Gander Mountain Bans NRA

[GanderMtnEmployee]

Then why cancel this event last minute? These types of events have been held before without issue. Why cave to the antis? You do realize you would have had a buycott despite having higher prices right? Look what's happened with Starbucks (extremely liberal, but they follow state law regarding people carrying), Kwik Trip was pressured by the libs, they said no to them and were supported. There are dozens of other examples, but I think you get the point. Best of luck with your new customer base because the rest of us (your true customers for many years) will not be buying a thing from you.

The event was cancelled after it was discovered that the intent was to rally for Scott Walker. Whether there was miscommunication, one way or the other, an event supporting a a political candidate isn't in GM's business plan. Have we supported the NRA in the past? Yes 100%. Have we supported a politician? No we haven't.

"Why cave to the antis?".....this isn't about supporting or caving to anybody. Its about Gander Mountain being a national business, not a political action group or a focal point for anything other than outdoors gear.

Gander Mountain originated in Wilmont Wisconsin, it's grown to over 110 stores nationally. As a business owner, you think it would be smart to pick and choose politicians to support on a state by state basis? You'd have the time for that?

You're more than welcome to come back to GM anytime you wish, and as always, you're right to carry in GM is fully supported.

 

[McX]

thusly spoken, and touche'-d there guy. Guess appologies are in order, though the liberal media that leaked the story with a slant wont appologise. carry on, carry often, carry out.

 

[oliverclotheshoff]

I AGREE 100% great sermon protias



GM first mistake was to give in to an anti gun organization
second mistake was to try and justify it as being a political seperation

i dont know any other group that is more political than the NRA so i call BS on your excuses


looks like my local gun shop just got all my business

 

[paul@paul-fisher.com]

Alrighty, I came across this thread by doing a Google search and let me preface this post by saying that I'm a GM employee and have been for the past 12 years.

The NRA has used GM facilities in the past without any issue from either Liberals or Conservatives. When it came to light that these "rallies" were to support Scott Walker, GM had to make a business decision based on the good of ALL customers. As a MN based company, they really have no position in what happens here politically.

GM's decision was influenced by one thing....our Customers. Is it fair to ALL that a retail business has to choose a political candidate? Is it fair to fill a store with hundreds of people for a rally while others come in to just shop? Its a store, not an arena.

Before you cast GM off as anti-gun. Let me provide a few facts.

1) GM just built the largest gun store in Wisconsin, full of over 6000 weapons.
2) GM expanded on that GunWorld plan to two other states, MN and FL
3) Principle owner, David Pratt, donates millions per year to the NRA and owns the largest game farm in MS.
4) GM purchases more firearms than any other retailer in the country. GM purchases more firearms than many countries military's do.

I'm a conservative who believes in the same rights as you folks do, thing is, GM shares many of those same values, but when it comes to giving a politician support over those values, you're asking for more trouble than its worth.

thanks for taking the time to read this.

I think it was more of a timing thing. The meeting was booked and less than a week before, because of some complaints, you caved. If you had a policy against politics, then it should of been setup that way. It was the NRA-ILA that was having these meetings. The NRA-ILA is purely political.

 

[GanderMtnEmployee]

I AGREE 100% great sermon protias



GM first mistake was to give in to an anti gun organization
second mistake was to try and justify it as being a political seperation

i dont know any other group that is more political than the NRA so i call BS on your excuses


looks like my local gun shop just got all my business

Can I ask you a serious question?

Do you honestly believe that a retailer who just spent upwards of 20 million dollars in turning three stores into GunWorlds, handling over 20,000 guns, gave in to an anti group?

Gander doesn't support the NRA's political candidates, they support the NRA's message in the right to bear arms. I didn't see owner David Pratt wearing a Gander baseball cap standing next to Chuck Heston at the last Republican Convention. You can believe in a message and a group without having to put an "I Like Ike" poster in every store.

 

[GanderMtnEmployee]

I think it was more of a timing thing. The meeting was booked and less than a week before, because of some complaints, you caved. If you had a policy against politics, then it should of been setup that way. It was the NRA-ILA that was having these meetings. The NRA-ILA is purely political.

Meetings to discuss NRA matters and rally people tword their right to bare arms is one thing, turning that venue into an election rally is another.

