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Maine Military Supply Denies OCers

SPOProds

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2012
Messages
464
Location
Orono, ME
As the title states MMS no longer allows loaded open carry. My money will be going elsewhere.

Phone calls and emails stating you will no longer do business would be a great help.

Ph: 207-989-6783
Email: info@mainemilitary.com

Sent from the back of a black van
 
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tazxrulz

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2011
Messages
69
Location
Saco, ME
Sent them an e-mail! I told them I will no longer be shopping at there store due to the fact that they deny me the right to protect myself in their store.
 

SPOProds

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2012
Messages
464
Location
Orono, ME
I sent an email as i posted. IF I just a response, i will post my email along with the response.

Thank you for voicing your opinion taxrulz!


Funny part: it's a gun store... wait til I see the owner of MGI he's gonna drop his morning coffee :cool:

Sent from the back of a black van
 
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tazxrulz

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2011
Messages
69
Location
Saco, ME
******* <***is.ne**p@gmail.com>
2:16 PM (3 hours ago)

to info
I have enjoyed shopping at your store several times over the past 2-3 years. I regret to inform you that I will be taking my business elsewhere due to your anti open carry policy. I do not have a CCW so I cannot conceal. I will not shop at any store that denies me the right to protect myself.
Thanks,
tazxrulz

Frank Spizuoco <frank@mainemilitary.com>
4:56 PM (34 minutes ago)

to me
We are not denying your right to protect yourself. We are just saying no loaded gun exposed. Conceal it and keep it concealed. Our policy wasn't meant to offend you or your right to open carry . For that I apologize. However we have had customers unload firearms in the store, (two in one week recently). One of which was pointed directly at an employee. Weather it is concealed or on a belt we don't want it exposed while loaded. We are more than just a "gun store" and the safety of the customers and employees is first and foremost important. Feel free to call me if you wish to discuss this further.
--frank spizuoco
557-9642
 

tazxrulz

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2011
Messages
69
Location
Saco, ME
Well this is weird. I Just got a 2nd reply form another guy. The two seem to contradict each other. One guy is saying no loaded guns another is saying it is ok as long as it is holstered?

"Please allow me to clarify what is the intent of our signs. Firstly, we absolutely respect your right to carry a firearm, your right to defend yourself, and your right to open carry, but that we agree with those rights! We are not asking that people do not open carry while in our store but that when they have a loaded firearm that it REMAINS holstered while in our store. This is due to customers concerns that have been raised when people who are not as careful as yourself, bring a loaded firearm in and then attempt to find a holster for that loaded firearm. I hope that you can now understand not only our concerns, but hopefully you can see it from our point of view. It is our intent that EVERYONE feels welcome in our store, but safe as well. I hope that this response clarifies our intent and that we will see you again at Maine Military Supply. If still do not feel comfortable shopping at Maine Military, may I suggest that you contact our owner, Frank Spizuoco at 207-557-9642 and discuss this with him. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to express your concerns to us so that we could address them. Tim Hoelzer. "

I should reply and tell him frank already replied and said I can not carry! However I am far too lazy to type out another e-mail right now. Hope my writing emails helped!
 

RLTW!

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2012
Messages
13
Location
Portland
Tim's view is more reasonable but he still referred you to the boss and the boss told you no OC allowed. I sympathize with the boss having to deal with the two morons who unholstered their weapons in the store, but I think there are better ways to prevent it from happening while still respecting the rights of OCers.
 

DryBones

Regular Member
Joined
May 10, 2013
Messages
29
Location
Northern Virginia
Who takes a loaded gun holster shopping? I could see with an empty magazine to be sure of fitment but moving from holster to holster loaded does sound a bit careless. Correct me if I'm wrong?
 

SPOProds

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2012
Messages
464
Location
Orono, ME
I was sent the same second email word for word. The first one varied slightly but same jist

Sent from the back of a black van
 

SPOProds

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2012
Messages
464
Location
Orono, ME
I also believe he read mine first lol as mine was much more specific.

Good afternoon,

My name is Sean O and I represent SPO Tactical Defense, MEGunTalk.com as well as the many open carriers in the state of Maine. I was recently disappointed to see a new handwritten sign on your door. Having drove all the way from Orono I was even more disappointed. As i approached the door I noticed the sign reading something along the lines of "no loaded firearms to be exposed in store". As a daily and purposeful open carrier I will not conceal, no matter who asks. Therefore, I chose to drive back north to Old Town Trading post. I respect your private property rights but for a gun store to deny a carrier is ludicrous in my opinion. I can understand that you do not want people un-holstering in the store to try holsters or muzzle sweeping employees. However, to imply that only open carriers would do those things lacks all reasoning. What is to stop someone carrying concealed from doing the same thing? I hope you see where mentioning "exposed" firearms does nothing since an idiot is an idiot regardless of his shirt covering their pistol. By your reasoning, all loaded firearms should be restricted not only those exposed. I have let the members of OpenCarry.Org along with those of MEGunTalk.com know that they are not welcome and why. I hope that you taken the time to read my email and will take the time to respond. Thank you.

