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Radio Show Host Resigns After Making Threats, Bashing an AR-15 Giveaway and Firearm Owners

Feb. 8, 2013 7:30pm Liz Klimas

A Pittsburgh radio show host resigned Friday for threatening comments he made on Facebook and an on-air rant that bashed a local firearm store’s giveaway of an AR-15 package and firearm owners all-together.

Tim Benz who hosted 105.9 The X morning show on Thursday began an argument over Pittsburgh Tactical Firearm’s Facebook contest that was giving away an AR-15 and ammunition. Record of what was said on the show is not available, but those on the firearm store’s Facebook page said that the store’s owner Erik Lowry and “all supporters of tactical style firearms” were criticized by Benz on air.

A screenshot of a Facebook comment posted to Twitter also shows Benz under the 105.9 The X account threatening another commenter saying he thought “Obama’s idea of flying drones over America is an awesome one …so long as the drone is targeting your house. If he blew you away, he’d be doing us all a favor.”

Here’s a screenshot of the tweeted image (Content warning: some strong language):

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Benz saying the following regarding his actions:

“There was a flare-up about gun control on the show which included a good deal of flashback against the station,” Benz said. “I wasn’t able to walk away from the fight … (so) I decided to step away from the Morning Show.”

He also appears to have posted his thoughts on the 105.9 Twitter account earlier today as well:

As for the contest itself, which some have criticized as in “protest of Obama’s gun proposals“ and 105.9 asking on Facebook if it was the “BEST way to contribute to the GUN CONTROL debate?” Lowry, the owner of Pittsburgh Tactical Firearms, told TheBlaze in an interview the contest was never in response to the gun control debate in the first place.

“That was not our intention,” Lowry said. “We’re obviously pro-Second Amendment rights. We’re pro-Bill of Rights people.”

“The liberal media is exploiting [the contest,]” Lowry continued. “So many sites are putting us in a bad light.”

A review of Pittsburgh Tactical Firearms’ Facebook page shows that the AR-15 package contest, which is not the first contest the store has conducted, was issued on Dec. 24, well before Obama’s official gun control proposals were laid out on Jan. 16.

105.9 The X Radio Host Tim Benz Resigns Over Comments Regarding Gun Owners and Pittsburgh Tactical Firearm

(Image: Facebook)

Lowry said the contest was to drum up support for his Facebook page. He said he’d seen such campaigns done before and set the lofty goal of getting 25,000 “likes” by the first of the year. That date came and went without reaching his goal, so he lowered the stakes to getting only 10,000 “likes” and gave it some more time. A winner was announced this month, but shortly thereafter began receiving so much backlash on Facebook that he chose to shut down his account.

“He just wants to stay private,” Lowry said of the man who won the firearm and ended up giving it to his son who is in the Navy. “He just wants to be left alone.”

Now Lowry has the attention of many whether he wants it or not. He’s been contacted by local and national media organizations. Smith Enterprises, a provider of various firearm-related products, contacted Lowry to donate what he said is a “care package” for his next Facebook giveaway contest.

Lowry also made an interesting point regarding the concern some have about owning “that” type of gun and the amount of guns people are purchasing — he said after the shooting in Newtown, Conn., some people were buying multiple firearms at a time from his store. It’s not just so they can stock up to arm themselves, Lowry said. He noted some people see the weapons as an investment. He pointed to the 1980s assault weapons ban that strictly limited civilian ownership of automatic weapons and drove up the price of firearms like the M-16. He also said some people who long were considering gun ownership might be jumping on board now because they fear it could be too late in the future.

Lowry said he is not surprised at the outpouring of support he has received on Facebook to Benz’ comments and criticism of the AR-15 contest. He said Ted Nugent on Piers Morgan’s CNN show a few days ago put the sentiment of many gun owners, including Lowry’s own perspective, quite nicely.

“99.99% of the gun owners of America are wonderful people that you are hanging around with here today. Perfectly safe. Perfectly harmless. Wonderful, loving, giving, generous caring people. Would you leave us the hell alone?” Nugent said. And Lowry said he would agree on all points.

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (63)

TouchStoneMT
Posted on February 9, 2013 at 12:36am
No loss.

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- American Soldier (Separated)
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 1:29am
  PEOPLE. If you see it on the computer, there is a nifty FREE program already installed on windows called SNIPPING TOOL. It’s faster and easier to read then taking a photo of a digital screen with a cell phone camera!
  
  Report this comment
- Advection
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 2:27am
  Liberals are crazy. They love dictators and murderers. They hate freedom and sanity.
  