 

[paul@paul-fisher.com]

Meetings to discuss NRA matters and rally people tword their right to bare arms is one thing, turning that venue into an election rally is another.

I hope you ACTUALLY have permission to speak for Gander Mountain, otherwise, if you are an employee, you could get in trouble. If you are an official spokesperson, you need to learn how to spell.

Here's the rub plain and simple. If Barrett had been elected Governor the 1st time, you (GM) wouldn't be having a run on your guns that you are now. If Barrett beats Walker, you can expect that at the very least, gun rights will not expand, if not contract.

 

[oliverclotheshoff]

Can I ask you a serious question?

Do you honestly believe that a retailer who just spent upwards of 20 million dollars in turning three stores into GunWorlds, handling over 20,000 guns, gave in to an anti group?

Gander doesn't support the NRA's political candidates, they support the NRA's message in the right to bear arms. I didn't see owner David Pratt wearing a Gander baseball cap standing next to Chuck Heston at the last Republican Convention. You can believe in a message and a group without having to put an "I Like Ike" poster in every store.

i do because you did

 

[protias]

The event was cancelled after it was discovered that the intent was to rally for Scott Walker. Whether there was miscommunication, one way or the other, an event supporting a a political candidate isn't in GM's business plan. Have we supported the NRA in the past? Yes 100%. Have we supported a politician? No we haven't.

"Why cave to the antis?".....this isn't about supporting or caving to anybody. Its about Gander Mountain being a national business, not a political action group or a focal point for anything other than outdoors gear.

Gander Mountain originated in Wilmont Wisconsin, it's grown to over 110 stores nationally. As a business owner, you think it would be smart to pick and choose politicians to support on a state by state basis? You'd have the time for that?

You're more than welcome to come back to GM anytime you wish, and as always, you're right to carry in GM is fully supported.

Do you deny what was said by the NRA in post 19? I would like to know, you support the right to carry, you support the NRA, yet you show trepidation on supporting a candidate that supports both of those. The right to bear arms is unfortunately political though I think we can agree it should not be.

Yes, I make time to learn about candidates. As much as I hate politics and spending so much time learning about it, I learn as much as I can. I would much rather spend time doing other things, but it is a fact of life we need to keep our politicians in check, otherwise they run rampant with corruption. We are a free people (well, as free as we can be) and I want keep that freedom. Heck, I'd like to be more freedom without all the regulation that goes on. Politics affects every waking moment and everything we do. Can you think of anything that you can do without finding a government body ruling over that in some form or another?

Edit: By the way, you aren't going to be getting sympathy or empathy from me, and I highly doubt from anyone else except for those liberals who bombarded you. As I said before, you pissed off your customers and you will feel the pinch by having an increased inventory and decreased sales.

 

[GanderMtnEmployee]

I hope you ACTUALLY have permission to speak for Gander Mountain, otherwise, if you are an employee, you could get in trouble. If you are an official spokesperson, you need to learn how to spell.

Here's the rub plain and simple. If Barrett had been elected Governor the 1st time, you (GM) wouldn't be having a run on your guns that you are now. If Barrett beats Walker, you can expect that at the very least, gun rights will not expand, if not contract.

Thanks Mr Webster, your concerns are deeply moving.

If Barrett won as Gov, nobody would be having the run on guns. Excellent point. If Barrett wins the recall, then EVERY gun owner and dealer is affected, not just GM. Let's not make it sound like we're heading out of business because of an election. Now you understand why retailers don't want to hitch their business to any one candidate?

 

[GanderMtnEmployee]

I understand everybody's frustration and wish everybody here the best in their pursuit to bear arms.

 

[protias]

Thanks Mr Webster, your concerns are deeply moving.

If Barrett won as Gov, nobody would be having the run on guns. Excellent point. If Barrett wins the recall, then EVERY gun owner and dealer is affected, not just GM. Let's not make it sound like we're heading out of business because of an election. Now you understand why retailers don't want to hitch their business to any one candidate?

