A Washington County car dealership has pulled a Fourth of July promotion that offered every buyer a Bible, a 12-gauge shotgun and an American flag, after Ford Motor Company asked the store to stop running the advertisement.
Chatom Ford announced the end of the campaign in a post on its Facebook page. “We were running a promotion celebrating this country’s independence. Ford Motor Company has asked us to stop running the advertisement,” the post read. “They manufacture the products we are franchised to sell, so we are complying with their request. We appreciate everyone’s support. All the phone calls and messages were so greatly appreciated. We will fulfill all commitments we made to our customers.”
The Original Offer
The dealership had advertised the three items as a gift with the purchase of any vehicle, new or pre-owned, in a Facebook post that opened with the line “GOD, GUNS, AND FREEDOM.” The promotion had been scheduled to run through July 31.
According to the dealership, participants had to be at least 18 years old, hold a valid ID, be legally able to purchase a vehicle, and pass all checks required to own a firearm in their state of residence.
The dealership said it will honor commitments already made to customers who bought vehicles while the promotion was active.