Gander Mtn. pulls out of events

Associated Press

Updated: May 18, 2012 8:42 AM

WAUSAU (AP) — A national outdoor gear retailer left the National Rifle Association scrambling when it bowed out of two politically-charged events this week.

The St. Paul, Minn.-based Gander Mountain canceled NRA meetings in Rothschild and Eau Claire. The meetings would have focused on support for Republican Gov. Scott Walker in the upcoming recall election.

In a posting on its Facebook page, Gander Mountain says it's been a longtime partner of the NRA, but that its customers are diverse and have varied interests, so it established a policy recently which prohibits it from hosting events on behalf of political causes or candidates.

NRA spokeswoman Stephanie Samford tells WAOW-TV the organization has held a number of events at Gander Mountain in the past at locations across the country.

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