope Reynolds? A failed economy, crashed stock market, and it's all Obama's fault? Cope Reynolds, you are living in the United Staes of Amnesia. But your free advertisment gimick worked, you've had your 15 minutes and will now return to obscurity.
bubba posted at 1:05 pm on Sun, Nov 18, 2012.
Could be Cope Reynolds is a secesionist and planning to run for President of the new nation of Dumbassistan
bubba posted at 12:59 pm on Sun, Nov 18, 2012.
"It is doing what I want it to do. We are getting the word out. We are getting so much support of this, it's unfathomable," he said.
It's doing what he wanted it to do....merely getting free advertisment for a store that very few of heard of before. The media has fallen for it, and gullible people eat it up as a political statement.
Ateam1 posted at 12:24 pm on Sun, Nov 18, 2012.
downtownresident:You've already proved yourself! You are a liberal looking for something for nothing along with the rest who voted for obama trying to prove a point to the old white men.Get over your pity party already!!!
downtownresident posted at 12:12 pm on Sun, Nov 18, 2012.
Well, That's such an intelligent move.
When cult members take a legitimate loss so childishly, it only goes to prove what a BAD CHOICE Mitt would have made as commander-in-chief. It proves just how childish and petty this owner is. He should not be allowed to sell guns, at all.
Why not just restrict all your business to cult members, then you will know that they aren't capable of independent thought and will fall in line with the bishop's instructions.
If this is how Mitt would run the country, what a wonderful future the USA would have with him as king.
Ateam1 posted at 11:56 am on Sun, Nov 18, 2012.
Very good! I would'nt sell to the very people that are destroying this great nation either.Time to place my order.