Handgun Giveaway

[Red Baron]

I'll try to keep this apolitical as much as possible. Before you "shoot" down my latest hairbrained promotion idea, keep in mind that my wash is in a very pro-gun, pro-Second Amendment, conservative rural area of West Texas.

In fact, this week the owner of a local gun range made headlines when he bought an anti-Obama billboard on the highway:
http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=12684861

I shoot at that range and was talking with the owner about reaction to his billboard...after I gave him $50 to help continue the billboard. He told me the response has been 98% very positive, with people ringing his phone off the hook to show their support.

Concealed Carry Permitting is popular in this area - so, I'm thinking about a promotion where I'd give away a new Sig Sauer handgun. Maybe I'd handwrite "You're The Winner..." on cash register receipt at one of my ACWs.

It is not my intent to boost business, although that very well may happen. And yeah I know I'm in the business of washing cars not making political statements, but at the same time I think a guy has to stand up for what he thinks is right...in this case the Second Amendment. Am I gonna shoot myself in the foot with this?

Of course the winner would have to pass the background check with the local FFL.

 

[rph9168]

A better idea than Oprah for President.

 

[pitzerwm]

IMO since you are in the right demographics and 96% positive feedback on the billboard, I don't see a downside. I would try to make some deal with the gunshop, and run it long enough that it is a win for you too.

Like religion, I have a hard time when someone tries to straighten my life out when theirs is worse than crap.

So I would make it obvious that it is an advertising promotion that just happens to be giving away something that someone wants. You might make it an option that if they would prefer a flat screen TV instead of the gun (little old lady, person would would fail the background check))

Make it a win-win

 

[Whale of a Wash]

Can I send you some money to buy a wash for me!!

 

[Earl Weiss]

.

It is not my intent to boost business, although that very well may happen. And yeah I know I'm in the business of washing cars not making political statements, but at the same time I think a guy has to stand up for what he thinks is right...in this case the Second Amendment. Am I gonna shoot myself in the foot with this?

.

All depends how you promote it. Since you are giving away something legal to own in a proper manner it's only political if you make it so.

I agree that you should offer an alternate prize.

 

[Chiefs]

Great idea!

 

[RykoPro]

I think its a bad idea to bring religion and politics into advertising. Are you in business or trying to convert people to your way of thinking? It limits your customers to only like minded people, fine if thats what you want to do. Kind of like the guy down the street telling me "only Christians were allowed to build his house". I just think its weird. I would not worry about anyone taking our guns away. Who is stupid enough to try and take something away from someone who is armed? NOT GONNA HAPPEN! There are more important things going on like the oil "spill" in the gulf.

 

[Whale of a Wash]

I thought that the small arms agreement hillary is working on with other countries would limit small arms greatly check this article out. They are going thru the back door to blame it on other countries.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/may/27/the-un-gun-grabber/

 

[pitzerwm]

Trust me the guns were taken away in every country just before the dictators took over, it will happen here in our life time. There are enough anti-gun people that one day, this current party will create a crisis, to justify the road down that slippery slope. They know that if they don't do something, before November they are going to lose power. No one wants to give up power after they have tasted it.

 

[Red Baron]

I would not worry about anyone taking our guns away. Who is stupid enough to try and take something away from someone who is armed? NOT GONNA HAPPEN! There are more important things going on like the oil "spill" in the gulf.

The oil "spill" pales in comparison to the damage Obama is trying to do to our country via dismantling (under the table) Amendment II. But really, one has nothing to do with the other.

Amendment II is just about the only/best leverage to be used against Obama's socialist agenda. I'm not prone to conspiracy theories and I don't hang on every word Glenn Beck says, but an awful lot of pretty sharp and pretty credible people agree that Obama's agenda is a lot more sinister than to just chalking all his blunders up to incompetance.

In the end, I hope I'm about more than just how much money I can make. If maximizing profits were my highest priority, I'd be selling crack cocaine. I feel like I have an obligation to my son and the next generation to leave for them the free country that we enjoyed. In that, if standing up for what I think is right costs me some customers, so be it.

 

[lighthousecarwash]

Sounds like a great promotion and idea. Stick to your "guns", you know your customer's better than any of us. I would be afraid the customer who won it, would rob me as soon as I gave it to them....


Lighthouse

 

[Red Baron]

Sounds like a great promotion and idea. Stick to your "guns", you know your customer's better than any of us. I would be afraid the customer who won it, would rob me as soon as I gave it to them....


Lighthouse

LOL! I never thought about that; maybe I should state that: "If you've ever received a nasty letter from me, you're inelligible."

 

[ted mcmeekin]

Great idea--only need check out history on those naive enough to believe the government can't take them.

Ted

 

[Red Baron]

Great idea--only need check out history on those naive enough to believe the government can't take them.

Ted

'Zactly! I won't be party to that.

 

[RykoPro]

The last time I checked we still had guns. Matter fact its much easier to carry a gun than it used to be.

 

[Red Baron]

The last time I checked we still had guns. Matter fact its much easier to carry a gun than it used to be.

That didn't happen in a vaccuum. It happened beause NRA and GOA and Conservatives have fought to preserve Amendment II.

This morning's SCOTUS 5-4 vote is a perfect example of just how tenuous our right to keep and bear arms is these days. If we lose 1 more right-leaning justice, the next thing we may lose is our Second Amendment.

I think this is critically important for 2 reasons:

1. Our Founding Fathers knew that a government had to fear its citizens rather than vice versa for the continuation of our country's freedom...that's why Amendment II. and;
2. An awful lot of Americans believe The Constitution and Bill of Rights should be beyond the reach of politicians' whims (certain inalienable rights...), and will never willingly give up their guns.

I believe #2 would lead to civil war and a lot of unnecessary bloodshed. Much easier to just preserve Amendment II than to get into all that.

 

[lighthousecarwash]

I also had a thought about the alternative prize comment. Maybe you should promote this to NRA card carrying members only. That way you will ensure that they will want the gun and not a TV.


Lighthouse.

 

[pitzerwm]

Why take the chance of alienating one customer, You are not in the gun selling business. The gun lovers will love the promotion and the TV people will love the TV. Like I said make it a win-win.

 

[Red Baron]

Why take the chance of alienating one customer, You are not in the gun selling business. The gun lovers will love the promotion and the TV people will love the TV. Like I said make it a win-win.

Yeah my wife and I like the gun or TV idea.

I keep reminding myself that this is not a ploy to increase business. I have to keep reminding myself that because the lonely little quiet gun range that put up the anti-Obama billboard, was too packed for me to go shooting when I went there the last 2 days...

Seems like an awful lot of people are thinking the same thing but just don't want to be the first guy to say it.

 

[RykoPro]

Why not a prize that has to do with cars or washing?