Tom, Rick, and Harley Broadcasting’s Country station, KHLB-FM Mason TX has been running what has turned out to be a bit of a controversial ad for a local business. The ad for a concealed handgun class at Keller’s Riverside Store in Mason, located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country says, “We will attempt to teach you all the necessary information you need to obtain your C.H.L. (Concealed Handgun License),” the ad stated. :45 seconds in, the ad added a disclaimer. “If you are a socialist liberal and or voted for the current campaigner in chief, please do not take this class. You have already proven that you cannot make a knowledgeable and prudent decision as under the law. If you are a non-Christian Arab or Muslim, I will not teach you the class with no shame; I am Crockett Keller, thank you and God Bless America.”
“I call it exercising my right to choose who I instruct in how to use a dangerous weapon,” Keller told KVUE-TV Austin. “The fact is if you are a devout Muslim then you cannot be a true American. Why should I arm these people to kill me, that’s suicide.”
Keller’s $175 ad bought six days worth of air time on KHLB. It stopped airing 10/25, but its message didn’t stop there. The radio spot hit YouTube and took off, getting 1,000 views the first day. It had 17,000 by day three.
Hear the ad here:
On Thursday, Keller defended the ad. “I’m not going to do it. I will give up my license to teach before I will teach them.” (voters of President Obama or non-Christian Muslims)
It’s a stance Keller isn’t alone on. During the KVUE interview, the he fielded nearly 40 calls congratulating him for the ad. But their sentiment isn’t shared by all.
“I just will not teach these people,” said Keller. “If I see them on the road, I’ll wave at them if they wave at me. If I meet them on the street, I’ll be polite as they are to me, that’s my nature; I believe in being polite and honest and matter of fact.”
After hearing of Keller’s ad, The Texas Department of Public Safety released the following statement:
“The Texas Department of Public Safety certifies individuals to teach coursework and provide training required to be taken by individuals seeking to qualify for a Texas concealed handgun license. Certified instructors are required to comply with all applicable state and federal statutes. Conduct by an instructor that denied service to individuals on the basis of race, ethnicity or religion would place that instructor’s certification by the Department at risk of suspension or revocation. The Department became aware of the statements in question yesterday and has begun an investigation into the matter. The Department will take appropriate administrative action based on the findings from the investigation.”
RBR-TVBR observation: Keller may lose his license over this, indeed. But the good news for the station is considering the small Texas town location, it’s unlikely anyone will boycott the station or its advertisers. Imagine if this ad ran in a larger market. Wait a second—it wouldn’t.
