Individuals who exploit firearms industry to turn a buck?

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Aragon

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I'm curious what others here think of people who exploit the firearms industry in a negative manner only to make money? The infamous Jesse James' new gun company just went live on line (appropriately named: "jjfu.com"). Here is a photo of a jacket from its "gear" section:

pj_closeup.jpg

It depicts a stereotypical cholo aiming a 1911 sideways. It mocks the Colt Gold Cup with its own cisco "platinum cup." I cringe at the thought of this venture getting any publicity at all in the news. It will be gone soon enough but it still concerns me. Your thoughts?
 
Its all capitalism.

Id be hard pressed to say I would not do things like this myself. Never came up though and I don't look at things from that perspective.

I will say however that I make pretty good money with a second job that derives its business from the unfortunate events of others. So who is worse?

People who exploit the gun industry or people who exploit people, like me....and many lawyers, morticians, tow truck drivers, ad nauseum.
 
I fail to see how the example you give is "exploiting the gun industry in a negative manner."

It's America - you get to make a product and try and sell it. If few buy the product, then the company will go out of business. If lots of people buy the product the company will stay in business. That's not exploiting anything - it's the free market process - the market will sort it out.

"It mocks the Gold Cup." You're really trying to MAKE an issue out of this.

Maybe, instead, it's an homage to the Gold Cup. Maybe he's honoring the idea and you're the one reading something negative into this.

"Mountain out of a molehill" comes to mind...
 
Using a stereotypical depiction of a cholo holding a 1911 sideways (which has its own negative connotations) to advertise a gun company is "exploiting the gun industry in a negative manner." So is associating gun production and sales with an individual who has publicly displayed some very negative personal qualities in the past. So is a URL like "jjfu.com" Please keep in mind that I didn't ask if this was or was not a shrewd sales angle, if it was illegal, if JJ had the right to do it, if the cholo stereotype was offensive to Mexican Americans or anything like that. I asked what people thought about others using fairly negative "stuff" to exploit the gun industry?

I personally dislike seeing those so intent to turn a buck (or gain fame) that they're willing to associate firearms with things most find negative (which in some cases includes themselves.) Would I endorse laws to forbid this? Of course not, but that doesn't make me wish that people like JJ would instead push products that are not so politically incendiary and not so ripe for attack by those dedicated to getting rid of them. I suspect this latest business will last less than a year, so one can only hope that he doesn't get much microphone time before that end comes.
 
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Especially using a one wearing zoot pants and a gold chain and a bandana. I'm sure Jesse thought it was hilarious though.
 
Seems to me it's just another "Cheeto Bandito" type marketing ploy with a targeted (no pun intended) segment of the population. I've seen far worse T-shirts.

One of our favorite Mexican restaurants has furniture adorned with sleeping Mexicans and other depictions that seem to be condescending. However, the place is owned by a Mexican family and it does a fabulous business. Nobody seems to care.

I guess people will decide for themselves about James' endeavor and either support the business or not. As far as I'm concerned, that's the American capitalistic way and I fully support it.
 
I don't get the OP's outrage.

It's not like this entity is an outsider "exploiting" the firearms industry - JJFU seems to be OF the firearms industry.

Hell, all this handwringing did was introduce the company to at least one person - me.

As far as ".. only to make money." What's the point of a company if not to make money. Being entirely dismissive of his perceived market seems a bit low road to me.

Now, that said, I looked at the product line and it is in fact about what I'd expect from him (or OCC for that matter) given his past bikes and weird foray into blacksmithing.

As far as stereotyping "cholos", that's on you OP.
"Gold Cup"? He's respectfully distancing himself from a trade-marked name and still honoring the nature of the line. Nothing wrong with "Platinum cup" other than not "earned". What do you want him to call it... lead cup?
"... any publicity at all..." He should send you a thank you note for the thread.


Todd.
 
Bad taste, perhaps. Exploitation, no. No more than he's (or anyone else) has exploited the motorcycle business (his prior venture) or others have exploited the firearms industry with custom work (some great, some questionable).
 
