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| NH Gun Store Depicts Obama As 'Firearms Salesman Of The Year' | |
| 2013-03-02 | |
| One of the posters in the front window of a New Hampshire gun shop depicts President Obama as "Firearms Salesman of the Year." Below the president are two AK-47 rifles. A second poster featuring the images of Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin and Mao Zedong accompanies a statement that reads, "All Experts Agree, Gun Control Works." The signs are in the front window of Collectable Arms & Ammo in Merrimack. Store Co-owner Keith Cox makes no apologies for the storefront that has irritated some neighbors. Cox says he is sending two separate messages and is not connecting Obama to the dictators. He says Obama's picture is meant to thank him for sending gun sales surging with all the talk in Washington about gun control. As for the images of the three dictators, Cox says his message is that people armed with guns are better able to protect themselves against tyranny. "We like to have the creative storefronts which are sort of fun in one aspect and in another aspect if we have an opportunity to make a statement we'll do that as well," said Cox. Chuck Mower, who lives down the street from the shop, says he understands free speech, but says the message is over the top and unnecessary. "I can't even imagine any president's picture being portrayed on the front of a business with crossed assault weapons underneath it," Mower said. "When those kinds of things appear and take the public presence...they paint us more as a gooberville in Arkansas." Mower, a longtime Merrimack resident, has filed a complaint with the city.
Outside the store on Friday, there was curiosity about the controversy. "If people want to show it then so be it, it's their freedom of rights," said one Merrimack resident. "One thing great about this country is you can agree to disagree, but to take these extremes I think it's shameful and I'm sad to say it's the town I live in," said another resident. Regardless of the controversy, the signage is not coming down. "I certainly would not ask them to change a flag hanging on their homes or a sign in their yards because I am offended by it or disagree with it," said Cox. "I will support anybody's freedom of speech." Town officials in Merrimack tell WBZ-TV the storefront is not breaking any town ordinances. | |
| Posted by:Beavis |
| #9 what's interesting is that I'm more conservative than my Carson City NV side. I'd maybe like to retire there |
| Posted by: Frank G 2013-03-02 22:16 |
| #8 The Californicators first moved North (Oregon, Washington) and now move East to Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. It's only taken 30-40 years to become really obvious. |
| Posted by: tipover 2013-03-02 21:54 |
| #7 Iowa is suffering to, from Illinois. Crime rate has gone up, and all of the arrested seems to be from Chicago. |
| Posted by: Charles 2013-03-02 20:51 |
| #6 Wide swathes of Colorado are facing a similar infestation with Californicators as well. |
| Posted by: abu do you love 2013-03-02 19:34 |
| #5 is not connecting Obama to the dictators I dunno about this. Barak "I am not a dictatior" Obama seems to be doing a pretty fair job of that himself. Merrimack, just down the road a piece, suffers from the same disease as much of southern NH, an uncontrolled influx of Massholes who are trying to escape the carnage they have caused in MA...and are now trying to reproduce in NH. |
| Posted by: Alanc 2013-03-02 19:29 |
| #4 I love it. (And Obama hates it) Perfect. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2013-03-02 18:24 |
| #3 "'I think it's shameful and I'm sad to say it's the town I live in,' said another resident." It's a free country, Mr/Ms. resident. You can always move if you're really ashamed |
| Posted by: Barbara 2013-03-02 17:56 |
| #2 Chuck Mower - defender of constitutional rights...that he agrees with. Hey Chuck, FOAD |
| Posted by: Frank G 2013-03-02 17:34 |
| #1 ...they paint us more as a gooberville in Arkansas. Sorry, buddy. I've been to Merrimack. I suggest you think of...sumthin else. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2013-03-02 17:25 |