SUMMERVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA: In a move that sparked outrage among his critics, former President Donald Trump recently made a campaign stop at the Palmetto State Armory retail outlet in Summerville, South Carolina.
This popular gun store, owned by JJE Capital Holdings, decided to honor the former president by unveiling a Glock semi-automatic pistol adorned with his name and likeness. However, the choice of venue has drawn attention to the company's controversial history and associations.
Troubling history of Palmetto State Armory
The Palmetto State Armory, known for manufacturing firearms, found itself in the midst of a controversy when it was revealed that the company had produced the assault rifle used by a racist gunman in a horrific incident at a Dollar General Store in Jacksonville, Florida.
The weapon was decorated with two white swastikas before being used to commit the heinous act, which left three Black people dead.
This grim association with violence raised questions about the responsibility of gun manufacturers in such incidents, although it's important to note that other companies like Smith & Wesson, Bushmaster, or Daniel Defense could have potentially been involved as well, the Daily Beast reported.
What sets Palmetto State Armory apart is its marketing of assault weapons designed to appeal to the Boogaloo Boys, a militant movement known for advocating the violent overthrow of the federal government and the potential for civil war.
The company's line of assault weapons, featuring a "Big Igloo Aloha finish," incorporated symbolism associated with the Boogaloo movement. Terms like "Big Igloo" and "Big Luau" are slang for the Second Civil War in the movement's parlance.
Violent Incidents involving Boogaloo Boys
Some members of the Boogaloo Boys were allegedly involved in the January 6 riots at the Capitol and a 2020 plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
In June 2020, a Boogaloo Boy shot and killed two sheriff's deputies in Santa Cruz, leaving the word "boog" written in blood on a car's hood.
In the same month, three alleged Boogaloo Boys were arrested in Las Vegas with assault rifles and explosives, allegedly headed for a George Floyd protest.
Another alleged Boogaloo Boy murdered a federal security officer and engaged in a shootout with police in Oakland, California, sporting a patch that combined the American flag with an igloo on a Hawaiian background. He is currently serving a 41-year prison sentence.
Palmetto State Armory's marketing strategies also raised eyebrows. They offered assault rifle "lower receivers," the core working assembly, with Trumpian slogans such as "Build the Wall" and "Let's Go Brandon."
One even bore the infamous words "You lie!", a sentence that Rep Joe Wilson shouted during President Obama's 2009 State of the Union address.
The company failed to disclose that Joe Wilson's son Julian Wilson is one of the partners in JJE Capital Holdings, the private equity firm that owns Palmetto State Armory.
Joe Wilson, after a House vote to censure him, wrote a letter to Palmetto State Armory's President, Jamin McCallum, thanking him for suspending sales of the product using his words. However, he made no mention of his son's ownership stake in the company.
Trump's visit and legal constraints
During Trump's recent visit to Palmetto State Armory, he expressed excitement about the pistol bearing his likeness. "Oh, I like that one,” Trump exclaimed. “Wow.” He subsequently said, “I want to buy one.”
However, he was unable to purchase it due to federal law, which prohibits anyone under indictment from buying a firearm. Nonetheless, Trump left the store content with the support he received from a crowd of gun enthusiasts.
“They like me,” the former president remarked before leaving the establishment.
