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kpete

(71,898 posts)
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 03:47 PM Dec 2012

Pawn Shop Owner: 'I Will Sell No More Guns-I broke into tears seeing types of firearms I'm selling'

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.

http://wonkette.com/494735/florida-pawn-shop-owner-will-sell-no-more-guns-forever

65 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Pawn Shop Owner: 'I Will Sell No More Guns-I broke into tears seeing types of firearms I'm selling' (Original Post) kpete Dec 2012 OP
Florida needs more people like him HockeyMom Dec 2012 #1
an honorable man Skittles Dec 2012 #2
+1 Fumesucker Dec 2012 #4
+ 1,000,000,000 What You Said !!! - K & R !!! WillyT Dec 2012 #13
Yep. nt laundry_queen Dec 2012 #19
DU? I wish we had more of him everywhere!! relayerbob Dec 2012 #20
+1 Canuckistanian Dec 2012 #36
I could kiss this guy. Wait Wut Dec 2012 #3
Agreed! “Conscience wins over making money.” An outbreak of sanity. freshwest Dec 2012 #9
Question Ibisa Dec 2012 #5
The murder of 20 children. Wait Wut Dec 2012 #6
that was the initial report KT2000 Dec 2012 #8
This message was self-deleted by its author bowens43 Dec 2012 #43
A shotgun was found in the truck. AtheistCrusader Dec 2012 #14
I guess you can pick whatever version you want from the media Ibisa Dec 2012 #40
Or you could just go with the coroner's report Mr. Mojo Risen Dec 2012 #44
not on the account of the ar15...it was used to kill those kids uponit7771 Dec 2012 #50
Our ex-police chief KT2000 Dec 2012 #7
Same here MynameisBlarney Dec 2012 #11
For some people, shit gets real. This man had a reasonable human response to Newtown and Chorophyll Dec 2012 #10
When MSM does a feature on him, that would look like even more progress. I hope for a 100th Monkey. libdem4life Dec 2012 #12
"The decision will be costly..." Thav Dec 2012 #15
Sad, but true. Quantess Dec 2012 #18
There was a radio commercial once that moved me to tears. Aristus Dec 2012 #26
Probably all of us (at least the conscientious, thinking, aware, people) Quantess Dec 2012 #32
+1000 The pendulum is shifting. Starboard Tack Dec 2012 #16
Guy's doing this because of his conscience..... AverageJoe90 Dec 2012 #17
Events like these bring out those who were near the fence on it Major Nikon Dec 2012 #25
Agreed. AverageJoe90 Dec 2012 #28
Mine too tavalon Dec 2012 #46
This is the guy needed as CEO of the NRA. Thinkingabout Dec 2012 #21
How's that "frontlash" thing doin', NRA lovers? TheCowsCameHome Dec 2012 #22
Post removed Post removed Dec 2012 #57
"dead economy" TheCowsCameHome Dec 2012 #60
sadly I think kydo Dec 2012 #61
I'm speechless... Teehee123 Dec 2012 #23
Welcome to DU, Teehee123! calimary Dec 2012 #51
Saw this in my local paper. AmBlue Dec 2012 #24
If only there were more like him. Sekhmets Daughter Dec 2012 #27
oh my... a la izquierda Dec 2012 #31
Sorry... Sekhmets Daughter Dec 2012 #34
It's an important read. a la izquierda Dec 2012 #35
You're welcome....which somehow seems inappropriate doesn't it? Sekhmets Daughter Dec 2012 #37
Wow, that was gut wrenching tavalon Dec 2012 #47
oh gosh blaze Dec 2012 #62
Gander Mountain mgardener Dec 2012 #29
K&R farminator3000 Dec 2012 #30
People get in and out of the business all the time. aikoaiko Dec 2012 #33
Sometimes reality has to slap you in the face before you recognize it. crim son Dec 2012 #38
I bet he has no problem buying gold at half his selling price. ileus Dec 2012 #39
Kinda crapping on the guy... bobclark86 Dec 2012 #41
Innocent Murdered Children Is A Sobering Experience - Good For Him - Repeal The 2nd Amendment cantbeserious Dec 2012 #42
Yay, good man! tavalon Dec 2012 #45
Reason hit me square in the jaw Taverner Dec 2012 #48
Goodness of heart over half his sales? JohnnyRingo Dec 2012 #49
While I think its great that he seltzerwater Dec 2012 #52
Another question is skepticscott Dec 2012 #64
The Needle & The Damage Done NNN0LHI Dec 2012 #53
I'll bet that his insurance premiums go down as well SoCalDem Dec 2012 #54
why echo216610 Dec 2012 #55
Why not? PavePusher Dec 2012 #59
maybe he should be arming victims instead of criminals echo216610 Dec 2012 #56
Some asshole said the exact same thing last week. TheCowsCameHome Dec 2012 #58
I Really Appreciate this Thread fascisthunter Dec 2012 #63
A courageous act of moral integrity. May many follow his example. nt Care Acutely Dec 2012 #65