  Report this comment
- carhouse
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 5:36am
  There should be no gun argument at all, Here is why.
  
  The 2nd A is the brick wall for the argument, but it doesn,t even get there.
  There are many millipns of guns out there, Unless you can take them ALL back, criminals will have guns,’
  If criminals can have guns then you HAVE to allow law abiding citizens to have access to same guns.
  The only way to fight fire is with fire.
  So regardles of where we stand on the 2A. You might say what Nobody has said yet.
  It is simply too late to attempt to limit weapons of anykind that are already out there.
  
  Report this comment
- MadinIllinois
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 12:27pm
  Another example of the Lame Street Media jockey who actually thinks that they are part of the solution…sad part, the “less informed” voter who listens to this junk – agree with this mind-set. If I were the guy that he ranted about having the drone targeting my house, I’d be filing “charges” against him and the radio station that employed him…
  
  Report this comment
- rightwingtunes.com
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 1:44pm
  I wonder why we, as conservatives, applaud when a goofy lib gets fired for on-air comments. I mean, anyone who would listen to this boob is a lost cause. Listeners should votes with their ears, and when they turn off a dope like this, the market has done its job. Glenn Beck was subjected to all of these campaigns to fire someone based on their views. I say it works both ways, and idiots like Mr. Benz will eradicate themselves. There is no reason we should ‘Benz’ over for the First Amendment.
  
  I realize this may offend some, but conservatives believe in the right of the individual to speak out, and for the listener to remain entranced, or walk away with an epiphany.
  
  Report this comment
- 00100111
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 5:08pm
  Rightwingtunes, he wasn’t fired. He resigned. No one will miss him. The thing is, we conservatives don’t DEMAND someone be fired for statements like that, but we sure don’t mourn if the company that employs them decides to terminate them for personally insulting someone on the company’s facebook page. It is up to the company to do so, and we support the company’s decision to do so whether it is a conservative who said something or a liberal who said something. It is the left who pickets, boycotts, and demands conservatives by fired or silenced. We don’t demand they be silenced. We don’t mourn their loss if they’re fired though.
  
  It’s like if I have to shoot an attacker. I don’t want him to die, but I won’t be heartbroken or lose any sleep if he does.
  
  Report this comment
- NoLongerNonPlussed
  Posted on April 21, 2013 at 10:55pm
  @advection
  
  Dude, you really have to get it together. We all know that if it weren’t for some independent, freedom loving individuals that were conservative in nature, there wouldn’t be any reasons for liberal thinking Utopians to become such controlling progressive, socialist, facist, communist dictators. Liberals are only trying to help us, don’tchaknow?
  
  Can anyone recall the last conservative civic leader who actively tried to take away, or grossly limit the independent individuals rights? It looks like the conservative leader is always trying to get the individuals to exercise their rights and responsibilities, while the liberal leader is always trying to classify individuals into groups that can be thwarted, demeaned, vilified, and controlled for the good of the collective that the elite liberal leader rules.
  
  Report this comment
- Con_Sanity
  Posted on April 23, 2013 at 4:50am
  @American Soldier: SNIPPING TOOL? You mean the PRT SCR (Print Screen) button above the Home Key that has been on IBM PC/XT, PS/2, and compatible keyboards for roughly THIRTY YEARS!?! And the fact that it can be used to take an image of the screen in the last 8 to 10 versions of Windows? Oh, that Snipping Tool. Yeah. But we has da sell fone dewd dat taks pics lol omg lol ppl. Yu r so 20th sentery.
  
  Report this comment
Truthmonster
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 11:20pm
Liberals are sort of funny till they poop and throw it at you. All mass killers were liberals and like MSNBC or their sick families were liberals. Let’s ban liberals and we’ll be safe. Liberals are hanging onto reality by a thread anyway then the hate monster trolls at MSNBC set them off. Ban MSNBC

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- VagueSoul25
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 7:29am
  OH MY GoD! Well Spoken!!! LMFAO you made my morning brother!
  
  Report this comment
- fatpatriot
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 10:59am
  No offense intended here,but we should all begin to identify the “liberal” as what they really are. Progressives. The classic “Liberal” is closer to Libertarian/Conservative. You comment is dead-on accurate if we substitue the term “liberal” with Progressive. By the way Progressives are not limited to the leftist ideology either. The Progressives today see themselves as “We know better how to run things than you do” with total disregard for the individual rights of the People. Just look at the leadership in our Government for a clue as to whether or not they are progressive or conservative. Forget about the “D”, “R” or “I” following their name. Look at the possibilities and/or results of the legislation and regulations being put forth. If the results are more Government control of your everyday decisions regarding your “life, liberty and the pursuit fo happiness” you can bet your backside they are Progressive. Everyone on this site needs to give careful consideration to the upcaoming candidates for election in your State. If you get the least little whiff of Progessivism “THROW THEM OUT”.
  
