Crockett Keller.
A radio ad for a handgun training class that bars Muslims and Obama voters has sparked an investigation in Texas.
"We will attempt to teach you all the necessary information you need to obtain your [Concealed Handgun License]," the ad says. Then towards the end, it adds: "If you are a socialist liberal and/or voted for the current campaigner in chief, please do not take this class. You have already proven that you cannot make a knowledgeable and prudent decision under the law."
And then: "If you are a non-Christian Arab or Muslim, I will not teach you the class with no shame; I am Crockett Keller, thank you, and God bless America."
The ad ran for six days on KHLB, Mason's local station. It's also been heard tens of thousands of times on Youtube.
Keller, 65, has said in media interviews that he just regards the message is just common sense. "The fact is, if you are a devout Muslim, then you cannot be a true American," he told local news station KVUE, while fielding calls congratulating him for his stance. "Why should I arm these people to kill me? That's suicide."
"I call it exercising my right to choose who I instruct in how to use a dangerous weapon," he added.
But the state of Texas may disagree. The Department of Public Safety said in a statement that certified instructors of handgun training are required to comply with all applicable state and federal laws, and added: "Conduct by an instructor that denied service to individuals on the basis of race, ethnicity or religion would place that instructor's certification by the Department at risk of suspension or revocation." The department has said it has begun an investigation.
It seems unlikely that Keller will back down, though. "I'm not going to do it," he told the local news. "I will give up my license to teach before I will teach them," he said, referring to Obama voters and Muslims.
People like Crockett Keller tend to invoke one of two immediate knee jerks.
Either a "damn straight, yee haw".
Or a "puh-leeze".
Personally, I felt a little something in between the two.
Any reasonably enlightened, educated person is going to react to what seems, at first look/listen, like the mindless mouthings of yet another pinhead redneck racist with contempt and/or scorn.
At the same time, a fair and considered case could be made that, however distasteful the guy's approach might be, he is, in his own yee haw way, perfectly embodying one, if not more, of the bedrock principles of our republic.
For which it stands, one nation under God, with liberty and justice for all.
Cause, fair being fair, it can't be denied if you scratch just beneath the "from my cold dead hands" candy shell here, what you find is a simple case of a guy expressing his opinions and exercising his options, both, and all, expressions and exercises to which he, and we, are all entitled.
So, yee haw Crockett Keller.
And...puh-leeze, Crockett Keller.
Meanwhile, let us all try to find it in our hearts to recognize the underlying principles involved here and get past the emotional reactions that are inevitable.
And...as a value added, enjoy the real "you can't make this stuff up" factor here.
The guy who is named after both one of America's most famous freedom fighters.
And one of America's most famous deaf and blind people.
http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/27084773
1 comment:
Crocett Keller appears from his photo to be a man of considerable girth, about a 350 pounder. Gun safety for this out of shape Texan is carying his gun in his boot. That's a place this fat fool hasn't been able to reach in years. Let a doctor give old crocett a mental once over and he won't be allowed within 500 feet of gun or a school play ground.
Post a Comment