LGS owner anonymity?

[SFCRandall]

I just read an article in the local newspaper about a new gun store opening in town. I live in a city of about 12K people in a rural part of Oregon. Having a new firearms business is welcome news as this city has had limited options for people in the firearms market. What I found a little troubling in the article though was the owners wishing to remain semi-anonymous, giving only their first names, citing security concerns as the reason. It gives the impression that the firearms business is a shadowy enterprise and gun owners are paranoid. Am I being too critical? Are their concerns legitimate or do you think they need to be open with the public they wish to do business with? As owners their names are a matter of public record anyway, so why the secrecy in the paper?

 

[Davek1977]

Some people like privacy, and protect theirs as much as possible. Considering everyone even slightly associated with guns has become a target for the rabid anti-gun movement, I don't have any issue with them not putting themselves out there as any sort of target. Gun owners have a RIGHT to be a bit paranooid lately. When kids are getting suspended from school for biting a poptart into the shape of a gun, all normalcy has gone out the window. Until I had an idea of how my shop was going to be received in the community at large, I can understand some paranoia or being a little more cautious than one might otherwise be. Quite frankly, if the service is good, the prices fair, and everything is being done legally, the owners name is of very little concern to me.

 

[MrCleanOK]

If you're really concerned about it, their business license is probably a matter of public record somewhere.

 

[Sam1911]

That does sound kind of silly. As you know, there are several ways of getting all their info as they hold business licenses and a federal firearms license as well.

I suppose withholding that info does present a tiny little speed bump to very low level harassment if some disgruntled neighbor wanted to call them up and complain at them, or someone was going to vandalize their house and felt so unmotivated that they didn't want to bother to do any actual research.

 

[TRX]

In my county in Arkansas, a copy of the business license must be posted in some publicly-accessible area.

Of course, the license may just say "Shadowy Sleaze, Inc.", and then you'd have to spend a moment to do a web search.

Hmm... doesn't the FFL have to be displayed too?

 

[Lex Luthier]

Perhaps he values his privacy. We live in a culture that thrives on oversharing and personal disclosure, so I can certainly see how he might want to keep it cool.

Just a question. Why does it matter how/ what he said about himself? His potential customers are going to browse too much, spend too much time chatting about technical firearm details and essentially waste his time before buying "x" cheaper at an online source. I would keep certain information private too.

I cannot imagine why he would want to open a new retail store in this economy. I know of a new place here in the Twin Cities that is barely a storefront. The "showroom" is about 10' x 20' for accessories. Everything is either ordered or kept in the back. Smart guy and good businessman. Actually met me on late on Saturday afternoon to do an ffl transaction.

 

[buck460XVR]

Last thing that would concern me about a new gun store in town would be the owner's last names. I'd be more concerned about inventory, prices and customer service.

 

[Agsalaska]

Yea, thats a little silly. It plays right into a tin foil hat stereotype. They give an interview about their new business, in a small town, but don't want to give their names? And they are afraid of who? And they gave an interview? Seems a little childish if you ask me. I probably wold still visit just to check out their selection, but I can only imagine the customer service they will have waiting for you on the other end of the counter.

 

[Mobuck]

Seems foolish to me to try to hide while doing business. The FFL has to be posted and usually has someone's name on it. I wouldn't do business with someone too lofty to give their name.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

I am cool with it. You can't be too careful now days.

 

[Sam1911]

You can't be too careful now days.

Do you see his decision here as effective in some way?

I agree about being careful. It's important though to know what benefit the steps you're taking actually provide.

I can wear a bright orange knit cap each day as a way to keep from getting brain cancer, but no matter how careful I am to do so it probably won't have any positive effect. But people will treat me and look at me strangely.

If not giving your last name to a reporter was an effective way of maintaining privacy, it would be a reasonable thing to do, arguably. As it isn't any more effective than my anti-cancer beanie, it just makes them seem odd.

 

[TennJed]

Well keep in mind this is a news report and the reporter doesn't always pass the information along as it actually happened. What if the reported just called the guy out of the blue and started asking questions? The owner may have not know what angle the story was going and just elected to give basic info.

 

[Chris-bob]

What makes you think the media didn't reword his answers? Nothing wrong with not volunteering additional, unneeded info. I'd have done the same and don't wear a tin foil hat.

 

[silicosys4]

That does sound kind of silly. As you know, there are several ways of getting all their info as they hold business licenses and a federal firearms license as well.

I suppose withholding that info does present a tiny little speed bump to very low level harassment if some disgruntled neighbor wanted to call them up and complain at them, or someone was going to vandalize their house and felt so unmotivated that they didn't want to bother to do any actual research.

I don't know, as the "owner" of the business, he might just be the main investor, with employees running operations and holding the necessary licensing.
I'm not familiar, but in my industry (fishing industry) we have boat owners, and we have captains, and the two are usually two different people...with the boat owners happy to stay on the sidelines and pay bills, and collect checks.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

I manage a Pawn and Gun and value my privacy. When you are in the gun business EVERYONE wants to be your buddy. If you are not careful of who you let in your circle the <deleted> will use your personal info against you, often just to save a few bucks. Knowledge is power.