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Courtesy Michael Cargill
Gun-store owner Michael Cargill, pictured here giving a gun safety speech in July 2012, is calling for a boycott of Groupon after the company canceled his concealed-handgun-license class promotion.
Groupon has suspended all gun-related deal promotions, the popular online daily deals company told TODAY on Tuesday.
"All scheduled and current gun-related deals featured on Groupon North America, including shooting ranges, conceal-and-carry and clay shooting, have been placed on hiatus while we review internal standards that shape the deal inventory we feature," Groupon spokesperson Julie Mossler told TODAY. "The category is under review following recent consumer and merchant feedback."
Following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in December that rocked the nation, President Barack Obama has pushed for new gun-control legislation, including reinstating a ban on assault weapons, and tighter background checks. Last week, New York became the first state to enact new gun-control laws following the tragedy that claimed the lives of 20 schoolchildren and six staff.
But Groupon's move, first reported by AOL's DailyFinance, has Second Amendment rights proponents up in arms. One Texas gun shop owner has taken to Twitter to call for a Groupon boycott, and others have taken up the cry, with numerous retweets, including ones by the Twitter feed for the NRA.
Central Texas Gun Works owner Michael Cargill, pictured above, called for the boycott after the daily deals company terminated his concealed-handgun-license training class promotion. That happened just days after Groupon had asked him to increase the number of class slots he was selling, emails Cargill forwarded to TODAY. The promotion was so successful it was in danger of selling out.
The deal was $69 for an initial 10-hour concealed handgun license (CHL) course for one, normally $140, or $129 for two individuals. The course, a requirement before receiving a concealed-carry permit in Texas, covers gun safety and law, verbal incident de-escalation tactics, and shooting-range training. The promotion, started early last week, was set to end on Saturday or after 600 signups, whichever came first. The day after the promotion started, it already had several hundred signups, and Cargill's Groupon account rep contacted him about doubling the number of slots, as it was in danger of selling out. Cargill approved the increase.
Cargill said his Groupon rep told him that Groupon's CEO, Andrew Mason, had a change of heart. He said his rep told him Groupon was shutting the deal down "because of all the issues about gun control by Congress, the president and in the news." The gun-store owner's Groupon rep directed all questions to Groupon's press spokesperson. Mossler declined to comment beyond Groupon's initial statement.
Last year, Cargill ran the same promotion with Groupon. It sold out in four days.
Google Offers, LivingSocial, and DealFind couldn't be reached for comment. In the past Google Offers and Dealfind have promoted concealed pistol license and weapon certification classes. LivingSocial has also marketed deals like "AK47s, Rifles and Pistols Followed By 8 Drink Tastings" for $130.
Despite the national conversation about gun control, Cargill says he sees nothing wrong, or dangerous, about teaching more people how to use guns and giving them the training they need to legally carry a concealed handgun.
"If someone's going to commit a crime, they're not going to take the time to take a 10-hour class first," said Cargill.
Leave a Comment:
Rather late to the party for this kind of knee jerk reaction. If a company policy review was in order, then it should only have applied to new offers, not existing ones.
Stupid!.
Hello folks, time to boycott Groupon!
I sincerely applaud Groupon!
+1 on the boycott.
Heck, if they have a social conscience, they should be PROMOTING firearm SAFETY...but that's not really their agenda is it...???
This is just stupid. Millions of responsible gun owners getting punished for mentally ill individuals.
So when someone kills with a car via drunk driving, should all car deals be suspended? Should all drink specials be suspended?
Can't wait for the ban on hammers and knives when someone gets bludgeoned to death or stabbed.
Go to an elementary school and try to kill everyone with a hammer.
You won't be able to kill 27 people before someone overpowers you and takes your hammer away. I guarantee it.
I'm guessing maybe one or two....if you sneak up on them.
Explain this genius...
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/15/world/asia/man-stabs-22-children-in-china.html?_r=0
Sam isn't so smart.
How exactly are you being "punished?" Is someone beating you up? Are you being fined?
Explain how many people died, genius.
From what you pointed to:
Indeed; it's nice to see them behaving with a social conscience. Sure, some people are going to boycott them, but I've a feeling they are actually going to come out ahead of this, not just ethically, but also financially.
