Blood, Guns, and BBQ

[DRYHUMOR]

Catchy title. Local gunshop in SC is promoting blood drive. Get a discount on guns or range time. And, FREE BBQ

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009/jul/25/there_will_be_blood_guns_bbq90387/

 

[Dulvarian]

*Note* What follows here is just my opinion.

I am fairly disinterested, mostly because of where it is. This is the local gun shop for me, and the prices there are ridiculous. I refuse to purchase firearms there, will only purchase small amounts of ammo there if I am utterly and completely unable to locate any at a better price. I only shoot there if time is limited and I can't make it to one of the outdoor ranges.

In the worst of the ammo crunch, they had stacks upon stacks of it sitting just past their front door. As an example, 500 rds of 230 gr FMJ .45 ACP was $300. I didn't ask about the others.

Business is business I guess. But there is a difference between business and damn near theft.

 

[cchris]

I've tried to give blood in the past, but I nearly always have a sinus infection (to be descriptive, yellow mucus) so I can't. The blood drive in Clemson is always in the fall, when I'm usually sick until the weather gets warmer.

As for the "discount", it doesn't sound like much of one. Not worth the drive, at least. I think most of my purchases (on ammo and guns) will be at the Gun Shop in Walhalla, SC. $30 to $40 cheaper on pistols, even hundreds less on older rifles - like an M1 Carbine for $500, the Swedish M96 my friend got for $200, and the Mauser 98 I got for $100. The sticker price is for credit, I paid with debit and it knocked $10 off the price. So if you live in SC, I'd think about that place.

As for the event, it sounds like a novel idea, perhaps encouraging people to give blood may interest them in guns (hell, I'm always interested in BBQ). However, if the prices are high, this might turn some people off - so it may do more harm than good.

 

[DRYHUMOR]

Did I mention Free BBQ.

It's too far for me to drive also. But, a free lunch is a free lunch. If anything the range time may be worth it, just to give a pint.

I know a guy who stops in there once and awhile when he's down that way, and he confirms the prices are high. The article states the claim that they sell 500 guns a month. That's a good bit of volume

 

[Dulvarian]

Look, I'm not one to say that a business should not be successful. But to offer me a 'deal' of $100 off a SIG 556 that you are asking $1799.99 for only after I look at the SIG 220? (I am not so familiar with the model numbers, the full frame .45). And the discount was only off the TWO together. Really? I got the SIG 556 and an Eotech 512 for less than $1700. I am all about keeping money in the local economy, but you can kiss my derrier if you think that I am just going to hand over my paycheck.

Not to say that I haven't shopped there. I am not the sale guy, well, I didn't used to be. I have a receipt for a Glock 21SF from Feb 08. 619.99. Every now and then I just decide to buy things, and I used to go out and just buy them.

Whatever. I'm one of the most open pro-gun people I know. Mostly because I deal with a lot of young military. I am a strong advocate of firearms training, and I think that it is something every person in the Armed Forces should be good at. They charge $125 for a rifle/handgun shoot for ribbons. Seriously?

/rant off

 

[Pack]

My dad is an attending physician in the only Level 1 trauma center in the state (in the midlands - points if you know it). He sees a great deal of absurdity and horror stories.

When the Red Cross, or whomever, tries to tell you that "your one unit of blood can help save three lives", maybe it's possible - it could be technically true.

But, what really happens is that hospitals providing emergency medical treatment are regularly forced to piss away up to 40 pints at a time on a drug dealer or gang member with multiple GSWs - who often bears the scars of older shootings, to boot - whom they HAVE to treat despite his total lack of social utility or ability to pay. :banghead:

To a far greater extent than we're told, we already have "universal" health coverage - that takes excellent care of persons like the one I've just described. For that very reason, I refuse to give any more blood than what I've used.

 

[Steve N]

Regardless of your opinion of the shop itself, or the use of blood to save the lives of people who are just wasting good air, I think the following is a very good statement:

"It's a way for them to change the perception of the gun business," said Laura Zagby of the American Red Cross Carolina Lowcountry Chapter.

 

[DRYHUMOR]

Blood benefits everyone though, not just some punk gangbanger. Part of the reason so many hospitals are going private is due to the free ride care that the emergency rooms provide. Gunshot or car wreck, people bleed out every day.

Dulvarian, you ever been to the gunshop on Daniel Island, going north from Mount Pleasant? Can't remember the name, it's on the road going to the steel plant.

I found it a couple of months ago while working down there. The prices seemed to be a bit high there. Like 200.00 to 300.00 too high on most of the guns.

 

[Dulvarian]

I just don't get the price gouging here on guns.

Oh, I believe donating blood is a good idea. I just go the Red Cross and do it. Pretty much every time I go to some other place and get it done, the bad lighting leads to problems. I did one at a church and the woman drew from the ARTERY. You should have seen the bruise I got from that. Actually, that was the last time I gave blood. Kind of a sour experience for me.

 

[Rockwell1]

As an example, 500 rds of 230 gr FMJ .45 ACP was $300. I didn't ask about the others.

Did I read that correctly? 30.00$ a box?

 

[oneounceload]

I shot at their range when visiting family in Summerville. Their component prices were outrageous, but their range fee ($5.00 for all day) is a bargain, compared to the $8.00/hour charged in N central FL.

EVERY gun shop I have been in lately has prices that have risen sharply due to demand from panic-stricken folks - called supply and demand.......consumers vote with their wallets all the time.

 

[MagnumDweeb]

I give blood about once every three months, got my little medal for donating over a gallon of blood a long time ago. Yes the 'charities' often rip folks off but that can't always be helped. I'd rather give my blood, get the proven health benefits of lower cholesterol, lower chance of cancer, lower blood pressure and what. Plus it lets me keep an eye on my cholesterol which creeped into the 160 range for awhile and is done thankfully into the 90s(no fried chicken, no french fries, no soda, and little pork).

They always give me coupons but I never use them, I just load up on apple juice and cookies. Mind you I do this now after I see my family doctor and get a lead test for my blood to make sure its safe for me to donate. For a $20 copay I also get a small battery of blood tests just to make sure I'm getting the full value of my health insurance.

 

[Dulvarian]

Yeah. I don't know what others are seeing, but $30 for 50 rounds of .45 acp (Remington UMC) is a bit high to this guy. 230gr FMJ. I bought 50 rounds of +P hollowpoints (Georgia Arms) for less than that at the last gun show, and they aren't known for their jaw dropping deals. That was bulk mind you. $51 and change for a brick of .22 LR. I just walked out. That was today mind you.

 

[cchris]

My dad is an attending physician in the only Level 1 trauma center in the state (in the midlands - points if you know it).

I believe that'd be in the Palmetto Health Center. The two places I'm currently working at back-and-forth happen to be less than 4 blocks from the hospital, plus two of family members work there.

Now, back on topic - how's the BBQ at this place? Catered from somewhere like Shealy's in Batesburg-Leesville, and it might actually be worth the drive.

 

[DRYHUMOR]

I doubt it's as good as Shealy's, and prob nowhere near as good as Hite BBQ, on Dreher Rd., West Columbia. But, in that part of the state it could be some good vinegar based BBQ.

I don't know if I could shoot well with a bellyfull of good BBQ.
Might seem too much like work.