MORGANTOWN – Debate continues in the Morgantown community whether or not Florida-based firearms retailer, Big Daddy Guns, has a place among downtown businesses. Those opposing the new shop have shared concerns about the location of planned gun shop and raised questions about the company and its messaging, while company officials claim misconceptions about Big Daddy are being exaggerated.
Jodi Hollingshead, organizer of Protect Morgantown, a group of concerned resident who oppose Big Daddy Guns opening in downtown and Sherrie McKnight, co-owner of Big Daddy Guns, both appeared on WAJR’s Talk of the Town to address the debate.
“It’s not ok that a gun store of this kind is allowed to open downtown,” Hollingshead said. “So, we won’t stop, if it takes going to their neighbors- other businesses in ‘The Deck’ or their landlord Hardy World L.L.C.”
Big Daddy Guns is on schedule open its latest retail location at “The Deck” along University Avenue within the next few weeks and according to McKnight will focus on safety, education, providing a welcoming retail environment with competitive prices for quality products.
Hollingshead contended the group is not opposed to all gun shops or Second Amendment rights but is opposed to this particular company. She pointed to the company’s association with controversial media personality Alex Jones, a fringe conspiracy theorist and the company using marketing featuring the likeness of Kyle Rittenhouse. Rittenhouse faced multiple charges including murder following the August 2020 riot in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Ultimately, a jury deliberated for 27 hours and acquitted Rittenhouse. The ruling propelled Rittenhouse to the national stage in the Second Amendment Community.
McKnight disputed both of those claims and said an opportunity promote the company during an interview with Jones has been portrayed as endorsing his positions.
“Whenever someone enters onto a show as a guest it does not mean they support all views of that host or station,” McKnight said. “It’s just an opportunity to spread your message and help build your business.”
Jones, a right-wing talk show host that has doubted the explanation of the Sandy Hook school shooting. As a result, families of the victims have been embroiled in defamation cases and have been awarded millions. Those rulings have been appealed by Jones and additional cases accusing Jones of hiding assets. The litigation is ongoing.
McKnight also denied Big Daddy Guns ever sold merchandise featuring Rittenhouse.
“An employee that we had as part of our social media department created a meme and that is the end of the story,” McKnight said. ” We absolutely made nothing with Kyle Rittenhouse’s name we’ve sold absolutely nothing with Kyle Rittenhouse’s name.”
Big Daddy Unlimited has also received criticism from some in the online firearms’ community, with social media influencers pointing out the company participated in a gun buyback program run by the Gainesville, Fla Police Department. McKnight did not shy away from the fact the company attended a buyback but insisted there was more to the story.
“We did attend a gun buy back for one purpose and with one mission in mind,” McKnight said. “We showed up to discuss safety and we provided gun safes and trigger locks that were given away to anyone who wanted one.”
Along with guns, ammo and accessories, Big Daddy Guns will also offers training, some on location training, education and Concealed, Carry Permit courses.
Hollingshead said the location is also an important community issue. Hollingshead said the gun store would be in close proximity to Morgantown High School, West Virginia University’s downtown campus, and other public events.
“This location in question is just steps away from where parades happen and where people meet in the courthouse square,” Hollingshead said. “And right across the street from Hazel Ruby McQuain Park where they have concerts every week now.”
However, the city of Morgantown’s zoning codes do not contain any language regulating where firearms retailers cannot be located within the city.
Hollingshead said they will continue to protest and plan to exhaust all means to keep the business from opening.