Tiny bank's gun giveaway quick draw for customers

[CO Liberal]

In another thread, Michael Moore is being accused of staging the gun give-away in "Bowling for Columbine". I found the following story by doing a Google search on "gun + bank + giveaway" - Wayne

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Tiny bank's gun giveaway quick draw for customers

Source: New York Times Service, 1982

FINDLAY, Ill. - Banks rarely welcome customers carrying guns, but the tiny Bank of Findlay has been giving away fire-arms to investors in an attempt to compete on a national level. "As far as we know, we are the first and only bank to give handguns for deposits," said Greg Bohlen, 23, senior vice-president in charge of marketing "We can't afford to print our own traveler's cheques. We're a small bank in central Illinois having to do battle with Merrill Lynch and other multi national corporations. We can only offer unique services to people." Purchases of $2,500 six-year certificates of deposit receive, in lieu of future interest, a pair of Colt pistols, a .357 Python and a .22 Diamondback in a handcrafted walnut showcase. Mr. Bohlen says the retail value of the guns is $1,153.95, and that collectables they have doubled in value in the past six years.

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http://www.carleton.ca/~warrent/210/lecture10/Guns.htm

[Township75]

1. You're article isn't relevant because...

no one doesn't believe Moore got the gun from the bank.

The key word is "staged". I believe the accusation (I didn't make it so I am not sure if this is the one) is that Moore setup the transaction in advance, but filmed it to look as if he went to the bank, opened the account, went through the backgroudn check, and walked out with the gun on the same day, which no one else could have done.

your article merely states that there are banks that give away guns with new accounts...I don't know who you are arguing against.

[CO Liberal]

2. I'm Just Showing That It Happens

And it's just as likely that it happened at that bank depicted in "Bowling for Columbine". Whether you choose to believe it or not.

[Township75]

3. What do you mean "just as likely"?

It did happen at the bank in BFC. The issue is how Moore presented that it occured.

[CO Liberal]

4. I Haven't Seen The Film Yet, So I'll Have to Reserve Judgement

And if YOU haven't seen it either (and am simply parrotting the blather of other pro-gunners), perhaps you should do the same.

[Township75]

5. Don't confuse parroting the blather with naming the issue just because..

you don't like the issue.

I haven't written a judgement yet...do you see one? If so, list it.


Go reread my post and you will see I am listing the ISSUE, and am not offering it as fact. If you reread my original post you will see the word "accusation"...maybe you don't like the accusation, and would prefer not to hear it so you just rename it blather.

[Cthulu_2004]

9. I've seen it....

and they didn't show a lot of the stuff Moore had to go through, like all the paperwork to take possession of the gun. Moore made it look like he walked in, plunked down the money, and got a gun right then and there.

[RoeBear]

6. I've seen BFC and...

...the gun transfer was staged for Moore. Anyone else in Michigan (I'm from Michigan) would have had to go to a gun dealer to pick up the gun. But you know what, who cares? If he passed the background check what difference does it make where he gets the gun at?

Another useless bit of exageration on Moore's part: he says that Oscoda (Eric Harris attended school there) is 'just down the road' from Deckerville (Terry Nichols hometown). It's over 160 miles away and almost 4 hours drive time. When he makes piddly little lies like that it makes you wonder about every part of the movie.

And BTW I never go in a bank without my CCW.

[Man_in_the_Moon]

10. I think

the bank was an actual dealer.

[CO Liberal]

13. By Colorado Standards, 160 Miles IS "Just Down the Road"

People out here think nothing of driving 4 or 5 hours each way for a day of skiing or a Bronco game.

[Township75]

14. Must be Moore's Colorado roots speaking.

:silly:

[MrBenchley]

7. How about THAT, sports fans!

Goes to show how chock full of crap Moore's detractors really are.

[RoeBear]

8. explain please nm

nm

[MrBenchley]

12. Sure thing

Moore's detractors are full of crap.

[Man_in_the_Moon]

11. Nothing new

about the "buy a CD get a 'free' gun (the CD amount is usually the same as, or very near to, the MSRP of the gun) and even get your money back in X amount of time", those things have been around for quite a while. I remember one bank offering this deal back in the 70's as a way to buy some real nice Weatherbies.