‘I Am a Christian’: Auto-Shop Owner Ignites Outrage After Making Controversial Announcement on Facebook

A Michigan auto-shop owner said he has received death threats after announcing on Facebook that he would offer discounts to gun owners, but refuse service to openly gay individuals.

Image source: WOOD-TV

Brian Klawiter made the announcement in a Tuesday post on his Grandville shop's Facebook page:

Enough is enough.

Our rights as conservative Americans are being squashed more and more everyday. Apparently if you are white (or close to it), you have a job, go to church, and own a gun... That translates into racists, privileged, bigot, conspiracy theorist. Too many of us say nothing. Well, freedom of speech isn't just for Liberals, THEY are the ones that need to learn to "co-exist", THEY are the ones who need to WORK to be "equal"

Therefore, in the spirit of freedom (whats left of it) and MY right to operate MY business as I see fit:

Guns ARE allowed at DIESELTEC, so much so in fact that we will offer a discount if you bring in your gun. ("On duty" cops are excluded because thats not their gun, thats my gun bought with my money, off duty absolutely!)

I am a Christian. My company will be run in a way that reflects that. Dishonesty, thievery, immoral behavior, etc. will not be welcomed at MY place of business. (I would not hesitate to refuse service to an openly gay person or persons. Homosexuality is wrong, period. If you want to argue this fact with me then I will put your vehicle together with all bolts and no nuts and you can see how that works.)

We, as a team, work hard for whats ours. We are not protected by unions or contracts. We absolutely MUST provide our customers with a service level that would make them come back or tell their friends about us. We don't have a "right", and we are not "entitled" to our pay. We must EARN it.

I am not racists, you are for assuming I am, however, I am really quick to judge... if it acts like a duck, and quacks like a duck...

It IS a free country and I support your right to your opinion, that being said, if you don't like what I have to say I reserve that same right to tell you to go cry to your momma (cause your daddy would probably smack ya', better yet, yes, go tell your dad.)

The post, which has received more than 1,000 shares, resulted in immediate backlash toward him and his business Dieseltec.

"Don't use a religion that preaches tolerance to excuse yourself from bigotry," one individual commented.

"Someone needs a good a** kicking. Guess who," wrote another.

Others defended him.

"Freedom of speech is still in our constitutional rights!!" one wrote.

A GoFundMe page was temporarily setup in support of the owner, but was later removed. On Thursday, Klawiter posted a followup message on Facebook.

Listen up folks, If you have an opposing view to mine that IS OK, what is NOT OK is threats to kill me, my family, and friends; threats to burn down my shop and my home. I will stand firm on my views and will not back down [...] I also am not asking for anyone to do the gofundme postings. We are a successful business and are blessed to be able to feed our families. If there is any money raised it will be redistributed to people with greater needs than ours.

According to Michigan Live, a woman stopped by Klawiter's shop Thursday to briefly express her outrage in person.

Grandville Mayor Steve Maas told WOOD-TV that following the post he would be open to discussing an ordinance that would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Klawiter, however, said he plans to stand firm.

“I’ve chosen to put God first in my life and that he owns everything in me and my business and beyond,” Klawiter told WOOD-TV. “Since that becomes a priority, I can’t sacrifice on those morals.”

He did, however, admit that he "exercised a little more freedom" on his Facebook page than he "would on a news broadcast."

TheBlaze could not immediately reach Klawiter for comment Thursday evening.

In recent weeks, religious freedom laws have sparked controversy. Owners of an Indiana pizza shop said they were forced to temporarily close after receiving threats when they said they would decline to cater a same-sex wedding.

(H/T: Mediaite)

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