So is associating gun production and sales with an individual who has publicly displayed some very negative personal qualities in the past.
Click to expand...

I see...so gun manufacturing is really a morality play...who'd have thought?

Will Hayden...?

Whatever...you're really trying too hard on this one...it's not that important.

He will either stay in business or not based on the product, and not on YOUR interpretation of how someone should live their life.

Stones...glass houses...etc.

Oh..and the JJFU.COM? Jesse James Firearms Unlimited = JJFU = an acronym. Whatever you're reading into it is on you...
 
to each his own but for the price of one of those 1911's i could get a few pistols that i believe would be better examples of form and function... their stuff looks very creative and as an artist i can appreciate that, personally i like a bit more subtlety in my guns. best of luck to him makin a buck though, didnt see anything promoting any dangerous habits etc on the website
Gene
 
Looking again at the jjfu.com website, I'm not so enamored of the examples of their custom work, a bit too gaudy/garish for my tastes (as in the leftmost example below). I like my old slabsides nice and plain. However I do dig the grips in the second pistol from the right below. Anyone know if they are custom, or from some other source out there?

4across.jpg
 
so Aragon, where do we draw the line? Some people say Zombie guns and targets show gun owners in a bad light as people using human figures as a fantasy to shoot people at will. Some say pink guns show us in a bad light by making guns less serious and more toy like. Some say open carry puts us in a bad light as stereotypical meat head show offs.

So do we elect you to make the decision of what should be allowed? Should we elect me? Should we elect the NRA? Maybe the Brady Bunch?

I say we elect the free market decide. The shirt in the op is tasteless in MY OPINION. I would never buy it and I would go so far as to make fun of any of my friends that bought it. But I see no problem with him being able to make it
 
Most of his work is gaudy as all heck and nothing really special I will say I do like those 19 11 on the far right especially the one with the case hardened Frame but I bet Turnbull could do a better job of it and for less.
also those grips are just aluminum with a area machined out to glue in the wood venire any shop worth it's potatoes could make you a pair in no time for a fair bit less than that dink
 
If the grand scheme of life, which offers one a good many valid things to worry about, this will remain a complete non-issue in mine.
 
Custom guns are always a matter of taste and I didn't find anything I'd particularly like on the website. However, the suppressor looked interesting even though there seemed to be a complete lack of technical details and measurement data. I'd really like to get my hands on one for head-to-head comparison with a few proven designs but $4500 is VERY steep considering that excellent suppressors with decades of scientific R&D behind them can be bought for $300. Especially when none of them is shaped like an eggplant...
 
There's no question that jj is exploiting the gun industry (or if some might feel more comfortable simply "guns" or "the world of guns") to turn a buck. Choppers and cars didn't last, TV didn't last, Sandra didn't last and now it's guns, at least for the time being. I'm just curious what others think, not specifically about jj, but exploiting the gun industry in general?

I had not even considered the quality of what he's selling. They're Terrera engraved "chopper guns" that certainly aren't competing on price or quality. I suspect the company to be gone within 12-18 months, but then again who knows? Jj actually does (still) appeal to some.
 
If "appealing to a certain market" is "exploiting" the industry, I guess he is, but I have no issues whatsoever with him doing so....The market will decide whether his line of products are valid consumer goods, or destined for extinction, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. It seems you just have a grudge for whatever reason against JJ, and thats your right, too. The fiunny thing is, those careeer moves that "didn't last" probably paid him enough money he;d never have to work again if he chose not to. Its not as if his endevours have been wholly unsuccessful....he's achieved more than many of us ever realistically hope to.
 
Trying to make a buck? Shoot, I'm trying to make a buck myself. What should he do? Go on welfare?

"... any publicity at all..." He should send you a thank you note for the thread.
Click to expand...

That's the truth. I'd have never heard of him until this thread. I gather he makes motorcyles too?
 
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