How many forum rules have your broken in that post?

http://forum.opencarry.org/forums/misc.php?do=showrules

• (6) NO PERSONAL ATTACKS: While you may disagree strongly with another poster based upon their opinion, we will NOT tolerate any personal attacks or general bashing of groups of people based upon race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender-identity or choice of occupation (e.g., being a law enforcement officer, in the military, etc). NOTE THAT THIS RULE APPLIES TO PMs AS WELL AS FORUM POSTS!!!
• (9) HATE IS NOT WELCOME HERE: Any posts attacking others based upon race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender-identity, or anything other than opposition to gun rights is NOT WELCOME HERE! We reserve the right to impose immediate bans for such behavior

And possibly:

• (12) NO BASHING OF OTHER GUN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS: Regardless of how convinced you are that another gun rights organization is not doing their job, this is not the place to air those concerns unless they are specifically related to an anti-open carry position taken by that organization. All other rants against other gun rights groups will be deleted or the thread locked.

Now, onto the content of your post. If you are going to be affected by a gun hating liberal such as Barrett, why wouldn't you want to support firearm rights support such as Walker?

Oh, and we as the consumer are not ignorant of prices:

http://losttarget.blogspot.com/2007/12/gander-mountain-does-not-get-it.html

Oh, then there is customer service:

http://gander-mountain-reviews.measuredup.com/1011560

How is Gander doing by the way?

http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/117824448.html

http://www.bbb.org/minnesota/busine...er-mountain-company-in-saint-paul-mn-96007763

 

[TheRock]

Meetings to discuss NRA matters and rally people tword their right to bare arms is one thing, turning that venue into an election rally is another.

Using your logic if a hotel rents out a ballroom to a political party for a rally the hotel is automatically a supporter of the party. Most reasonable people understand that just because a rally is held somewhere it does not mean that the people who own the property necessarily support the rally, it just means that they let someone use their space.

What Gander Mountain did by caving was slap everyone in the face. If Gander Mountain has (before this happened) a written policy baring political activity that is one thing but apparently you do not.

If WAVE, the NAZI party, the Tea Party, the KKK or the Occupy people wanted to have a rally at Gander Mountain and you let them, I would assume you were stupid, but not that you necessarily supported them.

As for me, I have spent several thousand dollars at Gander over the last few years, but I will never set foot in one again.

 

[MKEgal]

Here is what WAVE and the cult members said when declaring A WIN !! over the NRA and Governor Walker:
http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=301846836567791&id=273516596235

One more nail in their own coffin... They're proving they're not really a non-political "anti-violence" group.
They are only anti-gun, & very, very political.

...one way or the other, an event supporting a a political candidate isn't in GM's business plan.
Have we supported the NRA in the past? Yes 100%.
Have we supported a politician? No we haven't.
...As a business owner, you think it would be smart to pick and choose politicians to support on a state by state basis? You'd have the time for that?

Now you understand why retailers don't want to hitch their business to any one candidate?

But the company has chosen sides.
If the store was truly neutral, they would either ban all politically-connected groups from renting meeting space, or allow whichever group put down their money first to have it.

If you had a policy against politics, then it should of been setup that way.
It was the NRA-ILA that was having these meetings. The NRA-ILA is purely political.

Exactly.

Thanks Mr Webster, your concerns are deeply moving.

So this is obviously not a real GM spokesperson. (If anyone still had any doubt.)

 

[Jason in WI]

But the company has chosen sides.
If the store was truly neutral, they would either ban all politically-connected groups from renting meeting space, or allow whichever group put down their money first to have it.

Yep, my thoughts exactly! I personally don't care what kind of meetings GM holds, wouldn't bother me in the least if Wave or anyone else I don't care for held meetings there. It does bother me that the booted a group out that rented/reserved/leased the space because people complained they didn't like what the group was doing.

Im sure since the GM employee guy keeps tossing out how many funs they buy and sell, they wont miss my business at all. You would think I would be the kind of person they like to attract not I guess not.

I won't miss them much anyway, last time I went to Gun World the sales people sorta gave me the impression they were looking down upon me. I don't know if it was because I was open carrying (should be a hint I like guns) or if it was because i was wearing my work uniform. Anyway i got hardly service and when I did I got the feeling I was bothering them to look at a firearm.

Anyway went to Fleet Farm and bought two guns that night from a nice sales guy and bought one more when I came back to pick up a handgun after the 48 hour wait.

I just hope places like Fleet Farm expand their selection and really starts to compete with GM now.



Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using Tapatalk 2

 

[bigdaddy1]

Alrighty, I came across this thread by doing a Google search and let me preface this post by saying that I'm a GM employee and have been for the past 12 years.

