MerchantService.com, Florida Credit Processor, Offers Free AK-47 To Customers [WATCH]

Credit card signing bonuses have been appearing in many forms of late. But one Florida credit processing company's idea of a customer incentive is nothing less than a bona fide assault weapon.

Last Thursday, MerchantService.com, a Sarasota-based company specializing in equipment and credit processing for businesses, announced it would offer its highest-volume customers a voucher for a free AK-47 rifle worth up to $750.00, according to the New Times of Broward and Palm Beach. The company is offering the gun as part of a broader campaign to empower merchants against violence through the use of "God, Guns, and Guts."

"We launched the No Merchant Victims campaign because it's our goal to promote a societal expectation change," Gino Kauzlarich, president of Merchant Service.com, told Orlando's Fox 35 on Monday. "And that is from the right of criminals to make you into a victim, we want to change that so criminals have the expectation of facing lethal force during the commission of a crime."

Still, if not interested, customers can trade in the voucher for cash.

Recently, signing bonuses for credit cards have been on the rise, with Chase bank offering $300 cash back if the customer's total spending tops $500 within the first three months. More benign offers range from Barclaycard's Williams-Sonoma rewards card to deals on flights.

MerchantService.com isn't the first business to use free guns as an incentive. Earlier this year, a Radio Shack in Hamilton, Montana was offering a gun to anyone who purchased Dish Network.

MerchantService.com itself takes the time to emphasize that its program doesn't promote illegal activity.

"Keep in mind we are not simply handing out AK-47 assault rifles to anyone who opens an account with us," the company's website says. "You will receive a voucher...towards the purchase of a firearm at any reputable gun shop where you must go through the proper background checks and waiting period that the law requires." (h/t New Times of Broward and Palm Beach.)

Watch Fox 35's interview with president of Merchant Service.com Gino Kauzlarich:

Business offers free AK-47 to new clients: MyFoxORLANDO.com

CORRECTION: A previous version of this post mistakenly referred to the gun in question as an assault rifle.

Comments

[Michael Langford]

10:23 AM on 09/24/2011

So we hear about how people need guns to stop criminals ALL the time, but what we SEE is more gun crimes and more death. When will people realize that more guns in a society is never good for it?

[RevJimIII]

02:07 PM on 09/25/2011

Violent crime rates have been on the decline for quite a while now..

[Michael Langford]

02:16 PM on 09/25/2011

In the US, where this is relevant, they have steadily risen.

[trippintom806212]

06:26 PM on 09/23/2011

I went to your website expecting and hoping to see you admit that you are being sarcastic, but you are dead sereously degranged. At least you're honest about your agenda, which the NRA does track and report on monthly. and within your words, you also admit the whole gun-ban scheme is based on deception. BTW don't forget the steps where you place inexperienced, illiterate justices on the Supreme Court so they can reinterpret the constutution to say whatever they are paid to say it says, and to elect a charasmatic leader who promises to take care of everyone, just give up your freedoms. I think I will go write a donation check to the NRA now, I like being an independent adult.

[count4eternity]

12:05 PM on 09/22/2011

Geberal Washington didn't defeat the British with words. He shot them.

[count4eternity]

11:56 AM on 09/22/2011

When seconds count, the police will be there in minutes.

[count4eternity]

11:56 AM on 09/22/2011

Obama is protected by the Secret Service, 12,000 troops and 4,00 police officers.
They have armor and weapons.

Who's assigned to protect your family?

[count4eternity]

11:50 AM on 09/22/2011

"GUNS KILL PEOPLE!"

Yeah... and pencils mis spel words

cars make people drive drunk,

and spoons made Rosie O'Donnell fat.

[count4eternity]

11:48 AM on 09/22/2011

Washington use his right to free speech to defeat the Brittish. He shot them.

[count4eternity]

11:46 AM on 09/22/2011

THE EXPERTS AGREE; GUN CONTROL WORKS!"

The experts are

HITLER, STALIN, CASTRO, QUADDFI, IDI AMIN, POL POT, MAO TSE-TUNG...."

[count4eternity]

11:42 AM on 09/22/2011

"GUN OWNERS ARE COMPENSATING FOR SOMETHING."

I'm compensating for the fact that most violent criminals are bigger and stronger than me.

[count4eternity]

11:38 AM on 09/22/2011

GUN CONTROL: The theory that woman found dead in an alley, raped and strangled with her own panyhose, is somehow morally superior to the woman explaining to a cop how her assailant got that hole in his chest.

[OdinsEye]

08:49 PM on 09/21/2011

All those protesting this, please note:

"MerchantService.com, a Sarasota-based company specializing in equipment and credit processing for businesses, announced it would offer its highest-volume customers "

So, 1) not only is this "AK-47' NOT a military firearm, but rather a semi-auto and;

2) Not only does the customer receive a voucher, but still have to fill out all the federal paperwork and under go a background check, but;

3) It is not something they are giving away to everyone who opens an account, it is only being given to business owners who lease the most equipment or submit the most credit processing requests.

IOW, John Q Public is not going to be able to walk in and qualify to get the voucher.

[contrail]

03:23 PM on 09/21/2011

Is anyone handing out vouchers for tanks or sound cannons to deal with our over-zealous paramilitary police forces?
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=6476
http://reason.com/archives/2007/07/02/our-militarized-police-departm

[Shikamaru]

12:33 PM on 09/21/2011

""God, Guns, and Guts.""


Disgusting....

[count4eternity]

11:58 AM on 09/22/2011

An intruder blowing out your guts. REALLY disgusting!

[Shikamaru]

12:07 PM on 09/22/2011

the disgusting part is the fact they try to invoke god's name... that is 100% hypocritical. No way you can spin it. I've researched most religions, none of them have anything to do with guns. I'm a gun owner... that campaign is very sad.

[ZackShorty]

12:17 PM on 09/21/2011

Messing with the NRA is like messing with social security. Very few politicians are going to mess with either. I do wish all gun owners knew how to use them. I know people who ran out and bought guns that are still in the box they came in. I know another person that got a concealed weapons permit. He has to show everyone he is 'packing'. I'm waiting for him to shoot himself in the b*lls while showing off his 'piece'.

[OdinsEye]

08:37 PM on 09/21/2011

If he is showing everyone, report him to the police. In most states with concealed carry permits, showing your firearm, even inadvertantly, can be grounds for revoking the permit. Exposing it intentionally can result in criminal charges.

[ZackShorty]

04:59 PM on 09/22/2011

This guy is just an example of someone that should not be a gun owner, regardless of his rights under the constitution. The fact he has a concealed weapons permit just makes it more laughable. (Until someone is shot by mistake). Hes the only one I know, but I'm sure he is not alone. Some four foot people feel ten feet tall when they can flash a weapon. I have no problem with anyone owning a weapon if they teach themselves how to use it, and act responsibly.

[Trustfunded1]

10:50 AM on 09/21/2011

If you think Century Arms guns are cheap...wait until you see these rifles.

Drunk monkeys build better guns.