“Guns & Gold Bought & Sold” that was the slogan of
Loanstar Jewelry and Pawn. That is until today. Employees came to work to find
the owner Frank James removing the signs. He sat the employees down wearing a
green and white ribbon on his chest his 6 year old daughter made for him and
explained he would no longer be selling firearms because of what happened at
Sandy Hook Elementary. He said “I cannot hang on my wall the make and model
AR15 that was used to kill children in a massacre.” When the store manager
questioned this change in policy he explained, “I believe in 2nd amendment
rights and I believe people should be allowed to have weapons but I do not want
a gun we sell to fall into the wrong hands.” The licensed FFL dealer is
required to conduct a background check and hold the weapon for 3 business days.
Mr. James says he turns down more gun sales because he just did not feel “right”
about the person but, if a 50 something mother of 2 came in to buy a gun he
would have sold it to her and that is something he will not have on his conscious.
While there will be many conversations and debates about gun laws in this local
business the decision is clear. “I will not risk the life of a child to make a
dollar.” said Mr. James.
