Muslim Woman Accuses KC Gun Range of Religious Discrimination Regarding Safety Dress Code
A Washington-based civil rights group demands a federal investigation after a gun range turned away a Muslim woman who refused to comply with its safety dressing rules. Rania Barakat made the allegations after Frontier Justice range directed her to remove the Hijab for her safety before using the shooting facilities. However, she refused to comply citing her religion.
“I’ve encountered racism before, but it was never to the point that someone has told me to remove my scarf in order to enter a facility to do any type of activity like this,” Barakat said.
The range has a dress code banning any head covering except a forward-facing baseball cap. The range’s dress code states that
“hats, caps, bandanna, or any other head covering will be removed in the facility, except baseball caps facing forward.”
Barakat’s husband has used the range on multiple occasions and has never faced any form of religious discrimination.
Frontier Justice’s president, Bren Brown, said the woman did not face any discrimination because the safety rules apply to everybody regardless of their religion.
“It saddens us that anyone would say we are not inclusive, given that we serve all races and religions every single day in all of our stores,” Brown said. “We pride ourselves on this fact, and we strongly believe in America and the Second Amendment that is for every single American. Period.”
Barakat was not prevented from using any other services except the shooting facilities. The establishment said they could not allow someone whose dressing could cause unsafe movements causing injuries or death of other shooters.
“There are hundreds of videos of persons on a range that have brass hit their skin, who then flinch and have killed bystanders because of the uncontrolled action in response to the hot brass,” Brown said.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), has requested an investigation. CAIR’s National attorney, Zanah Ghalawanji, said Frontier’s actions sent the message that Muslim women were not welcome in the range. The organization also requested Frontier Justice range to exempt Muslim women from the safety dress code.
Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is pushing universal background checks in our state, and if left unchecked, it will not be long until we see bills like this getting traction in Austin. Texas is embarrassingly ranked 29th for gun rights, and with the help of the political elites in Austin, we will surely rank among New York, California, and Illinois if left to their own devices. Please join our fight today, and help us restore Texas' place as the standard for the U.S.
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