Gun Dealer Denied Little League Sponsorship

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ - Matt Carmel makes and sells firearms in suburban New Jersey.  After his son played in a local youth baseball league, he wrote the South Orange Maplewood Recreation Department about having his company, Constitution Arms, sponsor a team.

"We went back and forth..in November, I didn't hear from them..December came..we went back and forth." Carmel said.

When he finally did, he was told the baseball committee had said no to his request.

A statement from a town committee member says "We have our hands full running the leauge and deciding things like whether or not the infield fly rule should apply to nine year olds."

The committee didn't want the word "arms" plastered across the uniforms of little kids, but Carmel says what about a local bar that's allowed to sponsor a team, or a chicken restaurant, Cluck U, which advertises its products a bit suggestively and has sponsored local teams for years.

"I just think it's hypocritical and i felt if they allow that, then certainly a company that sells a legal product, a firearm which is rooted in our country's history and traditions, is wholly appropriate for children." said Carmel.

Some locals agreed. "I personally have no problem with it.  Considering it is legal, the business is legal."

But others are backing the decision. "I don't happen to feel that gun stores should be sponsoring children's teams no more than I would want drug dealers sponsoring children's teams."

Though, of course, dealing drugs is against the law.

After hearing the baseball league had turned him down, a local rugby club called Matt Carmel and said he could sponsor them.  So there will be a Constitution Arms team taking the field in 2010 after all.