  Report this comment
BADDOGGYDESCIPLE
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 10:43pm
He was giving away the plan and had to be neutralized.

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- lovenfl3
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 11:04pm
  This guy will probably get some kind of award for this. It’s how things work in this liberal society. Doh!
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z85X6im-4Qs
  
  Report this comment
runwithscissors
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 10:33pm
ONE MORE THING, what about personal drones, have not heard a discussion yet but I think these will someday cost about the same as an AR15 and I think we have a right to one of those too.

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- Rob in Katy
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 11:15pm
  They are in the range of a high end AR… I have seen kits, copters, 4-rotors for between $2000-5000!
  I saw one where a guy mounted a gock inverted a paint pistol on it…
  
  Report this comment
runwithscissors
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 10:30pm
Notice how he over compensates for being called essentially what we used to call – a sissy. I am sure he thinks this gun has select fire/ full auto and grenade launch capability and has the ability to shoot itself.

Funny how the ignorant always think they are the smartest one in the room.

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Ben__Franklin
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:58pm
I am trying to get this straight. A man who is pro-gun control and against gun violence thinks the answer to the problem is to kill his opponents?

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- LeadNotFollow
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 10:27pm
  That’s exactly the way a liberal’s sick evil twisted mind works.
  They think killing people will fix our violence problem.
  
  Report this comment
- comforteagle
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 10:51pm
  I think the person who said all this is conservative. just read what the screenshot says. He was calling obama ignorant and calls the antagonist a wussifier and liberal. so, to me that would mean that that is how conservative minds work if you want to stay consistant…
  
  Report this comment
Excomunicatedmarine
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:49pm
To think that good men have lost their lives so some guy like this can abuse his rights and rant like a parrot….makes me really sick sometimes

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Jaracing2
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:34pm
People who are raped or mugged or severely beating tend to change their minds about gun control, not all but most. Maybe he better wlk softly for awhile, there are some really made people out there!!!

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JACKTHETOAD
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:32pm
Oh. I thought he said lying drones. That would be the rest of the left.

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deerjerkydave
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:01pm
Funny how the solution to gun control is to murder its supporters. Only possible in the drug induced mind of a committed liberal.

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Carlinpa
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 8:49pm
The reasons that liberals want to blame hands,, ahh I mean guns, instead of the REAL cause ( the breakdown of the family/culture and mental issues ) for all the violence is that, they KNOW that it would lead right to their front doorstep. They are they number one cause of the deterioration and decline of society!

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Whtwulf
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 8:18pm
I know Lowry he and I may disagree on a few things but on things like this we are in total agreement. Next time I am out in his area it is a trip to his store and a few bucks lighter in my wallet.

The funny thing is the libs do not realize how much free publicity they have given him and his company. They did him a great service. I guess they expected people to continue to be sheeple and just roll over and agree with some guy on the radio because he is on the radio. I wonder just how many sponsers are going to drop their adds from the station. Hopefully a lot.

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MrObamablows
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 8:11pm
Hhahahahahahaahaah stupid ass idiots glad you lost your job!

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FISH_BONE
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 8:10pm
Its snowing here. I’m having an anxiety attack. I don’t know what to do. Somebody help me!!!!

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- Jedrin
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 8:26pm
  Sharpen a knife. Go for a bike ride if you like a challenge.
  
  Report this comment
- DEFCON4
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 8:27pm
  Settle down, Beavis……
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 8:32pm
  FISH_BONE, Okay, try and calm down, take a deep breath. Then get on line and listen to the first hour of Rush’s show today for the well explained tips he gave. Or, find the video or audio of Nanny Doomberg’s speech to the NYC residents. He literally boosted everything that Rush had said earlier.
  
  Report this comment
- CatB
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 8:49pm
  Don’t eat YELLOW snow. ;-)
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:20pm
  CATB, LOL, that is what one female caller after Rush gave all of his tips today. Actually stumped him and he admitted to actually forgetting that one.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAZpj6dHToQ
  
  Report this comment
- SaturdaysWarrior76
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:37pm
  Weather like that makes you want to Bake Cookies.. or make love! Or… BOTH! ; )
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 10:39pm
  Fire. Fire. Fire. And more tp for your *********.
  
