Oklahoma Store Declares Itself A ‘Muslim-Free Zone,’ Posts Sign Refusing Service To Muslims
An Oklahoma tactical gear and survival store, complete with a gun range, has declared itself as a “Muslim-free zone.” The store posted a sign on the door that claims it is a “Muslim-free zone” and that as a privately-owned business, it has the right to refuse service to anyone. When the owners of the store were confronted about the potentially discriminatory signage, the owners noted that they “do not tolerate terrorism” and will “not support or condone those who hate our country.”
News on 6 reports that Save Yourself Survival and Tactical Gear and gun range in Oktaha, Oklahoma, has posted a controversial sign on the door declaring the establishment as a “Muslim-free zone.” The owners of the company, war veteran Chad Neal and Nicole Mayhorn, say that the store was opened as a means to help others learn to protect themselves.
“We believe, if you are going to carry, you need to practice, and we give them a safe environment to do so.”
According to the pair, that “safe” environment does not include Muslims. The gun range owners say that their customers would not feel comfortable being at a shooting range alongside a Muslim due to concerns over safety. Therefore, the store decided to exercise their right to refuse service to those they deem a threat to national security.
“Our customers deemed it necessary. They wouldn’t feel safe being on a range with a Muslim practicing as well. We don’t promote hate, we promote safety, and that’s one of our practices of being safe.”
The Save Yourself Survival and Tactical Gear store sign went up following the Chattanooga, Tennessee, shootings. The owners say they don’t want to be responsible for “arming the terrorist” or “training the terrorist.” Therefore, they decided on an outright ban of Muslim clients.
According to KTUL, Brady Henderson, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma, is not happy about the sign and calls it a resurrection of Jim Crow laws.
“If the ideas of public segregation and second-class citizenship belong anywhere, they belong in the past. Whether a business’s policy is ‘no coloreds’ or ‘no Muslims,’ it is making the same choice to put hate and ignorance ahead of traditional American values like freedom and equality. It is important that we as citizens speak out against the growing movement to resurrect Jim Crow.”
However, the owners of the gun range responded with a Facebook post outlining why they will not take down the sign despite concerns from civil liberties unions.
“Save Yourself Survival and Tactical Gear and Gun Range is now a Muslim free business. We will not support or condone those who hate our country. We love our country and want our fellow Americans to know we do not tolerate terrorism. They have come to our home and attacked us on our soil. We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone. Thank you.”
What do you think of the company declaring itself a “Muslim-free zone?”
[Image Credit: Facebook via KTUL]