Respectfully,

Sean O

Sent from the back of a black van
 

jonjon_jon

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 2, 2010
Messages
216
Location
Manchester Maine
Puts the store owner in one hell of a position. He has a duty to protect his employees and customers. Yet the man may very well be sympathetic to our cause and the second amendment. I'm sure he doesn't want to lose our business.
 

MKEgal

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2010
Messages
4,383
Location
in front of my computer, WI
Maybe they could take a hint from national chains (Cabella's, anyone?) whose policy is that guns which are to be handled must be proven unloaded by their staff.
Ones that won't be handled are perfectly welcome, as long as they stay holstered.

Of course, I disagree with the Cabella's policy because once they take possession of it at the front of the store, they don't let you touch it until you're back outside. WTF good does that do if you want to check holsters, for example? :mad:
I will not go there for holster shopping or service, or anything else that requires them taking possession of my property. :exclaim:
 

SPOProds

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2012
Messages
464
Location
Orono, ME
Puts the store owner in one hell of a position. He has a duty to protect his employees and customers. Yet the man may very well be sympathetic to our cause and the second amendment. I'm sure he doesn't want to lose our business.

Problem with that logic is that he is doing the same thing as the government and "punishing" all for a couple of idiots.

Sent from the back of a black van
 

KBCraig

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
4,886
Location
Granite State of Mind
So, if a customer brings in a gun in a locked case, the original box, or a paper sack, it's different when pulled out... how, again?

It sounds like Tim understands both the problem and the proper solution, and Frank the boss doesn't.

I'll bet they don't even have a clearing station -- I've never seen a gun store that does, other than a few that have "academy pads" on the counter.
 

SPOProds

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2012
Messages
464
Location
Orono, ME
So, if a customer brings in a gun in a locked case, the original box, or a paper sack, it's different when pulled out... how, again?

It sounds like Tim understands both the problem and the proper solution, and Frank the boss doesn't.

I'll bet they don't even have a clearing station -- I've never seen a gun store that does, other than a few that have "academy pads" on the counter.

Or how does an OCer have the possibility of sweeping employees and customers but CCers don't.

Sent from the back of a black van
 

Marcus92183

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2012
Messages
68
Location
saco, Maine, United States
Maybe they could take a hint from national chains (Cabella's, anyone?) whose policy is that guns which are to be handled must be proven unloaded by their staff.
Ones that won't be handled are perfectly welcome, as long as they stay holstered.

Of course, I disagree with the Cabella's policy because once they take possession of it at the front of the store, they don't let you touch it until you're back outside. WTF good does that do if you want to check holsters, for example? :mad:
I will not go there for holster shopping or service, or anything else that requires them taking possession of my property. :exclaim:

i believe this may have been the intent they just didn't write the sign correctly and dont understand how to work it. possible a NO HANDLING OF LOADED WEAPONS sign would make more sense.
 

SPOProds

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2012
Messages
464
Location
Orono, ME
i believe this may have been the intent they just didn't write the sign correctly and dont understand how to work it. possible a NO HANDLING OF LOADED WEAPONS sign would make more sense.

I mentioned this in my follow up. Well see what the response is.

Sent from the back of a black van
 

SPOProds

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2012
Messages
464
Location
Orono, ME
Received an email from the owner asking me to remove my post. And not make false accusations without researching first. Well, I called the store before posting and was told no OC and as taxrulz posted the owner even stated it in his email. I called him on it we'll see what happens.

I would appreciate you removing your post about us not allowing open carry. Any future issues you have are best resolved if sent directly to me prior to you making false claims publicly. Call my cell. Frank Spizuoco

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KBCraig

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
4,886
Location
Granite State of Mind
I would appreciate you removing your post about us not allowing open carry. Any future issues you have are best resolved if sent directly to me prior to you making false claims publicly. Call my cell. Frank Spizuoco

Hey, Frank: when you find yourself in a hole, stop digging!

It makes me wish his store wasn't 4 hours away.
 

SPOProds

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2012
Messages
464
Location
Orono, ME
Frank has responded and feel it's a great response and we are welcome to OC once again

Let me try this again, I’ve given this a lot of thought and believe there is a solution. The sign on door was originally intended for those exposing and unloading guns in the store. My thought was to make it clear that it stays concealed when loaded while not saying “ no loaded firearms” because I believe in right to carry anywhere anytime. In doing this I made a mistake by not giving any thought to open carry. Aside from the old days the Lone Ranger I didn’t realize people actually open carry any more. Aside from being their “right” I first question why one would want to draw such attention to themselves? Maybe people open carry to create an awareness to the public that it is legal to open carry and that we lack public knowledge of that. I like to think that is the reason. With that being said we are all on the same side and and if open carry was made illegal, that would be one for the gun grabbers. None of us want that. We both know the fight is far from over. You are right, the sign is coming down, I think “no handling loaded firearms in store” is what its going to be replaced with. I’m losing patience with idiot people and I reacted too quickly. I should have given it more thought before posting the sign. However the next cowboy that comes in here and draws his pistol to unload it is going to be escorted off the property immediately. Thank-you for bringing this to my attention and I hope I have made it right for the oc’ers all a while maintaining the safety in my store. frank

Sent from the back of a black van
 
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