A Hortonville, Wisconsin business chose to give each and every one of its 16 employees a unique gift for Christmas this year — a handgun.
To Ben Wolfgram, co-owner of BenShot — a manufacturer of bullet embedded glassware — the decision was made to promote team building and safety, according to the Hortonville Post Crescent.
This is the first time the business has done anything like this, co-owner Ben Wolfgram said. https://t.co/2c5ECMZv6F
— Post-Crescent Media (@PostCrescent) November 13, 2018
The business, which employs a mix of military veterans as well as several who have never fired a weapon, was started in 2015 in a garage workshop. Wolfgram told the Post Crescent that this is the first time his company has ever given such a gift, and that most employees were excited.
Guns for Christmas? This Wisconsin company gave their employees firearms for the holidays.https://t.co/J6vw3bA3zA pic.twitter.com/PP0gHLW1NP
— KATU News (@KATUNews) November 14, 2018
Employee Chelsea Priest said she felt empowered by the gift, which she believes will help keep her safe.
“I’ve never been a part of anything like this,” said employee Chelsea Priest, who, according to the Post Crescent, “felt empowered by the gift.” (RELATED: One Of Georgia’s Safest Cities REQUIRES Its Citizens To Own A Gun)
Two employees who previously turned down the gift may accept it after they take a gun safety course, Wolfgram told the Post Crescent.
The owner added that he isn’t worried about violence taking place at his workplace because of his small, close-knit staff.
“For us, now, we have an entire armed staff,” said Wolfgram. “I think that’s pretty good.”