Retail Turkey of the Year award

Once again I'm giving the Retail Turkey of the Year award to Gander Mtn. Firearms Super Center.  They standout from all the other stores for a couple of reasons...

First, on Thanksgiving Day they were headlining a special for a semi-automatic assault style rifle, ammunition and semi-automatic Luger pistols. Catering to people's fears they carry such shotguns as the Winchester "Defender" and the H&R "Protector Pump Action."  And for those who want to be even more proactive with their firearms they were promoting in their Thanksgiving Day flier the Bushmaster, "Patrolman 223 Rem", proudly made in the USA, which is much like soldiers carry in war or well armed law enforcement might use.

Secondly, Gander Mtn. decided to be open from 8 am Thanksgiving Day until 2 am the following morning.  So, in addition to promoting gun sales of the sort that have caused thousands of deaths across this country, they're also family unfriendly for their employees.

Gobble, Gobble.  Gander Mtn. represents the dark belly of the USA.

Gun violence and escalation of gun sales

Gander Mtn. Advertisement

Tragedy befell a Minneapolis family earlier this week when a four-year-old boy shot and killed his two-year-old brother with a gun that he found in his home.  The gun was a purchased by the boy's father at a Gander Mtn. store (Loaded gun that killed 2-year-old was stored behind pillow). 

While it is not directly the gun store's fault that this accident occurred, the prevalence of guns in our society makes accidents like this much more likely to occur.  I find it particularly appalling to see the Rambo style assault rifles that are advertised and sold by stores like Gander Mtn.  I understand the marketing of guns and rifles for hunting purposes, but it appears much of of what is being marketed is for "self defense". 

With the escalation of gun sales, both over the counter and through the underground market, it is becoming increasingly common that the police are out gunned by the "bad guys", who have higher caliber weapons.  The United States weapons race is not limited to our overly ambitious military industrial complex.

"Gun World"

Have a gun in your  home?  Be sure to keep it locked up and away from young hands.

Retail "Turkey" award

Thanksgiving day promotional flier 

Black Friday sales newspaper fliers

I'm casting my vote for Gander Mtn. to receive the retail turkey of the year award.  Not only did they decide to open all day on Thanksgiving, they also had a .22 that loos a lot like an assault rife as their lead sales item. Could be a great gift selection for Rambo Junior...

Yes, it is a free country, and this is all perfectly legal, but that certainly doesn't make it laudable.

In some ways this epitomizes American free market values, which in order to function well need to be tempered with responsibility and self-restraint.