Rogers,
the difference is that no one died in that attack.
If that guy had, had a gun all of them would have been killed.
Free enterprise at work. Groupon does what it thinks it needs to do, the market will determine if it was the right decision. What's the problem?
@Byron - Don't confuse your emotions with fact. Children ARE being killed at schools with weapons other than guns:
1) On March 23, 2010, Zheng Minsheng (郑民生)[2] 41, murdered eight children with a knife in an elementary school in Nanping,[3] Fujian province;[4] The attack was widely reported in Chinese media sparking fears of copycat crimes.[4]
2) On 4 August 2010, 26-year-old Fang Jiantang (方建堂) slashed more than 20 children and staff with a 60 cm knife, killing 3 children and 1 teacher, at a kindergarten in Zibo, Shandong province.
3) In September 2011, a young girl and three adults taking their children to nursery school were killed in Gongyi,[19] Henan by 30-year-old Wang Hongbin with an axe.
There quite a few more, but I think you get the idea.
He "wounded" 22 children with a knife.
You don't see a difference between that and 20 dead kids, each with multiiple bullet wounds?
Like I said, I'll take my chances against the guy with the knife.
...but I'M "not so smart"? LOL.
@BBRAB
Your examples were all from places where guns are not as easily available.
Give all three of the guys in your examples a semi-auto assault weapon and a back pack full of 30 round mags.
Think the results might have been different?
Think.
Just another company run by sheep. he should start a nationwide chain of instruction classes in states that require the course.
`
Stupid over-reaction. The classes were as far on the "good" side of the "sensible firearms rules" the President is saying we need as there ever could be. Like interfering with the classes required by the state was ever going to change the minds of people willing to comply with the law and get safety training.
Let me see if I understand this..... Groupon is suspending EDUCATIONAL classes because there are GUNS involved? I thought the leftist mantra was education, education, education......
The more people know, they more they'll agree..... gun control is PEOPLE control
Im writing groupon to tell them I refuse to ever do busainess with them again. then Im writing all the local business selling on there
Ludicrous.
I never did business with them anyway so they can kiss my pimply white you know what!!
This afternoon I'm seeking a refund of all unused Groupons and also removing my email address from all of their lists - and I'll be sure to tell them why.
Hey Groupon - America is FAT too so why not suspend all of your restaurant deals??!?!?! Who made you the moral police? Slippery slope!
FAT isn't a weapon.
So it is OK for you to rant, scream, and complain about how your 2nd amendment rights are potentially being restricted, but it is not OK for Groupon to conduct their business as they see fit??? WoW... I may not agree with what Groupon is doing, but they have every right to conduct their business as they see fit. It is called CAPITALISM and a FREE MARKET.
JAL, Yes, they are entitled to conduct business as they see fit AND we aer entitled to NOT do business as WE see fit!!! I'm sure you had no problem with your boycott of Chik-Fil-A. Hypocrite.
Actually, I never boycotted Chik-Fil-A because I have NEVER eaten there. Please show me where I stated you have to do business with Groupon. I NEVER did, that is what you read into my post.
If you expect people to respect your rights under the Constitution, then you MUST respect everyone elses rights under the Constitution whether you agree with them or not. Screaming about how your rights are getting trampled and then complaining about some one else exercising their rights makes you the hypocrite, not me.
JALyons is 100% correct. Groupon has every right to exercise its 1st Amendment rights of free speech. Just as the rest of us do as we cancel our accounts and tell Groupon why. Smells like the Dixie Chicks......
They have the right to support the liberal agenda, and I'm exercising my right not to support them! All the dem/liberal/obama losers on food stamps and welfare can support them...oh wait, our gov. hasn't yet "entitled" them to free groupons yet...
Most people probably wouldn't care, but this shows blatant hypocrisy.
That does bother me.
So it was OK to have Groupon deals involving guns before Newtown but not after.
If this company cared one iota about stopping gun violence in the first place they wouldn't have taken any deals involving education and guns off their list.
Dixie Chicks look pretty smart in hindsight. I'm embarassed he's from Texas, too. lol.
