The owner of a local indoor shooting range who wants her business to be a Muslim-free zone said Tuesday that she will not change her position, even though the U.S. Department of Justice has been asked to investigate her.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. on Monday asking that the DOJ investigate Jan Morgan, and The Gun Cave, her gun range at 1225 Blacksnake Road, "for banning all Muslims from her business and declaring it a 'Muslim-free zone.'"
"I wouldn't expect anything less from CAIR," Morgan said Tuesday. "That is what they do around the country; it's what they've been doing with anyone who speaks out about Islam in any way."
On Sept. 28, Morgan posted an article on her website, janmorganmedia.com, listing her reasons for being concerned about Islamists.
"I stand by what I did. My life has been threatened repeatedly by Muslims and has been for years. Everything I said in my article is 100 percent accurate. I don't have any signs on this building banning Muslims. I don't have anything in my paperwork or anywhere that people have to fill out to shoot here that asks about your religious affiliation," she said.
CAIR said in its letter that it believes "systematically banning Muslims from a place of business is a violation of federal laws prohibiting racial and religious discrimination and will inevitably result in a hostile environment for ordinary Muslims in Arkansas."
"There is nothing here or no signs inside or outside the building, and I haven't turned anyone away because of their religious affiliation," Morgan said.
"This is not a coffee and doughnut shop," she said. "We're dealing with lethal firearms. I've turned people away for a variety of reasons since I've owned this place, just like the previous owner did and just like people that own gun ranges all over the United States."
As a shooting range owner, Morgan said she has the right and responsibility to protect the safety of her patrons and will turn people away if they make her feel uncomfortable, or exhibit a questionable mental state.
"I have a right to say I don't feel comfortable letting you shoot on this range, or I don't feel comfortable renting or selling you a gun," she said.
CAIR, in a news release posted on its website Tuesday regarding the letter, says Morgan "claims the bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agrees with her claimed right to bar customers based on their faith."
The letter says "Ms. Morgan appears to be misinterpreting the advice given to her and refusing service to all Muslims, which cannot be a correct interpretation of compliance with federal gun laws and the U.S. Constitution."
Specifically, CAIR referred to this statement on her website: "The ATF informed us when we received the license that if we feel ANY reason for concern about selling someone a firearm, even sense that something is not right about an individual, or if we are concerned about that persons mental state, even if they pass a background check, we do not have to sell that person a gun. Two different ATF agents stressed that it is better to err on the side of caution."
"The ATF, Eric Holder's agency, has given us that kind of discretion, and I've checked with them again and they said I have sole discretion based on the behavior of a person. If I have a gut feeling or reason to suspect they may use a handgun in an illegal manner, I don't have to hand them a gun," Morgan said.
Morgan said she has never discriminated against anyone because of their religious beliefs.
"The bottom line is if I lose my business or get sued as a result of this and lose everything I have, it's a principle I stand on because if I can't provide a safe, secure environment for the people who come here to shoot, then I don't have a business anyway, and would rather not have a business," she said.
"I'd rather not be in business than to have to relax my standards and allow anyone in here who is behaving in a way that makes people uncomfortable or might jeopardize safety," she said.
Morgan said she has turned people away in the past who exhibited suicidal tendencies, had been drinking, or lacked the experience to handle firearms.
"I don't let people shoot just because they've just purchased a new semi-automatic weapon. That's dangerous for them and other people," she said.
"Given the recent spike in anti-Muslim rhetoric, including Islamophobic statements by government officials, community leaders, and media outlets, death threats, and other bias incidents targeting Muslims, I urge you to investigate this matter soon," CAIR's letter said.
CAIR said it sent copies of the letter to the U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, the governor of Arkansas, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, and the ATF's Little Rock Field Office.
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, said its mission is to "enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding."
Local on 10/08/2014