  Report this comment
RJJinGadsden
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 8:07pm
“RADIO SHOW HOST RESIGNS AFTER MAKING THREATS, BASHING AN AR-15 GIVEAWAY AND FIREARM OWNERS”
Left wing loon speak translated: My ass got canned!

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BasketFullOfPuppies
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 8:07pm
Do these people really not understand that it’s their way of thinking, and their rhetoric, that makes it mandatory that we have the firepower necessary to protect ourselves… from people like them and a government that might think the way they do?

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deltaecho
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 8:04pm
amf

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DEFCON4
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 8:02pm
What A Maroon ! http://youtu.be/hxGgnI6kCrs

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conard3
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 8:00pm
Poorly written article, reminds me of the yahoo writers.

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LBJDIDIT1963
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:57pm
He probably got an offer from Obama to work for DHS!

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fastgen1
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:45pm
Now you see what’s wrong with lefties……

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- Stelex
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:59pm
  I’ve alway’s seen whats wrong with lefty’s…. its ironic that Obama is Left handed, studies show that most gays are left handed……..I have no point, just found it interesting. Just how long to we wonder down the road……Are we waiting for a savior to appear???? I submit that each day that passes we are losing ground.
  
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- JACKTHETOAD
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:49pm
  I’m gifting him with a t-shirt with a bulls-eye on it for when tshtf…I have more, too. They’d be stoopid enough to wear them. I love lefties.
  
  Report this comment
- china clipper
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 9:35am
  Reagan was Left handed.
  
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The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:43pm
Nice contest…at currebt prices, the items are worth as follows:

AR15 $1500-$2500
1000 rounds of ammo $900-$1200
10 Pmags $500-$750
Total package…$2900-$4450

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- LBJDIDIT1963
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:55pm
  The 2ND Amendment…..PRICELE$$
  
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- RaydocX
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:57pm
  yep, and four months ago it would have been HALF that…
  actually, i’d argue the ammo is more, since we simply CANNOT FIND IT here in the midwest… at any price. the local cabela’s looks like a ghost town unless you’re buying shotgun shells… no significant ammunition and precious few firearms.
  
  Report this comment
- VetMike
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 9:49am
  Ray, our Cabelas got a very small shipment of low end AR15s. I happened to be there at the time of delivery. There were sixty people lined up to buy one of 15 that were available. They also have no ammunition nor reloading supplies. You cannot even find 22LR or 22Mag. Yet DHS has 400 million rounds of 5.56 and 7000 full auto weapons for “self defense”. If I were the conspiracy type……
  
  Report this comment
- Lt_Scrounge
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 8:03pm
  Where are you buying ammo and mags? 1000 rounds of 5.56 should only be around $500 and the Pmags are around $300. Of course two months ago the ammo was $300 and the mags $150.
  
  Report this comment
groundzero
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:42pm
ANOTHER Left Wing NUT that can’t controll his emotion BUT WANTS TO CONTROLL EVERYONE ELSE. It’s a DISEASE as I watch this time & time again! Does everyone realize all the mass murders have been left wing nuts or their parents were!

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 8:29pm
  GROUNDZERO, That’s it precisely. They know more about what is best for us all. Just read most of the troll messages here. Frankly, if their were removed and left on the edge of a razor blade it would look like a BB rolling down a 4 lane highway. They haven’t the ability to understand that last year 99.997% of the guns in this nation having responsible owners were never, ever used intentionally or accidentally to injure or kill anybody. And WANG FOR BRAINS, regardless what a gun was designed to do, that is a far better safety record than automobiles, practicing physicians, any body of water, farm implements, industrial sites, construction, combined. But, damned if the Chicago gangs aren’t trying to catch up.
  But, since this story relates to an AR15 (or for SENDTHEMEATEEYORES to understand, an AK15) According to officially released FBI report, Adam Lanza body was found at Sandy Hook with four handguns, not a long gun inside the building. A long gun was discovered the car he drove. Speaking of rifles, more people die in the act of auto erotic asphyxiation in this nation annually than are killed by all rifles usage intentionally or accidentally.
  
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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 8:35pm
  Frankly, if their INSERT “BRAINS” HERE were removed
  
  Report this comment
- Bonnieblue2A
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:15pm
  And when they do it they threaten violence upon those with whom they disagree. These far lefties are seriously mentally deranged lunatics. No way I’m disarming for them.
  
  Report this comment
Whatdoesntkillyou
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:39pm
Db

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The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:39pm
Ahhh…da po’ widdle baby boy had hisself a temper tantrum ova somtin he kno nuttin about…na had to say “bahbah.”

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