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."
Good thinking!
MOOOOOCHELLLLLLLS box is going to be overflowing with idiots and other pantywastes (sic) come BO’s UNstate of the Union msg.
Also, from seeing all the reports about the poor members of COngress that gave up their Holiday to come back to Washington to ‘work’ on the so called budget bill.
Are we supposed to feel sorry for them? I don’t.
Rather than ‘cry’ about it, either do your job or quit. For the majority of you, your constituents are to stupid to vote you out, so do the right thing and QUIT. Of course, pass bills saying you can have absolutely NOTHING to do with the Civilian side of the Political scene...
much the same as YOU FORCED Military retirees to do years ago.
I never joined them.
The last thing I want to be is on a list of known gun owners.
It’s a hillbilly thing.
I don't need them. I have a lever action Henry that does just fine.
My apologies for that stereotyping. I am actually encouraged by how many ladies have gotten their pistol permits recently and joined the fight.
Another usefull idiot.
Again the idiots are blaming the tool, not the person.
What does this jackwagon think of someone who purchases a knife from him, goes out a stabs a bunch of people?
Nothing. He and the brain dead media would blame the person.
The idiocy continues.
Wonder how much ABC paid the crooked pawn shop owner?A mainstream media outlet and a pawn broker aren’t real good places to look for truth. Lawyers and used car salesmen would be a much better combo.
Exactly how I’m reading it.
You’re forgiven...:)
I’ve been shooting since I was 5.
[46 years ago...so I’ve got a bit of a jump start]
;D
[but you were right...he *is* “being a girl”]
Indeed, there is a dearth of info on the shooter and his background. The MSM is so very quick to use the tragedy for their own ends of gun confiscation and so very uninterested in uncovering the actual news.
There is one article I found in the UK Daily Mail that provides more background info than anything I've seen from the stateside MSM. Interesting that the press in this country is so corrupted that we often have to turn to other countries to find out what is really happening here. It is sadly reminiscent of the old Soviet Bloc.
I know plenty of lifetime NRA members that don’t think like your dad.
Truth is the NRA has lost some battles, and compromising was the only thing that was possible at the time.
Another truth is that our second amendment would have likely suffered far more serious hits had it not been for the NRA.They have done much more to preserve our rights than most of our lawmakers, and unless you’ve already gone Galt, you are paying those bums every day.
Pawn shops thrive on the despair and misery of others.
They know that most of the stuff they give pennies-on-the-dollar ‘loans’ for will never be reclaimed because the person can’t afford it.
They are skeevy, creepy places that have a pall cast upon them no matter how brightly they’re lit.
Soul sucking abysses of abject desperation.
Just where I’d want to learn my “morality lesson” of the day.
It’s *my* dad who’s lost his marbles.
Great photo. Those pants require an explanation, though. ;-)
Back in the day, that was their “blaze orange”.
[warm and wooly, too]
:)
This guy had an obama/biden sign in his window before the election.
LLS
I have seen this behaviour as well. An 82 year old hard-core hunter friend of mine said we really didn’t need 30 round mags.
Some of this (I think) is a result of a feeling of helplessness. Look at the country these men knew, and the one that now exists. They feel no one will stand, so let’s let them have the magazines, and maybe we’ll keep our deer guns. I say hell no. Once they start, they’ll keep on driving this wedge, especially now. Those of us that will stand will be doing it shortly, I think.
Should'a bought a Mr. Softee truck and sold icecream to all the children he's so concerned about. A Mr. Softee cone would protect them, right?
FMCDH(BITS)
Your GGGF was serious about his camping...look at the size of those tent pegs.
I get the feeling he could’ve cared less even if he WAS on somebody’s list.
Fictional news account:
A week ago, Mohamed Abdullahi Omaar, a poor Somali cab driver, purchased a Honda Accord from Mr. Ed’s Honda in Los Angeles. Two hours later, Mohamhead intentionally plowed into a children’s festival at Ozzie Nelson Park, killing 72 children and injuring 125 others. The driver was not seriously injured in the attack. Police estimate he was traveling in excess of 100 mi/h when he smashed into the crowd.
Today, Joe O’Brien, owner of Waldo’s Honda in Indianapolis announced that he was closing his dealership at the end of the day.
“I sold an Accord exactly like the one that killed all those kids. It was even the same color. These cars are just so dangerous. Tens of thousands of people are killed every year because of them and many of those victims are children. I think of my own kids and how they could be killed in a car crash and it just brings me to tears. I can’t do it anymore. I’m even getting rid of my own cars. I’ll walk rather than risk another life. I think we need to drastically reduce the number of people who are allowed to operate them. Only police and cab drivers should be allowed to operate cars.”
O’Brien went on to say that he still wants to remain in sales, possibly opening a chain saw business.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.