Posted on 12/30/2012 4:15:30 AM PST by algernon_garnock
SEMINOLE, Fla. - As a pawn shop owner, Frank James was always a big believer in gun rights and the second amendment. After all, it was his bread and butter business. But after what he saw in Newtown, Connecticut on Friday, he's had a change of heart. "I basically broke into tears and looked up on the wall, seeing the types of firearms I am selling," James said.
At the Loan Star Pawn store in Seminole, a glass display case that once housed several Bushmaster AR-15 assault rifles is now empty. The glass counters normally filled with handguns has been completely cleared.
"I'm not going to be part of it anymore," James said. He has several copies of the exact rifle suspected in the massacre.
"The model, the brand, everything," he said.
The father of four said he was especially touched knowing that his youngest child, a six-year old daughter, was the same age as many of those children who were shot to death.
"I dropped my daughter off at school this morning. That was enough for me," James said. "Conscience wins over making money."
The store manager came into the pawn shop Monday and saw James taking down signs advertising guns, and asked him what was going on.
"He said don't take the guns out of the safe. We're no longer selling them," said Leia Thomas. "I was shocked."
In an era of high gold prices and a slow economy that keeps many people from spending, Thomas was worried that without firearms sales, the business will suffer.
"I battled him and definitely debated that decision a lot, but I think it was the right one," she said. "As long as he has a clear conscience."
James said he thought long and hard over the weekend about what can happen after he sells somebody a firearm. He considered the possibility that the shooter's mother could have bought weapons from his store.
"I probably would have sold a firearm to that woman thinking she's buying it for her own defense, and then something like that happens," he said, referring to Friday's massacre. "That's something I couldn't live with."
His store is filled with nostalgia, like vintage telephones and cash registers. Guitars hang on the back wall, and fishing poles are displayed overhead. There's even a few sealed boxes of discontinued Hostess treats in a display case.
But twinkle sales can't come close to the thousands of dollars worth of guns he could have sold.
"It'll probably cause my business to go out of business," James said. "I couldn't live with myself if one of my firearms went out, got in the wrong hands and killed an innocent person, let alone a child," he said.
"We need more gun control."
No, there is a spring loaded rod that pushes the bullets into place to be loaded into the chamber but no plug or stop.
The propaganda onslaught continues...
Just for reference (Turn your sound down low): Guns - Increasing Round Capacity On a 12G Mossberg 500 Persuader Shotgun
;-)
The report I saw on Fox said the Bushmastr .223 was found in the shooters car. The kill weapons were pistols, two different makes, both semiautomatics.
I have read reports since where the Bushmaster is said to be involved. I take it to mean second and third hand reporting just lumped them all for effect.
I know only what I think I saw.
this is MSM propaganda trickery.
The find a single anecdote staw man to prove a trend.
Has anyone checked this person out? does he have license/background issues that prevent the sales?
Do not forget the guy dressed in black that was captured in the woods near the school... this stinks as bad as Benghazi.
LLS
I happen to be one of those lifetime NRA members. I definitely don't think like his Dad. I get tired of the argument that the 2nd Amendment was penned when everybody carried flintlocks. Well, that was the most modern firearm that the British army carried in the field. I see no difference today. We as the true defenders of this constitutional republic deserve to own no less!
I heard one of the women on a triple-lib-woman-screamer show (the one with Penn Jillette on it) say something to the effect that if he had had handguns he would have only been able to shoot two kids.
I about fell outa my chair. Does she think they are only one-shot weapons? And that they can’t be reloaded while a bunch of terrified kids and teachers huddle in fear in their safe gun-free zone?
This morning, there were five in my (mixed) Sunday school class. I know for a fact that four are licensed to carry — and were most likely armed... The fifth was a retired lady school teacher — whose husband was armed.
Your daddy is not entitled to an opinion about what “I need”.
For at least the second time, it isn’t MY daddy that is in question here. Refer to origninal comment of Salamander #24. What is in question is exactly what you stated. No opinion of ANYONE should be able to decide what I need or don’t need, especially when under “shall not be infringed”.
I have stated for 10 plus years on this site, no one should be able to beat anyone over the head with their particular favorite part of the Constitution in an attempt to destroy another individuals favorite part.
Based on recent government and supreme court decisions, the very idea of freedom as the Founders understood it, is pretty much out the window along with the Republic we couldn’t seem to keep. Where life goes from here ought to be very very interesting.
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