The NRA has used GM facilities in the past without any issue from either Liberals or Conservatives. When it came to light that these "rallies" were to support Scott Walker, GM had to make a business decision based on the good of ALL customers. As a MN based company, they really have no position in what happens here politically.

GM's decision was influenced by one thing....our Customers. Is it fair to ALL that a retail business has to choose a political candidate? Is it fair to fill a store with hundreds of people for a rally while others come in to just shop? Its a store, not an arena.

Before you cast GM off as anti-gun. Let me provide a few facts.

1) GM just built the largest gun store in Wisconsin, full of over 6000 weapons.
2) GM expanded on that GunWorld plan to two other states, MN and FL
3) Principle owner, David Pratt, donates millions per year to the NRA and owns the largest game farm in MS.
4) GM purchases more firearms than any other retailer in the country. GM purchases more firearms than many countries military's do.

I'm a conservative who believes in the same rights as you folks do, thing is, GM shares many of those same values, but when it comes to giving a politician support over those values, you're asking for more trouble than its worth.

thanks for taking the time to read this.

Will be sad to see them loose business then. Sorry to say but I don't believe you, or the information your masters have provided are an attempt to fog the reality. The fact is that WAVE pressured the company (whether it was just those 2 stores or corporate offices) they chose to side with an organization that will not patronize your stores. Regardless of how you or your company chooses to spin it from here is immaterial. I will not shop there and will continue to express my opinion to others.

 

[rcawdor57]

I live within a mile of the G.M in Kenosha off of the Interstate. I have been to that store once in the last two years and that was for a hunting license. I've been in the store a few times before but I got tired of trying to find someone to help me with my selection of items in the firearms department. G.M. customer service is the worst I have ever seen in my entire life. One would think they would improve after speaking with the managers of said store....uh...NO. And then there was the time one of their managers told me I could not open carry in the store....as I pointed to the sign that stated I COULD open carry in their store. How they stay in business is something to ponder.

 

[scm54449]

Alrighty, I came across this thread by doing a Google search and let me preface this post by saying that I'm a GM employee and have been for the past 12 years.

The NRA has used GM facilities in the past without any issue from either Liberals or Conservatives. When it came to light that these "rallies" were to support Scott Walker, GM had to make a business decision based on the good of ALL customers. As a MN based company, they really have no position in what happens here politically.

GM's decision was influenced by one thing....our Customers. Is it fair to ALL that a retail business has to choose a political candidate? Is it fair to fill a store with hundreds of people for a rally while others come in to just shop? Its a store, not an arena.

I believe this post is 100% apologist BS. GM management is saying they booked the event but didn't know the NRA-ILA isn't political? Sorry. I don't need to buy a bridge in Brooklyn.

My personal opinion is GM stopped serving the hunting/shooting/fishing sportsman a long time ago and turned into just another self-serving corporation. To the best of my knowledge WAVE has not been trying to shut down every Walker rally. WAVE targeted Gander Mountain specifically because the NRA-ILA would be there to sponsor the event. This is not about, "what is fair for everyone". It is about GM getting caught with its a*s in a crack and finding itself in a position where it had no alternative but to pick a side and make a choice. Their choice is clear. They caved in to WAVE and blew off the NRA.

 

[Packer fan]

I don't understand at all

Thanks Mr Webster, your concerns are deeply moving.

If Barrett won as Gov, nobody would be having the run on guns. Excellent point. If Barrett wins the recall, then EVERY gun owner and dealer is affected, not just GM. Let's not make it sound like we're heading out of business because of an election. Now you understand why retailers don't want to hitch their business to any one candidate?

So you are saying it would be better for Barrett to win so the big dogs can take out the little shops?

Now, I can see clearly.

GM says it doesn't support anyone candidate but by rejecting a group that supports Walker you've said GM supports a group that supports Barrett, because they aren't political, so Wi can have legislation to put the smaller shops out of business.

Oh, that's smart and clever. I guess that is why GM has expanded to over 110 stores and others haven't, always looking into the future. That's why GM has sided with people who may have never nor ever will step foot in the stores.

 

[Plankton]

I understand everybody's frustration and wish everybody here the best in their pursuit to bear arms.

Say hi to Jeri for me.:lol: