Posted on 10/21/2009 10:16:44 AM PDT by Constitution Day
Gun store posters take flak
By Geoffrey Cooper - Rocky Mount Telegram
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
NASHVILLE — For more than a week, a local gun shop owner has been under scrutiny regarding certain advertisements outside his front door.
Nashville Guns owner Dennis Nielsen has been met with the watchful eyes of a few county officials and town residents for the storefront posters of women holding guns. Facing two documented complaints, Nielsen maintains that he has done nothing wrong and runs a clean business.
Facing the Washington Street sidewalks are two posters inside of Nielsen’s gun shop windows. The first poster shows a model with blond-streaked hair in a black dress holding an AR-15 rifle, with the second picture of the same model holding a .357 magnum pistol. Inside his shop, similar posters are attached to the walls, showing the same model holding different weapons.
“It would be one thing if there were 100 resident complaints, but that isn’t the case,” Nielsen said. “But still, that’s enough for the county to have a gross overreaction. It’s uncalled for personally.”
This is not the first time Nielsen has disagreed with the county. He filed a lawsuit against the county in 2005 because copy costs the county was charging for public records did not comply with state law. The county settled the suit out of court.
Nielsen began a lease agreement with Nash County in August to rent the property until September 2010. He opened the gun shop on Washington Street in mid-September.
While the store features other male-oriented themes, Nielsen said the overall design concept, including the posters, was devised by his wife and two daughters. He said the posters were not meant to disrupt personal beliefs, but to attract customers.
“When you have to sell a Corvette, do you think they are going to use a 50-year-old guy?” Nielsen asked. “I want to be sure I’m not insensitive to family values, but I got a business to run. I’m open to criticism if residents have it.”
Since the complaints started, Nielsen said he has sought opinions from other merchants. When asked about the tastefulness of Nielsen’s posters, many downtown merchants said either they were oblivious to them or did not have an opinion.
Nielsen said he began to hear the first batch of poster complaints on Oct. 9 from a Nashville resident, who first visited town officials to discuss the posters’ content. But town officials verified Nielsen was in compliance with all zoning and sign ordinance laws and requirements for Nashville.
Later that day, Nielsen said the resident contacted Nash County Manager Bob Murphy to express her discomfort with the advertisement. Within a few minutes of the complaint, Nielsen said Murphy and Assistant County Manager Wayne Moore appeared at his shop, asking him to cooperate and remove the posters – but Nielson refused.
Murphy told Nielsen a resident was bothered by the idea of a woman brandishing a gun.
In a phone interview, Murphy said he reminded Nielsen during their conversation that he rents from the county and did not want his actions to become a nuisance to the public. He also said Nielsen’s decision will not affect his chances of a lease renewal.
Another Nashville resident said she feels Nielsen’s business does not belong downtown because it does not coincide with the town’s renovation efforts and would taint its overall image.
“I don’t believe it’s appropriate, and it’s not an image that downtown Nashville should be portraying,” said Dawn White, a Nashville resident.
In an Oct. 12 email sent to Commissioner Danny Tyson, White stated her main concern was that the gun store is located across from a domestic violence shelter. She further stated that “... the gun shop and the bar in the downtown area are black eyes for the quaintness of the downtown area,” and that it should not belong downtown, regardless if the posters are up or not.
“Sure, the right to bear arms is an individual choice,” White said. “But that’s not a choice I’m willing to agree with.”
Nash County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robbie Davis said he was contacted about the situation during the weekend of Murphy’s visit. Eventually, Davis said, no provisions could be found in Nielsen’s lease that could prevent him from placing that type of advertisement up – and that the county is dropping the matter altogether.
“It’s strictly a request, and that’s as far as we are going to take it,” Davis said.
After looking at the posters, Davis said he was not personally offended but could understand why some residents would be put off by it.
“Anytime (commissioners) get a complaint of any kind, we want to see if there is any truth to it,” Davis said. “But there’s nothing more we will do at this point in time.”
“I don’t believe it’s appropriate, and it’s not an image that downtown Nashville should be portraying,” said Dawn White, a Nashville resident.
In an Oct. 12 email sent to Commissioner Danny Tyson, White stated her main concern was that the gun store is located across from a domestic violence shelter. She further stated that “... the gun shop and the bar in the downtown area are black eyes for the quaintness of the downtown area,” and that it should not belong downtown, regardless if the posters are up or not.
“Sure, the right to bear arms is an individual choice,” White said. “But that’s not a choice I’m willing to agree with.”
Spot on!
They’re real purty!
In other words, "Nice gun shop you have there... Wouldn't want to have any kind of unfortunate 'accident', would you?"
Apparently Nash County Manager Bob Murphy is just another government thug who is abusing the power of his office and violating the public's trust...
In an Oct. 12 email sent to Commissioner Danny Tyson, White stated her main concern was that the gun store is located across from a domestic violence shelter. She further stated that “... the gun shop and the bar in the downtown area are black eyes for the quaintness of the downtown area,” and that it should not belong downtown, regardless if the posters are up or not.
The clueless Dawn White does not appear to recognize that women carrying guns for their own protection arguably would reduce the need for domestic violence shelters...
Perhaps someone should complain that locating a domestic violence shelter in the downtown area is a "black eye for the quaintness of the downtown area" and watch Dawn start sputtering...
LOL...just as I suspected...all F-Ugly!!! I swear that’s why they are angry liberal communists...someone pi$$ed them off at some point in their life. Usually it was the pretty blond conservative that got the attention...like those on FOX!
To liberals, everyone else is an extremist, not them!
People often flip out when they discover that there are women who refuse to be victims.
It's a shame.
But it's not a violation of the law or common decency. Leave the man and his posters alone. Shop there or don't.
Busybodies of all stripes should be scorned and shamed until they find less obtrusive hobbies.
Per the left: “You may only depict certain approved types of American citizens exercising their Constitutional rights. Depiction of non-authorized types is not to be condoned.”
Where may we obtain a list of said authorized types?
Very good post. You are quite right!
“Sure, the right to bear arms is an individual choice, but that’s not a choice I’m willing to agree with.””
The age of the complainer isn’t noted here, but I would like her to visit the hospital and see/talk with the rape victims in that state sho did NOT have a gun.
She is living in a fantasy.
If she feels that strongly about a licensed merchant, who brings jobs and taxes to the city, she can rent her own building and state her views on her windows.
Until then, she can STFU, IMO.
“Sure, the right to bear arms is an individual choice, but that’s not a choice I’m willing to agree with.”
LOL. I agree the right to free speech is an individual’s choice but in this case I disagree with this maroons right to say anything.
HA!
Murphy told Nielsen a resident was bothered by the idea of a woman brandishing a gun.
Since you are brandishing an oh-so-SCARY gun on your profile page, I thought I might solicit your thoughts!
Future victim alert!!!
This guy is a commissioner?
Runners for political office desperately need a moron filter.
That sentence makes absolutely no sense; more like Obama psychobabble or, as many might remember, "Professor Corey..."
Just saying.
No, this woman is one of two, count ‘em, TWO complainers.
I actually know the chairman of the Board of Commissioners. He is conservative and a good guy.
Shaky example.
The right to bear arms is explicitly in the Constitution.
The "right" to abortion is not; it has been manufactured only in the last few years.
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.