April 19, 1775 — battles break out between settlers in America and British soldiers. The early settlers came to this land to escape the persecution and taxation of the British Empire, and now it has come for them. Within days, word has traveled to the surrounding colonies and men of all ages line up to defend the free land they have journeyed to. Battles continue to surge and settlers begin to see them play out in their own lands and homes. A little over a year later, the colonies are united under one decision: FIGHT FOR FREEDOM. July 4th, 1776 — the Declaration of Independence is signed, a risky move considered treason against the Crown of England. There is no turning back. We either win or lose EVERYTHING. I don’t know about you, but every time I read our history or watch movies about it, I get fired up and want to run into battle myself. Our country was founded by those willing to do anything to secure freedom in this great nation. What it took for our ancestors to stand against an opponent that outnumbered and out-gunned them is truly inspiring. Against great odds, they laid everything down and declared:
“Give me liberty, or give me death!” — Patrick Henry
Spoiler alert — we won! This year marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence was signed. What a tremendous time to reflect on 250 years of United States history and realign ourselves with the values our country was built on. As a father and a business owner, I often think about these values and work them into my parenting and business practices. Let’s take a moment and consider some of them.
The Values That Built America
Service: Identify ways we can serve others instead of ourselves.
Faith & Divine Providence: Knowing it is not all about us, but about a great God who has a great plan for each of us. He knows you, loves you, and has a plan for YOU.
The Right to Self-Defense: The 2nd Amendment gives us the right of self-defense, especially against tyranny. This value calls us to be protectors.
Limited Government: We are not here to be led by the headlines. We are called to be educated in truth, free-thinkers, and problem solvers.
Community & Civic Duty: We need to be enlightened, informed, and selfless. We stand up for those who need us and use our blessings to support our local community.
Courage in the Face of Tyranny: Against ALL odds, stand firm and HOLD THE LINE. We do not shake hands with the devil. We hold to truth and morals no matter the cost.
Hard Work & Earned Success: We are a successful country because of those who choose to go above and beyond. Build a legacy by leaving each place better than it was when you found it.
One thing I tell my four boys is that my life goal is to raise the bar to the highest level I can — by showing them how to have a relationship with God, how to be a great husband, how to be a great father, and how to be a great worker. It is then their job to raise the bar beyond this. We all need to shift our mentality toward excellence and lead others to be even better. By doing so, we will lift our families and communities to a whole new level. This is the legacy our founders left behind.
A Local Business Built on Founding Values
Six years ago, God put it in my heart to leave my comfortable full-time government job— including the retirement, insurance, time off, and peace of mind — and turn my side hustle of training people on firearm use and sales into a retail store. For those of you who don’t know, prior to opening our store I was a federal Correctional Officer and then a Probation Officer. During that time, I obtained my license to sell firearms on the side out of a small room in my house. I got my affairs in order, found a good storefront, and opened in March of 2021.
During that time, I noticed a troubling trend. Gun shops were taking advantage of people by heavily inflating prices for a quick (and large) profit. Combine that with the industry stereotype of arrogant guys behind the counter, and customers — myself included — were growing weary of sub-par service. Our shop has been built on the value of Service Above All. Each member of the QRF team is trained in the culture we have built and aligned with our mission statement:
OUR MISSION
We love our customers and we love our community.
Nothing gives us more satisfaction than equipping people with the right tool to keep them and their loved ones safe.
We strive to provide a welcoming and family-friendly atmosphere through top-notch customer service.
From sales to firearm instruction, and everything in between, you’ll find our staff to be patient, kind, and knowledgeable.
We commit ourselves to be respectful no matter the occasion, self-disciplined in each of our goals, and faithful to our team.
This might seem idealistic to some, but we truly believe we can make a difference in our community by serving others. I am proud to say that just a few months ago, our team won Idaho’s Best Gun Shop statewide — a direct result of living out these principles. These morals and principles are not just a recipe for how to run a business and family. This is the recipe for how to be successful in life, and it all starts with serving others. This year, celebrate this 250th anniversary by remembering why we have the freedom we have and by finding ways to leave our community better than it was when you
arrived.
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