Interesting Read

[imschur]

from the shooting wire

It  sounded like a routine business deal, a manufacturing company applies for - and  receives- a credit account with a big-box home supply company. Then, a few days  later, word from the big-box company's credit card supplier telling them the  account was voided.

Concerned, company officials inquired into the  decision. After all, credit is one of the most valuable things a company can  have. The response at first stunned, and then infuriated them. The company's  credit was fine, no problem whatsoever.

The problem was summed up in a  single phrase "Our policy restricts us from lending to businesses in your  industry." The letter doesn't name the industry, but they only make products for  - you guessed it: firearms.

It's a story that we're tracking right now,  and we'll have all the details, including the groups who are considering taking  actions on several fronts against the big-box retailer and their credit card  company, just as soon as the big box retailer and credit card company choose to  exercise the opportunity to tell their side of the story- or not. If there's a  policy against "your industry" and you're only in a single industry.... you get  the point; we'll get the story...and keep you posted.

And it's a final  countdown to the fall elections....and the National Shooting Sports Foundation  is reminding all of us that we need to get out and vote. While "polls and  pundits" are predicting a sea change in American politics, nothing will happen  if we all don't exercise our Constitutional obligation to cast votes for the  candidates of our choice. It really the time when one person can vote - and make  a difference -or not, and simply float along with the tide. Whatever your  position on any issue-if you don't vote, you don't count.

[Longitude Zero]

Unfortunately this is not the first time I have heard about companies discriminating against companies in the F/A industry.  Sadly I see this trend continuing and possible accelerating.  I am no lawyer but I do not see how a company can be forced to do business with companies in an industry they do not want to.

Like in the First Amendment I have the the right of Freedom of Association.  The reverse is also true I have the freedom to NOT associate.

Waiting and praying.  We all must get out and vote.  The party in charge of the Senate and the House could change with enough votes that way.

[Hoss]

Actually, you don't have the freedom to 'not associate'.  There are plenty of laws dictating how folks must conduct their business and with whom.

[imschur]

Heres the rest of the story from Outdoor Wire

The Politics of Credit

Thursday, October 7, 2010

It's warm-getting-cool and the leaves are changing. The smells of Fall are in the air. Hunting seasons are on or soon here and it's the hunting industry's time of the year. While I'm aware of Spring turkey seasons and such, Fall is harvest time on more than one level.

The Warne Scope Mounts Company of Oregon was doing business - the manufacture of scope mounts and components thereof. They've had some exciting products out recently, including one I'll be putting to the test soon. While in the process of doing business, Charles Lake, President of Warne Scope Mounts, submitted an application from the company for a business line of credit to purchase materials to make work benches as well as to purchase appliances, to the Home Depot. Nothing Home Depot sells Warne is used in their products.

The credit line was approved on September 28. On the 29th, Mr. Lake received a call from the Home Depot credit department saying the line of credit was rescinded. He asked if it was something in the company's credit rating. "No," he was told. "It's because of the industry you are in."

Mr. Lake asked for the specific problem as Warne just makes parts, not guns or ammo. According to Mr. Wilcox, a Company VP, the response was, "You make parts for the gun industry."

Mr. Lake had his office manager called the national credit department to ask about the rescission. He was told that is their policy.

A letter, dated September 30, 2010, was received October 4. It confirmed that the "account was opened in error . . ." going on to say, "Our policy restricts us from lending to businesses in your industry." Oddly, a disclaimer appears at the base of the letter, saying that federal law prohibits discrimination in lending "on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age; because all or part of the applicant's income derives from any public assistance program . . ." The letter was from Home Depot Credit Services, Citibank (South Dakota), N.A., Creditor.

Warne Scope Mounts makes scope mounts and associated hardware. They don't make firearms, ammunition, magazines, barrels, bolts, sling swivels, springs or anything else. Founded in 1991, Warne employs approximately 50 people who are involved in manufacture and shipping of the several hundred thousand mount sets that are sold per year. A considerable part of their business is OEM for many of the top industry rifle and scope companies.

On October 5, I had email contact with Mr. Stephen Holmes, Senior Manager of Corporate Communications for Home Depot. He said Home Depot had "(n)o such policy" and that the company doesn't "actually manage all the backend parts of the card."

Later, I received another message from Mr. Holmes. He stated that Citi's rules apply to all of the retailers that carry their private label credit card, not just The Home Depot accounts. "As such," he wrote, "we have absolutely no input on the criteria they use to assess credit risk or credit worthiness."

I contacted Citi's media wing to attempt to get their side of the story. Elizabeth Fogarty, Citi Public Affairs answered with the following prepared statement:

"Citi does not prohibit the financing of firearms purchases by individuals nor the financing of businesses that manufacture and sell them to individuals for recreational use. However, we do prohibit financing merchants in the non-ancillary military equipment industry, including the financing of businesses that manufacture and or sell firearms for military use. While we do not discuss individual credit applications, we are always open to reviewing particular decisions when appropriate to ensure the policy is applied correctly."

Unfamiliar with the term "non-ancillary military equipment," I asked for clarification. The response was that "the policy prohibits financing businesses that manufacture and/or sell firearms for military use."

Somehow, I feel the story doesn't end here. As always, we'll keep you posted.

--Rich Grassi

Grassi is editor of The Tactical Wire

EDITOR'S NOTE: Does a policy that prohibits financing businesses that manufacture and/or sell firearms for military use" mean that Citi wouldn't extend credit to Smith & Wesson, Remington, Winchester, Federal, or any of the many other companies in the firearms industry? We'll find out - and let you know

[rodent.22]

And to think OUR government BAILED THESE MF'ERS OUT. BASTARDS..... >:(

[Longitude Zero]

Hoss the key word in your statement is "business" outside of business mobody and no court can tell me I have to associate with anybody.

Discrimination claims generally are based upon factors you cannot change, race, sex, national origin etc.  Sadly I see this either biend given the short shrift or dismissed summarily.  For instance Pay Pal does not allow any transactions that involved firearms/ammo etc.  NOBODY will ever successfully sue and collect from them for that.

It sucks but the gun/ammo grabbers are getting sneaky and creative in their actions.  They know they cannot directly go after the guns themselves so they hit us in the flanks where we have NO Constitutional protection.  Never forget the Second Amendment applies to firearms. Ammo is not mentioned and not protected no matter who or what says different.

[asmurff]

It appears this has gotten the interest of the NRA also.

[Longitude Zero]

I hope they can get some positive press out of it.  Recently they have taken hits about who they support.  People need to realize the NRA is a single focus group.  So if a politician supports gun rights the NRA does not give a crap that the same politician voted to support Obamacare.  They will support that politician.  So like it or not it is what it is and lay off the NRA when they support a politician that also supports causes you or I dislike. 

It really sticks in my craw when a politicain that is positive on guns rights and is supported by the NRA is savaged by some doofus because the same politician supports another cause the citizen does not like.

[imschur]

yep we would have rubber band guns without them.