Shoot Straight, Florida's largest independent gun-shop chain, has stopped renting guns to prevent its eight Florida ranges from becoming suicide parlors.
Khaled Akkawi, founder of the Apopka-based chain, made the decision last month after the latest suicides at one his gun ranges.
"We've had enough," Akkawi said Friday. "They've been increasing real fast and the one common denominator — everyone is done with a rental gun."
Shoot Straight joins a growing number of gun ranges across Central Florida that have restricted or prohibited gun rentals to stem the deaths.
While no agency tracks gun-range suicides, there have been at least 11 of them in greater Orlando since 2009, according to Orlando Sentinel reporting on the deaths. All were committed with rental guns.
Oak Ridge Gun Range, the scene of the latest suicide last week in Orange County, changed its policy after a previous death more than a year ago. Oak Ridge is now attempting to identify customers who would be a suicide risk.
"We don't rent to any white male Florida resident who comes in alone," said owner John Harvey. "In the past 30 years, we've never had a suicide that wasn't a white male Florida resident who came in alone. They don't want to mess up their families' homes, so they do it here."
Mikeb, you didn't comment on this. Do you approve of this racial and sexual profiling?
ReplyDeleteRenting a gun is one way of deciding if you like a particular model. That's a common purpose for renting. But there is a bizarre emphasis on the rare event in this country.
Do these gun ranges really have the most expensive, newest models for rent?
DeleteSome do; some don't. But many do have at least a sample of models.
DeleteIn other words you lied, to again try and make a false point. Typical for an ass hole lying criminal coward.
DeleteSeriously? Is calling something a lie a verbal tic with you?
DeleteYes, when reality shows that's all you do is lie. That's why you earned the moniker of lying criminal coward. I forgot ass hole lying criminal coward for treating Sally like an ass hole.
DeleteWhat the hell kind of an asshole would rent a gun in the first goddam place?!? We're not talking go-carts. Why even operate a shooting range unless one is trying to capitalize on the stupidity of others?
ReplyDeleteIf somebody wants to commit suicide, they can go to their neighborhood Wal-mart and go through the background check and waiting period like everybody else.
As I suggested above, it's like a test drive. How do you know if a particular type or caliber of gun is right for you, if you don't have any friends with guns? Guns fit like clothing--it's not one size or type fits all.
DeleteWhat you suggested above was that it was a good way to test new weapons, then you admitted it's hard to find rental places renting the newest and expensive models. Another lie on your part to try and prove a falsehood. Typical ass hole lying criminal coward.
DeleteAnonymous, quit being stupid. I said that renting guns is a good way to try out a particular model. There's no guarantee that every model will be available, and you're being tedious by claiming that I said anything to the contrary.
DeleteYou said that is the basis for allowing rental of guns. Now you back off because you know it was a lie to say rentals is a way to try out newest models.
DeleteNext lie.