Wait Wut

(8,492 posts)
3. I could kiss this guy.
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 03:55 PM
Dec 2012

“Conscience wins over making money.”

I don't know what his political affiliation is, and it doesn't matter. He has a fucking heart.

Ibisa

(9 posts)
5. Question
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 03:58 PM
Dec 2012

I thought that the AR-15 was found in the trunk of a car, unused? What was the pawn shop owner reacting to?

Response to KT2000 (Reply #8)

Ibisa

(9 posts)
40. I guess you can pick whatever version you want from the media
Sat Dec 29, 2012, 12:05 AM
Dec 2012

OK, clearly we cannot trust anything that the press is putting out. Even the criminal's poor brother was accused. They really need to clean up their act on reporting. The brother is going to have all kinds of negative baggage that will haunt him for as long as he lives.

Mr. Mojo Risen

(104 posts)
44. Or you could just go with the coroner's report
Sat Dec 29, 2012, 01:20 AM
Dec 2012

Unless coroner's are also part of some vast liberal conspiracy. It's hard to keep up these days.

KT2000

(20,544 posts)
7. Our ex-police chief
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 04:05 PM
Dec 2012

owns the gun store in town. He is doing a brisk business.
He does not have the integrity that this man has for sure.

Chorophyll

(5,179 posts)
10. For some people, shit gets real. This man had a reasonable human response to Newtown and
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 04:35 PM
Dec 2012

did the right thing.

Some people just won't ever get it.

 

libdem4life

(13,877 posts)
12. When MSM does a feature on him, that would look like even more progress. I hope for a 100th Monkey.
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 04:50 PM
Dec 2012

effect. Still have the old book with the intended message and text written so a child could understand. Think of it with each positive individual anecdote and each societal shift we are now observing and experiencing in relationship to the issue of gun management/control and the protection of the public. May not even be true, but maybe it is.

"The claim is that unidentified scientists were conducting a study of macaque monkeys on the Japanese island of Koshima in 1952.[3] These scientists purportedly observed that some of these monkeys learned to wash sweet potatoes, and gradually this new behavior spread through the younger generation of monkeys—in the usual fashion, through observation and repetition. Watson then claimed that the researchers observed that once a critical number of monkeys was reached—the so-called hundredth monkey—this previously learned behavior instantly spread across the water to monkeys on nearby islands."


"This story was further popularized by Ken Keyes, Jr. with the publication of his book The Hundredth Monkey. Keyes' book was about the devastating effects of nuclear war (add guns and weapons and WMD)on the planet. Keyes presented the hundredth monkey effect story as an inspirational parable, applying it to human society and the effecting of positive change.[4] Since then, the story has become widely accepted as fact."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundredth_monkey_effect

Thav

(946 posts)
15. "The decision will be costly..."
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 04:58 PM
Dec 2012

Someone needs to get that guy an online shopping site, people will buy from him for doing this.

Quantess

(27,630 posts)
18. Sad, but true.
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 05:17 PM
Dec 2012

All of this uproar appears to be good for business.

I believe the man, when he expresses grief for his line of work! It's tough to have guilt pangs and ambivalent feelings when you are trying to make a living. But what is he supposed to do? If he suddenly quits, another seller will fill in the gap.
And if people stop buying guns? Well, that makes the paycheck shrink and that is no good, either.

