A Florida seafood restaurant owner was so fed up with what he’d seen that he got off the fence for the first time to share exactly how he felt by posting four blunt phrases on the sign outside his business. Not concerned with who he would offend, he got more than he expected when certain people saw it, but the cowboy had a surprise for them.
William “Bill” Davis has been in the business of serving the people of Sarasota the freshest seafood around and providing friendly customer service for years at Barnacle Bill’s Seafood Restaurant. Being in a public business, Bill said he’s always kept his opinions to himself but couldn’t do it anymore after seeing what Democrats were trying to do.
The conservative didn’t want any liberals telling him how to live, so he put a special message on his marquee. To say that it didn’t go over well with those who have different political views is a bit of an understatement. When those who oppose his sentiments tried to retaliate, it backfired on them.
Letting everyone in town know exactly where he stands, Bill simply stated on his marquee, “NRA MEMBER, CONCEALED CARRY OK, NOT A DEPLORABLE, VOTE TRUMP.” Backlash almost immediately ensued from liberal customers who were sick that they had eaten at such a “far-right” restaurant.
However, this is not really a surprising response from people with opposing political views. It was similar to the reactions from conservatives when Target announced their transgender-friendly bathroom policy. Many vowed never to step foot in Target ever again. If you don’t like what a company is doing, take your money elsewhere. It makes sense.
Bill Davis told WFLA that he got over a thousand e-mails and calls from customers who professed their distaste for him as a person and what he stands for as they announced that they’ll never be back. However, a few did return for one reason, which quickly backfired on them.
According to the ABC affiliate in Florida, liberals who disagreed with the sign’s sentiments announced a protest at Bill’s business, using their First Amendment rights to blast him for using his First Amendment rights. They urged everyone to show up and force a take-down on the conservative cowboy’s sign, but supporters of Donald Trump also caught wind of the protest and met the liberals at Barnacle Bill’s Seafood Restaurant.
The liberal turn out for the marquee message protest was unimpressive, but on the flip side was the Trump supporters who arrived in defense of Bill and his bold message. The local news station reported that there were about 20 liberals there, yelling for him to take it down, but over 100 “Deplorables” there to oppose them.
In addition to the support that the business owner got for his sign, something else happened that he wasn’t expecting. After all of the calls and emails from liberals to say they won’t be dining at Barnacle Bill’s Seafood Restaurant anymore, business has never been better because of the incredible outpouring of support from conservatives in town.
This is a great example of Americans using their First Amendment rights to peacefully disagree. It’s always a risk for a business to make a political statement, and it often ends in disaster. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case in this instance.