An animal shelter in California declared that all people supporting the National Rifle Association will be banned from adopting animals and threatened to sue them for “fraud” if they lie about it.
On May 31, the Shelter Hope Pet Shop in Thousand Oaks posted on its website that NRA supporters and civilians who believe that the “Second Amendment gives them the right to buy assault weapons,” will not be eligible to get an animal from them.
“We do not support those who believe that the 2nd amendment gives them the right to buy assault weapons. If your beliefs are not in line with ours, we will not adopt a pet to you,” the pet shop announced in its newsletter.
“If you lie about being a NRA supporter, make no mistake, we will sue you for fraud. If you believe that it is our responsibility to protect ourselves in public places and arm ourselves with a gun–do not come to us to adopt a dog.” The newsletter added.
The movement came after the recent deadly mass shooting in an elementary school in Texas that killed 21 people including 19 children.
“If your beliefs are not in line with ours, we will not adopt a pet to you. If you are pro guns and believe that no background check is necessary, then do not come to us to adopt,” it said.
“Our community of Thousand Oaks became part of all the other cities in America, now scarred with the reputation of a mass killing,” the shelter noted.
The foundation also declared that its staff will grill anyone who will decide to get an appointment and adopt.
“We will grill you before you even get an appointment and visit our rescue. If we ask you ‘do you care about children being gunned down in our schools?’ If you hesitate, because your core belief is that you believe teachers need to carry firearms, then you will not get approved to adopt from us.”
Moreover, people who would like to adopt will be required to submit a one-hour interview, be at least 25 years old, provide a current driver license, and submit to a home inspection.
The animal shelter also warned that the foundation will sue anyone who lies about being an NRA supporter.
“If you lie about being a NRA supporter, make no mistake, we will sue you for fraud. f you believe that it is our responsibility to protect ourselves in public places and arm ourselves with a gun — do not come to us to adopt a dog. We have a choice of who we work with.” The statement reads.
According to Founder Kim Sill, their decision was also fueled by the mass shooting that occurred at the Borderline Bar and Grill, in Thousand Oaks.
Kim claimed that the gunman who perpetrated the horrific mass shooting prompted her to launch the gun control inquiry from the adoption screening process.
The Founder said that the perpetrator had gone to her facility to carry out community service linked to an arrest.
“When he walked in, one of the other volunteers noticed he was wearing flip-flops and told me. When I told him he really should be wearing something like gym shoes, he got real snappy with me. After a day, Larry said we can’t work with him, and I had to let him go,” Sill noted.
Sill also revealed that after the 2018 mass shooting, the FBI and police informed her that the killer had scoped out her facility as a potential target.
“Their advice to me was to hire security, and for a time I did. It was unarmed security, but it was security. Somebody standing at the door. The other advice I got from the police was to come up with an escape plan.” Sill described.
“An escape plan? What I have here are lots of senior citizens and dozens of dogs and cats. How would we escape a gunman who came inside here to kill us? I found myself looking over my shoulder whenever I came to work. And after a while, I realized I just couldn’t live like that.” She added.
