Texas gun store’s ‘back to school’ sale sign faces criticism: ‘A real poor choice of words’

A Texas gun store is facing criticism from some community members after advertising a "back to school sale," according to KTRK-TV.

The sign, posted outside the Boyert Shooting Center in Katy, Texas, was first noticed by residents over the weekend.

"Back to school sale August 13 through 18. Up to 50 percent off firearms," the sign read.

Michelle Simons was driving by the store with her husband when she noticed the sign. She sent KTRK-TV a photo of the advertisement, which she called "jarring."

"In the current climate and in the current culture where we have school shootings just constantly, mass shootings just constantly, it seems like a real poor choice of words," Simons told the news station.

The store also promoted the summer sale on its Facebook page, however it did not use the "back to school" phrasing in those posts.

Still, Simons and her husband, who is a school teacher, were shocked by the sign's language.

"I hope it was just some kind of glaring oversight. I would rather see any other kind of wording on their board," Simons said. "What does back to school have anything to do with getting guns?"

The Boyert Shooting Center stood by its sign, telling KTRK that numerous teachers had reached out to thank them for the summer deal.

"A lot of Texans are not aware, but it is now legal to conceal carry in some colleges, and for teachers in certain school districts to conceal carry as well. We are wrapping up the program that we have been running since the beginning of June, with a huge sale to benefit everyone," the store said in a statement.

The controversy comes just barely one week after a weekend in which two mass shootings — in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio — left 31 dead. In both instances, the gunman used what police described as semi-automatic, assault-style weapons.

The Boyert Shooting Center also made headlines last year, after a number of retailers — including Dick's Sporting Goods — stopped selling assault rifles after the mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Fla., left 17 dead.

According to the Houston Chronicle, The Boyert Shooting Center responded to those decisions by changing its sign to read: "We're not all Dicks. We still sell AR's."