Equal Opportunity? Not for Gun Store Owners!

[C2Q]

In the 5 years that G&R Tactical has been in business, we have seen our share of discrimination based on what we sell. However, I am fed up with being denied services because of the nature of our business.

Most recently: G&R Tactical was denied a line of credit by a local (and very large) bank. Here is a quick synopsis of the events that took place over the last 3 weeks:

ME: I am working on getting GSA contracts (contracts with the government) for supplying parts and accessories. I need a line of credit to bridge the gap of receiving a contract and receiving payment (usually 30 days later). I will only use this line of credit for GSA contracts as needed.

BANK: Credit and business statements look great. What do you sell?

ME: I will only sell to the government Flashlights, Optics, Slings, and equivalent gear.

BANK: We see that you are in retail sales; however, we see guns on your website. Do you sell guns?

ME: Yes, but I will not be using the line of credit to sell any FFL controlled items (complete guns) to the government.

BANK: We have an anti-gun policy and cannot give credit due to the nature of your business.

ME: I am willing to supply proof (the GSA contact) at the time of receiving the money. The contract will outline the items clearly.

BANK: Our policy includes gun accessories.

DENIED!

Unfortunately, I have encountered the same thing with other large banks, credit card processing companies, and insurance companies. I have spent many hours on the phone battling to try to get services only to be denied because of their anti-gun policies. I could list many accounts similar to the above example that would amaze you.

I am sick of large companies denying services to law-abiding business owners such as ourselves. The sad part of this, the more honest you are, the less chance you have. Ironically, the representative of the bank wanted to give us this loan and recommended us taking a home-equity loan and to tell them it would be used for “home improvement”. But I refuse to lie or go any further with such a company.

Thankfully, the NRA provides policies and contact infomation to gun-friendly businesses. When that path works, it is nice (and expensive). But I do not believe we should be so limited in our choices.

C2Q

[Bushytale]

It is a sad state of affairs that in this country we have to deal with such prejudices from a large part of the major business sector that we as the people have made major. It is a stab in the back from the same people that we made rich and powerful. I would like to see the federal govt. go after these people for the prejudices, but that would just end with some fines which would probably be passed back to the same working stiffs that made these companies rich in the first place. Thanks for sharing this outrageous behavior C2Q. Good luck with your hunt for financial backing.

Billy

[rubberneck]

Is there a board policy against naming names? I would like to know which banks have such a backward policy. I'd hate to be unknowingly supporting them with my business.

[sproc]

Is it really that these banks are anti-gun, or is this an indirect consequence of stupid lawsuits (and stupider juries) that lead liability insurance companies to refuse to insure companies without anti-gun policies? (You know: maniac buys gun from retailer, kills innocents with it, then innocents' families sue everybody [with money] in the supply chain.)

At any rate, large corporations, just like governments, can become unresponsive to their customers/citizens. When that happens, consider taking your business to a regional bank or credit union. (The solution to unresponsive governments isn't so easy, unfortunately.)

[C2Q]

Is there a board policy against naming names? I would like to know which banks have such a backward policy. I'd hate to be unknowingly supporting them with my business.

The list is too long...I have found that all the major banks, insurance companies, and credit card processing businesses have these policies.

[C2Q]

Is it really that these banks are anti-gun, or is this an indirect consequence of stupid lawsuits (and stupider juries) that lead liability insurance companies to refuse to insure companies without anti-gun policies? (You know: maniac buys gun from retailer, kills innocents with it, then innocents' families sue everybody [with money] in the supply chain.)

At any rate, large corporations, just like governments, can become unresponsive to their customers/citizens. When that happens, consider taking your business to a regional bank or credit union. (The solution to unresponsive governments isn't so easy, unfortunately.)

I think insurance companies are a major part of the problem.

[rubberneck]

Is Bank of America one of the guilty parties. I have my personal account and my business account with them. I will not give them my business if they are openly hostile towards the gun industry.

[Nathan_Bell]

I had a long response for this trhead, but I realized it all boiled down to.

That sucks and it makes me angry.

[Voodoochild]

Being that you are both former Military have you looked at USAA or Navy Federal? Both companies are good to go in my opinion as I have dealings with both. Just my 2 cents but it may be worth looking at also does the NRA have any suggested banks that are friendly to law abiding gun owners?

[sproc]

Is Bank of America one of the guilty parties. I have my personal account and my business account with them. I will not give them my business if they are openly hostile towards the gun industry.

While they used to be anti-gun, it looks like we fixed that. Ditto for Citibank. These articles are a few years old, but I hope they haven't since reverted to their evil ways:

Bank of America Will No Longer Refuse Merchant Services Applications from the Gun Industry

Citibank kills firearms policy


It looks like the firearms community can get these policies changed. Perhaps it's time to get to work on the bank who is currently discriminating against G&R.