Aristus

(66,075 posts)
26. There was a radio commercial once that moved me to tears.
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 06:38 PM
Dec 2012

I forgot what product they were selling, but the theme of the ad was celebrating the extraordinary qualities of ordinary people.

One of the lines was: "For everyone who ever stayed with a job because they needed the money, or quit one because no amount would be enough."

This guy, and his simple, workaday nobility, reminded me of that line...

Quantess

(27,630 posts)
32. Probably all of us (at least the conscientious, thinking, aware, people)
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 08:00 PM
Dec 2012

have experienced a moment where we understood we were part of the larger problem, just a cog in the wheel.

 

AverageJoe90

(10,745 posts)
17. Guy's doing this because of his conscience.....
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 05:16 PM
Dec 2012

And to me, that makes him a honorable person in my eyes.

Major Nikon

(36,814 posts)
25. Events like these bring out those who were near the fence on it
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 06:28 PM
Dec 2012

I suspect he may have been wrestling with the idea for a while.

 

AverageJoe90

(10,745 posts)
28. Agreed.
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 06:44 PM
Dec 2012

Perhaps this may turn out to be to gun massacres what Sandy was to climate change: Sandy's impact on N.Y.C. was quite devastating and really got a lot of people to reconsider their opinions. If Newtown can get people to question whether or not we really need 30-round magazine clips and fully automatic assault weapons, then that's a good thing in my view; TBH, I'm okay with handguns, rifles, shotguns, and even some semi-auto weapons, as long as their possession is well-regulated(and well enforced!), but I'd be alright with fully automatic weapons being banned, as long as it did indeed have a positive effect(there is, however, the problem of the black market.....).

tavalon

(27,985 posts)
46. Mine too
Sat Dec 29, 2012, 01:43 AM
Dec 2012

Just right now, I don't care what his political affiliation is, he has had a Ghandi like moment and that is to be respected and honored.

Thinkingabout

(30,058 posts)
21. This is the guy needed as CEO of the NRA.
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 06:05 PM
Dec 2012

Wayne LaPierre will never be the gentleman as the owner, very smart and compassionate.

Response to TheCowsCameHome (Reply #22)

kydo

(2,679 posts)
61. sadly I think
Sat Dec 29, 2012, 10:15 AM
Dec 2012

the person you are questioning believes it as true. Which actually makes it really funning if it wasn't so sad. But in the end those types are stuck on stupid so why not laugh at it. Still you were too nice. Seriously its pretty clear the poster spewing nra talking points is not thinking straight. I mean really it be like me going to the nra site and saying ban all guns. I'd be shot. No really those loons would probably hunt me down and kill me.

calimary

(80,693 posts)
51. Welcome to DU, Teehee123!
Sat Dec 29, 2012, 06:04 AM
Dec 2012

Glad you're here! Stunning, isn't it? Conscience trumps profit. How 'bout that. Guess he couldn't look his own six-year-old daughter in the face and continue with business as usual. How 'bout that.

How 'bout that.

AmBlue

(3,079 posts)
24. Saw this in my local paper.
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 06:16 PM
Dec 2012

I was so encouraged by this man's integrity. I wish there were a million more like him. I will go out of my way to patronize his shop.

Sekhmets Daughter

(7,515 posts)
27. If only there were more like him.
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 06:38 PM
Dec 2012

Adam Pozner's mother gave an interview that should be required reading for everyone. Warning, part of this is heartbreakingly graphic

http://www.salon.com/2012/12/27/mother_of_youngest_sandy_hook_victim_gives_interview/

Sekhmets Daughter

(7,515 posts)
34. Sorry...
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 08:21 PM
Dec 2012

I debated all day about posting that link...but I think people need to know just how bad it was and what types of awful memories those parents will carry to their own graves.

mgardener

(1,799 posts)
29. Gander Mountain
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 06:47 PM
Dec 2012

As my hubby and I were walking through Gander Mountain, as part of our mall walk, I rounded a corner and looked up, and there was a wall full of guns, almost the width of the store.
And there were lots of people buying guns, 2 days after those poor innocent children and staff were murdered in Sandy Hook.

