Grinnell, Iowa and Grinnell College are rolling out the welcome mat for a new Brownells Inc. firearms accessory distribution and retail center along Interstate 80. Central to Brownells’ accessories are “high capacity” magazines for AR-15s and AK-47s.
According to the Associated Press, Grinnell College is “a selective liberal arts institution proud of its commitment to social justice,” while Brownells describes itself as “the world’s largest supplier of firearms accessories and gunsmithing tools.” Moreover, Brownells’ chairman Pete Brownell is “a top donor and board member of the National Rifle Association.”
Yet the college and the town are embracing Brownells’ expansion due to the “economic benefit” it will bring to the area.
The news is not sitting well with gun control proponents. Iowans for Gun Safety spokeswoman Cheryl Thomas said, “Grinnell has been synonymous with high-quality education, with creative and even brilliant contributions to education. This is not a fit.”
Follow AWR Hawkins on Twitter @AWRHawkins.
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