A used car dealer in Rochester, New Hampshire has begun offering a rather unusual deal. Buy a car from them and get a free AR-15 rifle. Unusual deals to entice buyers onto their lots has always been a long standing tradition with car dealerships, especially the pre-owned vehicle dealerships. This one, however, seems out of the norm even for them.
The idea began back in May when Mike Hagan, the owner of Hagan’s Motor Pool Auto Repair and Sales of Rochester, New Hampshire, began advertising the new sales campaign out on his Facebook page. Prior to coming up with the promotion, Hagan said that he consulted with many people and even informed the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and unveiled the promotion at their annual business expo.
“The reaction I have gotten has been mostly positive,” said Hagan. “It shows that people are behind what we are doing here. The negative stuff we have gotten is from people who aren’t familiar with firearms in the first place.”
Hagan is a combat veteran having served as a combat medic in Afghanistan from 2006-2011, He said that the special promotion is done in coordination with a local gun dealer who handles the sales and all of the required background checks for a customer to legally purchase the AR-15 rifle. Customers who buy a vehicle from him, and pass the background checks done by the gun dealer, can bring in their receipt from the purchase of the rifle and Hagan reimburses them. The rifle sells at retail for around $500.
“This wasn’t started to make any sort of message or political statement,” Hagan said. “It all happened well before those terrible attacks in Orlando.”
Hagan has stated that he reserves the right to refuse the offer to anyone he believes may be of suspicious character and, despite some negative feedback, still remains a staunch believer in American freedoms and the need to keep an open dialogue in the country rather than becoming so polarized. He continues to hope that people can have mutual respect for one another and their viewpoints rather than what is quickly becoming the norm and that is to silence those who disagree with you.
“Having these conversations is what’s going to advance our country,” Hagan said, “and is what makes us great here.”
PHOTO CREDITS: The Union Leader (Manchester, NH) / The Washington Post