SPANISH FORK, Utah — A Spanish Fork gun shop is prominently displaying a target bearing a resemblance to both President Barack Obama and Osama Bin Laden, and the shop’s owner said he hopes the message attached to the target will resonate with those who see it.
The target bears a sign around its neck stating: “Obama Bin Laden. The biggest terrorist this country has ever seen.”
Patrick Meinhart, the owner of Quantum Guns, said he put the target up because he believes President Obama is bringing the country down. He said the president is limiting freedom of speech and eroding gun rights. He also said he thinks the president isn’t doing enough when it comes to problems posed by Islamic extremists and the spread of Ebola.
He said he and his family are supporters of the Constitution and wanted to make a statement.
“We just put this out there to try to get people to realize what’s going on in the country and try to stand up and do something about it,” he said.
The target with the sign has been in place since June, and Meinhart said the response has been largely positive.
“Honestly I haven’t had anybody come in and complain about it or tell me that I’m wrong,” he said. “And some people probably say that I’m racist, but it’s got nothing to do with that. It’s that he’s not doing what he was elected to do.”
Meinhart said rather than criticism he has seen more people taking pictures and giving a thumbs up to the display. He said he expected to receive complaints about the display but so far has not heard any. He said he response has been more than he expected.
“I figured I’d get some laughs out of it, and it wouldn’t be that big of a deal, but it’s actually getting to where it’s kind of a big deal, which is good because I hope it will bring people to realize what’s going on in the United States right now,” he said.
Peter Corroon, Utah Democratic Party chairman, said he feels the display is disrespectful.
“That is not what this nation is, that’s not what we should be, and we really need to start thinking differently in this nation about our elected officials and the respect that we need to show them,” he said.