I bought my FIRST Dixie Chicks CD after she said that.....
By the liberal agenda, I presume you are referring to a reduction of the gun deaths in this country? Because that is what bothers liberals. Senseless violence and death.
Certainly, you have a right to oppose that and agitate for more death, but don't expect anyone rational to support you.
JALyons,
Groupon is free to do business they way they see fit. I am free to do business with whomever I desire. Groupon will not be seeing my business nor with businesses that do business with Groupon. Suspending educational course because of guns is ignorant. And you are correct, it is capitalism. I hope they fail due to their policies.
@Iowa_Boy - I never once said anyone had to do business with Groupon.
I was merely pointing out the hypocrisy of people in that they will scream bloody murder when they feel their rights are being restricted yet denounce some other entity when that entity exercises their rights because they disagree with it.
As I stated in my OP, I do not agree with Groupon but understand they have a legal right to do what they did and if I expect Groupon to respect my rights I MUST respect their rights as well whether I agree with them or not.
I agree, it is their right to govern their company any way they see fit, just as it is a personal choice as to whether you choose to do business with an organization like this. Sadly, they are eliminating what this country needs the most when it comes to firearms, MORE education and training. If you had more training and education you would have less gun violence, and a better response when criminal chose to use firearms in the commission of crimes.
But that seems to be the trend that starts with the white house and trickles down. Don't understand or agree with something, isolate it, ostracize it and shame it into non existence. Then you gotta get on the band wagon, or else you will be the next to be demonized.
WHile Groupon can do business as it sees fit, we can also do business the way we feel....I will no longer ever use Groupon for anything..... I'm done with them. I hope all of my other 2nd amendment loving users feel the same way.
I'm the same with businesses that post 'No Guns Allowed' signs. That's fine if it's what they want but I will give my business and hard earned money to another establishment that doesn't prevent me from carrying concealed in their establishment.
I wonder how many of these losers that are stating they'll never use Groupon again actually ever used Groupon.
I used them, but won't any more.
Damn but how I hate to see the gun crazies fall out amongs themselves, it pains me so. Perhaps we could settle dispute by having all Neo Nazi, White Supremacist and just general gun loons form a giant circle and commence firing. Ready, fire, aim......
Wait - Groupon actually HAD gun-related sales? Seriously.
70% ! yes 70% of all americans want stricter gun laws put in place so the NRA and its followers should just except these facts ! and be grateful that the public is not calling for the outlaw of all guns !
"...NRA and its followers should just except these facts!" I believe the NRA does take exception to those facts. You mean "accept"?
Not 70 percent, I do not "accept" that figure.
Because one liberal paid for survey of 1001 "Random" people of which the majority polled democrat is a scientific absolute standing of the entire nation...
Your logic is about as rational as most of the new "gun regulations".
Random people from where? NYC, NJ, MA, MD, Chicago? Groupon is just another company run by American idiots.
Schooldog- I just did a a poll and 100% of Americans I polled think you're a goober
I'll be suspending my groupons until they stop being stupid.
I still think "groupon" sounds like a double-ended cotton torpedo meant to be shared by lesbian lovers though.
Excellent.
who needs groupon anyway ??? ---- i recently attended two gun shows, one in ontario CA, the other in Mesa AZ ----- both were heavily attended, and in mesa, the fire dept had to restrict entry because the building was too full. ----- dealers were reporting sales of about 90% of their inventory, especially concerning large magazines. ---- a police officer i talked with, who was there as a buyer, said that their department has had trouble getting the magazines they prefer because of the high demand.
Agree that Groupon can do whatever they want, but I've told them I want a refund and that I won't be supporting them if they continue to promote the liberal agenda to strip me of my 2nd amendment rights. I encourage everyone who feels the same to contact them ASAP!
Sure TEX, and now another shoot out in the Lone Star state. Too bad everyone wasn't packing, it could have been one huge shootout. Guess what? More guns beget more gun violence, contray to the twisted, tortured logic in NRA land. I wonder how many more are going to have to die before this nation gets serious about sensible firearms regulations.
