The owner of a popular restaurant and event center in Portland, Maine, has come under fire for a social media post about semi-automatic weapons, in the wake of the Orlando shooting.
It appeared on the Facebook page for Grace, where owner Anne Verrill posted a picture of what appears to be an AR-15 and wrote, in part:
"I have spent 12 years, intentionally, not being political on this page... Let me be clear, this is not a political issue. This is a human rights issue. If you own this gun, or you condone the ownership of this gun for private use, you may no longer enter either of my restaurants, because the only thing I want to teach my children is love."
The post went on to say: "How many people have to bury their loved ones before we say together, no more."
Grace's Facebook page was quickly inundated with responses. A few comments were positive but many were negative. Some people gave the restaurant negative reviews, others threatened to boycott Grace and the other restaurant Verill owns, the Foreside Tavern in Falmouth, Maine.
"I don't think you should target the people who own [semi-automatic weapons], I think you should target the policy makers," said Maggie Coster, as she walked by Grace in Portland Wednesday.
"There are other ways," sadded Nakita Richards. "She could circulate a petition on her Facebook page to change the law."
The original post was deleted by Wednesday morning, replaced with a new status standing by the original, but explaining that it was deleted due to the nature of the comments.
Anne Verrill declined to speak on camera, but sent necn a private message, explaining: "I don't want to take anyone's gun away, I just do not believe that people should get to privately own assault weapons and call it a second amendment right. Too much has happened."
David Trahan, executive director of the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine, disagrees.
"People that do understand firearms look at that [post] and go, 'That's foolish,'" said Trahan. "The gun that she posted is no different than a semi-automatic hunting rifle. It's going to cost this young lady a lot of business, I think."
#1: Stoner To: cranky, BobCeleste (#0)
The owner of a soon to be formerly popular restaurant and event center in Portland, Maine.
This young lady might have run a really good restaurant, but she just made one hell of a big business mistake.
Hey Bob, you familiar with this establishment ?
Stoner posted on 2016-06-17 10:13:58 Reply Private Reply
#2: cranky To: Stoner (#1)
That's very possible.
I'm not on fakebook so i'll probably never know, though.
cranky posted on 2016-06-17 10:20:20 Reply Private Reply
#3: misterwhite To: cranky (#0)
I bet I get more business.
misterwhite posted on 2016-06-17 10:21:10 Reply Private Reply
#4: cranky To: misterwhite (#3)
That seems like it could very well work.
cranky posted on 2016-06-17 10:23:52 Reply Private Reply
#5: TrappedInMd To: cranky (#0)
This makes a-lot of sense. What does gun ownership have to do with eating at restaurants?
How about if a traditional marriage supporter posted that those engaging in certain types of sexual acts, or support those who do, are not allowed in their restaurant?
TrappedInMd posted on 2016-06-17 10:55:05 Reply Private Reply
#6: BobCeleste To: Stoner (#1)
In that part of Maine it is good publicity for her.
Nope never heard of it, Cec and I only go to places we know have lots of armed men.
BobCeleste posted on 2016-06-17 11:15:06 Reply Private Reply
#7: Stoner To: misterwhite (#3)
I agree, I think you would.
I believe that before this is over, that young lady is going to seriously regret that she let her whippoorwill mouth overload her hummingbird ass.
She has to be a flaming liberal, shitlery / obunghole supporter. Her town is soon to be short one restaurant.
Stoner posted on 2016-06-17 11:53:02 Reply Private Reply
#8: misterwhite To: Stoner (#7)
I could understand if she didn't want anyone to bring an AR-15 into her restaurant. (I assume she would take personal responsibility for the safety of her customers. Uh-huh.)
But to ban people who own an AR-15 or ban people who approve of others who own one, that's psychotic and ignorant. Especially given her reasoning -- those people don't know love.
I got an AR-15 to protect the family I love. Especially today, when cops are reluctant to intervene because they may get fired. That's fine, because my intervention will consist of 30 rounds of 5.56.
misterwhite posted on 2016-06-17 12:38:03 Reply Private Reply
#9: Stoner To: misterwhite (#8)
Stoner posted on 2016-06-17 13:09:50 Reply Private Reply