The Firearm blog has a pretty good post on the subject, which discuss the accusations that Kahr is owned by the Unification Church (a.k.a. the Moonies). I am wary of cults, but I also understand tapping into people’s religious consciousness in an attempt to sell them a religious product. I’ve always wondered how much the Moons are really true believers in what they are selling, and how much they are just very savvy business people. True believers in a cult I wouldn’t have regard for, and would be reluctant to support financially, but I understand business. Selling people faith isn’t a profession I have a whole lot of respect for, but there’s nothing wrong with being a gun maker.
It’s always seem to me that Justin Moon has a legitimate interest in gun making, and is a savvy business person. I don’t see a reason to hold how his father earned his fortune against him, or Kahr for that matter.
I thought Justin went off the reservation as a prodigal with his gun engineering, and was more or less brought-back by the support from the Church – but that the Church otherwise is not in the gun-biz. Dad just wanted family harmony – which is so incredibly important in that culture, and in ways a western journalist might very easily misunderstand.
I never held the Moonies relationship against Kahr. The only thing I ever held against them was that I have a friend with two Kahrs and both are jam-o-matics. Based on my experience shooting those two pistols I have never, ever once considered purchasing a Kahr.
Justin Moon contributed to the advancement of gun design and Kahr produces a quality product. Though I have certainly read of others having trouble with them, I’ve read the same of other brands as well. My personal experience with Kahr (PM9) has been great.
As to the religion connection, I simply find it amusing that some folks get their private bits all in a wad over it. I think it takes guts to strike out on your own into an area that maybe the parents and community might not find appealing. And to do so so successful a fashion as well.
I bought a Kahr pistol, and nobody showed up at my door to try and convert me to Moonie-ism. I think they are a strange religion, but they don’t crash airplanes into buildings, try to blow up our airplanes, or encourage their followers to engage in Sudden Jihad Syndrome – in fact, they seem to be pretty pro-American and pro-2A, much more so that many so-called mainstream Christian churches, so good on ’em as far as I am concerned.
Does anyone think that the same people getting all pissy about the potential connection to the Unification Church with Kahr will also refuse to own a particular .45 pistol designed by a Mormon?
I’ve owned an MK9 for years, and it has been my primary daily carry firearm. It’s been reliable, sturdy, it’s accuracy ranks pretty high in comparison to other 9mm pistols it’s size, and it has one of the best out-of-the-box triggers I’ve experienced on a striker-fired DAO pistol. The one time I had a problem with an accessory order, customer service was excellent.
I had no idea the “Moonies” owned Kahr, but it’s irrelevant to me. In my experience they made a quality product and provided quality service.
When “savvy business people” LOSE millions of dollars a year on enterprises like The Washington Times — year after year — at the same time they sink even more millions into conservative politics, one would have to conclude either that they weren’t all that savvy, or that their real business wasn’t newspapers. Or guns.
I disagree Sebastian. The core beliefs of the Moonie church are at odds with my Constitutional rights, and they are a menace that brainwashes people, steals their money and splits up families.
Moon is an accomplished liar. This is just PR from a former CIA asset who is an expert at covering his tracks. To believe otherwise is just naïveté.
Would you buy a gun from the Taliban pre 9/11? Moon is on the same level of fanaticism and insanity.
I don’t own a Kahr, and have no plans to buy one, so it’s not an issue for me.
George Clooney and Sean Penn are filthy communists but they’re fantastic actors, so I’m a fan. Roman Polanski even raped a girl….I feel bad about liking his work as much as I do, but I’ll line up for his next movie if he makes one.
Kahr makes pistols that seem to avoid direct competition with similar guns, and have some of the best striker-fired triggers I’ve ever felt, so I really don’t care what they do, they make good product, and any harm they may do is minor.
I don’t own a Kahr. However if I decide to buy one that is my business. I don’t want anyone telling me not to because they don’t like some religion. Each one can make his own decision.
BTW, this Forbes article from last year shows that Kook-Jin (aka Justin) Moon is deeply involved with managing his fathers empire.
http://www.rickross.com/reference/unif/unif354.html
I repeat my question : Would you buy a gun from a Taliban owned company pre 9/11?
http://www.alternet.org/story/143914/how_right-wing_cult_leader_sun_myung_moon_bought_washington?page=entire
I had a M1 Kahrbine. It was so shoddy I never shot it – traded it back to the dealer for a used S&W revolver and a case of .308 (back when .308 was pretty cheap). I think I came out ahead.
Got no interest in any of their other products, so their theological peculiarities never come into it; what the founders of any other gun company believe never enter into my purchasing decisions.
I have NEVER understood the hate for Kahr for having family ties to a church. We support the 2nd Amendment, but don’t support someone’s freedom to worship the way they chose?
Do I like the moonies? No. But we have no right to try and regulate how they worship, or to decide if they should exist. If you spend money with them is your own personal decision.
Calling the Moonies a ‘church’ is like saying Osama Bin Laden is a ‘community organizer’.
Amazing what people will tolerate under the banner of freedom of religion.
Are the Moonies out killing people?
If you bought a Peshawar Special prior to 9/11 you probably sorted the Taliban. Along with the craftsman who was bring extorted by them. Buy an iPod, support the ChiComs indirectly.
I don’t make political statements with my purchasing habits, by and large.
I purchased a PM9 about a year ago. I had some mis-givings because of the ‘Moonie connection’, but the gun felt so damn good in my hand. Still, it sat on my nightstand without being fired for over a week. One night, I awoke about 3 AM and saw a shimmering glow surrounding the weapon. I thought I was dreaming, but I rubbed the dust from my eyes and the bluish-green glow pulsed from the little gun. There was a whispering sound, “mooooooneeeeeeeee”. I picked up the little Kahr and the pulsing glow moved up my arm. I was in exstacy and I began to shout, “Sun Yung!, Sun Yung Moon!”. I have since quit my job and given my house to a homeless man. I am moving to South Korea Saturday.