No, no one wants to take your silly guns away. We do want to stop this nation turning into an armed encampement, with para military weapons & huge magazines, being brandished across the nation. And if you're waiting to fight off all the black helicopters coming for your guns, then I guess all hope of sanity for your crowd is gone.
you're making a fairly significant assumption that american soldiers would be willing to fire on civilians, especially civilians who might be friends or relatives. ------------------- another part of your comment..... armed encampment with paramilitary weapons...... what do you think already exists in the hands of gangs and other criminals ??? ------ you do know, i hope, that 48% of all violent crime in this country is related to gang activity.
If we take a look back at how the 2nd amendment is written and the history surrounding it, the 2nd amendment is addressing our right as citizens to bear arms, in part to protect us from the government. I'd rather keep my right to protect myself especially with what I've seen in the last few years. I live in the USA because of the freedoms we have. I do not agree with nor will I support a government or an organization that agrees with taking that expensive freedom away.
My intention is not to downplaying the shootings that have happened lately, however fewer or no guns is not the answer. Criminals will find a weapon, and they don't abide by the government's laws. As was already mentioned, those looking to commit crimes with guns are not the people who take 10 hour courses on gun safety. Also, far more people have been killed by drunk drivers than have died as a result of shootings. We don't hear about them, and our government leaders go after our freedom to bear arms. Why have they not gone after cars and alcohol with as much tenacity? In both cases blame is placed on the object instead of on the operator.
I write this as a proud Republican in response to the ongoing gun debate:
Washington Post 12/14/12 (known to be conservative leaning)
The UK and Iran have 0.1-10 firearms per 100 people (62 million and 74 million people respectively)
Mexico and Australia have 10-30 firearms per 100 people (112 million and 22 million people respectively)
Canada and France have 30-50 firearms per 100 people (34 and 65 million people respectively)
Countries we often perceive as being violent: Colombia (0.1-10 per 100 people), Sudan (0.1-10 per 100 people), Iraq (30-50 per 100 people)
In the US: 70-100 firearms per 100 people, the MOST in the ENTIRE world.
No rational person is suggesting getting rid of ALL guns, what IS rational is to allow guns that cannot mow down dozens of people (including children) in mere seconds. I am fine with access to handguns, rifles, shotguns- but why is it necessary to have semi-automatic assault rifles? Why is it necessary to have high-capacity magazines?
When our Founding Fathers were drafting the 2nd Amendment, think of the firearms they had at the time- they gave us that right out of self-protection and hunting animals, NOT as a means to hunt people.
I'm also a psychiatrist, and I can tell you that the people who most need restriction from accessing these weapons, have the easiest time getting them. We can't eliminate gun violence, but we can minimize the number of deaths when it does occur. Many fewer people would've died in Colorado and Connecticut if an assault rifle wasn't being used.
double-check your facts ---- assault rifle was not used in sandy hook ---- he left that in his vehicle. ----- he primarily used a handgun, shooting at point-blank range, in which he changed the magazine at least once. ------- btw, the size of the magazine is not relevant to either colorado, oregon, or sandy hook..... it only takes about 2 seconds to change magazines.
False. He used the AR-15 to kill all the children. This is from a Texas Republican website.
"I contacted the CT State Police for further clarification. Lt. Paul Vance told me the Bushmaster was, in fact, fired inside the school and used to kill all 26 people who died that day."
http://texasgopvote.com/issues/stop-big-government/connecticut-state-police-clarify-sandy-hook-weapons-questions-005049
Sorry RON PAL, wrong as always. I live two towns over from Newtown, have friends there and know it well. Beyond that, the murdered principle lived here in my town and used to be our High School principle. We held a huge wake for her here and she's buried in our cemetary. One of m neighbors just happens to be a Newtown cop and as luck would have it, he was one of the first responders. Half of these cops and rescue people are too traumatized to go back to work after the sight that they had to view.
He did indeed use an assault rifle unless someone is lying to me. He killed himself with one of his handguns but please, don't go rewriting history to placate the NRA, it just ain't so.
Wrong, I can change my magazines in less than 1 second no problem.