I will never buy another thing from them and Walmart.

farminator3000

(2,117 posts)
30. K&R
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 07:37 PM
Dec 2012

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.

crim son

(27,462 posts)
38. Sometimes reality has to slap you in the face before you recognize it.
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 10:41 PM
Dec 2012

Mr. James has a conscience and is acting on it. I applaud him.

ileus

(15,396 posts)
39. I bet he has no problem buying gold at half his selling price.
Fri Dec 28, 2012, 11:17 PM
Dec 2012

I also bet if some joe comes in and asks what he'd give to a 42" Sony he'd have no problem with that guy going out and charging it to a card and giving him half the price to buy drugs with.


On the plus side it's nice to see him take a stand on selling firearms if he feels that strongly.

bobclark86

(1,415 posts)
41. Kinda crapping on the guy...
Sat Dec 29, 2012, 12:08 AM
Dec 2012

but a good point you make. I rank pawn dealers on the same level as those payday loan ads run on TV which charge $78,000 for a $10,000 loan.

tavalon

(27,985 posts)
45. Yay, good man!
Sat Dec 29, 2012, 01:40 AM
Dec 2012

Sure, his protest won't win the war but it's about effort, not outcome. Standing on principles often encourages others to do the same.

 

Taverner

(55,476 posts)
48. Reason hit me square in the jaw
Sat Dec 29, 2012, 01:46 AM
Dec 2012

As some may know, I used to support gun rights

I didn't own a gun, but didn't worry about them since I never dealt with them

Then came Sandy Hook, and this time, it stuck

JohnnyRingo

(18,580 posts)
49. Goodness of heart over half his sales?
Sat Dec 29, 2012, 02:08 AM
Dec 2012

I can take that at face value, but when he mentions not putting his assault rifles out, I wonder where he's putting them. According to him, he'll simply no longer sell them at the shop.

Since I doubt that means he'll melt down rifles that may soon double in value, I have to assume he'll find another outlet after expected legislation is passed. The same thing happened in the '90s. There was a time when an assault rifle couldn't be found unless one wanted to pay a premium. Several other retailers have made the same statement lately. After the ban, they'll no longer be able to sell assault rifles anyway.

By coincidence, design, or by sudden moral conscience, these born-again defenders of gunshot victims stand to make a tidy profit if they hold on to them awhile. What's more, this guy is a pawn dealer, and no lower animal crawls across the face of the Earth... except maybe a JD Byrider salesman.

I'm sorry to be so cynical, but I've seen this movie before, and I know how it ends. Let's see them destroy the in stock weapons in front of those news cameras they summoned to the store, and I'll eat my words doused in hot sauce.

seltzerwater

(53 posts)
52. While I think its great that he
Sat Dec 29, 2012, 07:07 AM
Dec 2012

made this decision, the real question is what will he do with the inventory? Sell it off to be recirculated in the system, or melted down to make something useful like... whatever they make from melted guns.

 

skepticscott

(13,029 posts)
64. Another question is
Sat Dec 29, 2012, 12:48 PM
Dec 2012

what he thought these guns were going to be used for all those years he was blithely buying and selling them? How many mass shootings did he need to remind him? 3? 4? 5?

NNN0LHI

(67,190 posts)
53. The Needle & The Damage Done
Sat Dec 29, 2012, 07:27 AM
Dec 2012

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="

?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

SoCalDem

(103,856 posts)
54. I'll bet that his insurance premiums go down as well
Sat Dec 29, 2012, 07:30 AM
Dec 2012

People breaking into/robbing pawn shops are often after guns as well as cash..

Good for him

 

echo216610

(11 posts)
56. maybe he should be arming victims instead of criminals
Sat Dec 29, 2012, 09:35 AM
Dec 2012

the only thing that ever stopped a bad person with a gun is a good person with a gun

 

fascisthunter

(29,381 posts)
63. I Really Appreciate this Thread
Sat Dec 29, 2012, 11:10 AM
Dec 2012

I know gun owners and they all seem to agree something must be done to regulate gun sales and type of guns sold. Most have a conscience and see how their own rights effect others' rights to live. I believe this is a reasonable compromise.

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