Bankruptcy lawyer writes open letter to shop owner who vowed to turn away openly gay customers
A Michigan bankruptcy lawyer says a shop owner may need his services after announcing in a Facebook post that he would turn away gay customers.
Grand Rapids lawyer Jeffrey Mapes wrote an open letter in response to the Facebook post by the owner of DieselTec in Grandville, Michigan, MLive.com reports. The business owner, Brian Klawiter, wrote that openly gay people aren’t welcome at his business, but those with firearms can bring them in and get a discount, MLive.com reported in a prior story.
Klawiter wrote: “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.”
Mapes responded with a post introducing himself to the shop owner. “This is certainly an unorthodox business strategy, and perhaps it will work for you, but I get the feeling you will need a bankruptcy attorney pretty soon and I wanted to offer my services,” Mapes wrote. “Like you, I am white, male, Christian, a business owner, and a gun owner. Unlike you, I provide services to everyone regardless of their sexual orientation because it doesn’t matter to me–I hope this won’t be a deal breaker for you.”
Mlive.com reported in another story that the shop owner does not have a city business license. He told the city council earlier this year that requiring a license violates his Fourth Amendment rights because it authorizes city inspectors to enter his property without a warrant.
Klawiter says he has received death and arson threats as a result of his post, according to this story by MLive.com.