The State of CT will not show the Lanza's weapons to the public. They are lying about something as most gov'ts do in times of tragedy. MSNBC also reported that handguns were used inside the building quoting the FBI- hence Adam Lanza's fisherman's vest full of pistol magazines.
that is true ----- msnbc reported that the handgun was used at sandy hook. --- they also reported that he left his ar-15 in his vehicle. ----- if msnbc is publishing incorrect information, that is not my fault. ------ i used 2 seconds swap time to illustrate that it doesn't take very long ---- actual swap time varies from user to user.
As for sandy hook, And I bet none of you have the guts to actually watch it.
As for the second amendment, the founding fathers were clear. Tenche Coxe wrote in the Pennsylvania Gazette in the 1700's that EVERY terrible implement of the soldier is the birth right of an American.
Also, the more rounds your gun hold, the safer you are. Having to reload is not something that is safe to have to do while you are trying to defend yourself. Why should police be ABOVE the law. No man, not even the president, is to be above the law (Yet we have one that thinks he is). The power to govern comes from We the People, and it is illogical to assume that the government was given powers to do things that we the people do not have.
The second amendment was NOT just for self defense. It was not for hunting. IT WAS as a balance of power to preserve the right to take our country back in the event a tyrant assumed dictatorship. Unjust laws cannot be enforced because most people are armed, and most of those will not accept things like gun confiscation, which yes, it eventually will be tried. Where will you stand when it does?
We need semi automatics, we hope never have to use them, but we need them. Hi cap magazines are needed too. Once they limit us, it will keep going down to 1 and then none. We cannot afford ANY kind of magazine ban.
Also, to the shrink, I point out that Sigmund Freud said "A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." And I have yet to find a more accurate quote that describes the people who are wanting to take our guns!
All of you who hate guns, why don't you move to North Korea or something and do my country a favor.
Don't you need fully automatic weapons as well? The government has them.
Don't you need heavy artillery? Don't you need shoulder fired missles?
Why Groupon would inject themselves into this is beyond understanding.
There is no discussion taking place regarding conceal carry nor are gun ranges going to be shut down. This seems more like an ill-considered publicity stunt since all it will do is turn off potential future customers.
Groupon has plenty of competition which I'm sure will eagerly scoop up their customers by offering the promotion so other than some half-baked thought that this is going to do anything related to any gun debate their action makes no sense.
discrimination at it's finest - glad I never use Groupon
I just can't imagine that Groupon is all that popular with the "god, guns, and gays" hillbillies, "Your Groupon deal of the day: 10% off all Moon Pies with the purchase of a family size Pork Rinds"
Now that is LOL funny :)
Once again, gun owners are told to get to the back of the bus.
What I find so utterly amazing is how very few of those people who love their guns so much are completely clueless to what the Second Amendment says. It states: "A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms.
This was written as a way to form security forces for towns and cities after the British had attacked the US. It was created to form a sort of Police force when none had been established yet. Of course at the time, men needed to hunt for food as well to feed their families because they didn 't have the types of grocery stores to supply food to many out of the way towns at the time.
This also means that Militia groups are no longer legal or needed since we have Police forces to protect towns and the Armed Services to protect us in the case of war.
The NRA should be ashamed of themselves for misrepresenting the Second amendment the way that they have or the soul purpose of selling weapons for profit.
To think, all the companies using Groupon to increase their business just got hijacked by an idiot owner..
Wrong.wrong,wrong...The 2nd has nothing to do with hunting, target shooting or police forces...It is a bulwark against a tyrannical government...Remember Concord Bridge when the Brits went to confiscate the colonials powder and ball supplies..The 2nd was added so that the British or ANY government could be resisted..Militia not needed..you might just Google your states name and add militia..They are still in existence...hmm, wonder why.
PS: Don't even mention the National Guard as they are federal forces and there is that nasty little thing called posse comitatus..Look it up.
So, don't you think you have the right to a fully armed tank, and a missle equipped F-15? How are you going to overthrow the government with small arms?
The government long ago made it very difficult and expensive to own fully automatic weapons. Does that make you mad? Do you think the government has the right to do that? The NRA was against even basic gun registration. Are you against that too? If so, how much toilet paper and ammo do you have stockpiled in your basement?