Some think Gary was cancelled because he formed a shooting club. To dispel that misinformation, here is a clear and simple time line to show when and why Gary's insurance was cancelled and when Gary obtained other insurance.
Gary: I have gotten a message or two that I was cancelled because I had a shooting club in operation. We need to put that to rest, for sure.
On the "club" matter, a few neighbors of mine and I were able to affiliate with the NRA so as to qualify for insurance only AFTER promise of cancellation of my policy by State Farm. Two of the six "members" had not even shot on my site but felt that it was worth supporting. I have likely not had more than twenty friends shoot on my property over a fifteen year span, so I don't think we need to get carried away with this "club" issue. Had State Farm simply given me guidelines as to the amount of shooting activity they could accommodate, then likely we would not be having this discussion. But, it was: you shoot, you have a friend with you, you're history. If you think that's acceptable, sir, then we'll be in disagreement on this issue because to allow this type of policy to become doctrine will be to lose, over time, every acre of private hunting and shooting land in the United States.
The "club" simply allowed me to get the insurance that State Farm promised to deny me. State Farm put me in a tight paced scramble to get the security I needed and could not be without, for even a minute. I was told by State Farm that if I didn't move fast and get alternate coverage before official cancellation, then I would be listed in some industry "database" and finding another carrier might be very difficult.
It's difficult for me to fathom State Farm's urgency to cancel me with such urgency after such a long association with their company.
One thing that MUST be included here is a comment about my close involvement in defeating commercial zoning requests at Richland County. How could I even entertain the thought of a request for zoning variance for a commercial range when I have spearheaded the fights against commercialization of our neighborhood so many times?
On July 20, State Farm told him he was going to be cancelled. Gary promised not to shoot on his property in order to get more time to get other coverage.
On August 3 State Farm cut a REFUND CHECK to Gary - he was CANCELLED!
Only AFTER that did Gary form a "club" in order to get other liability insurance.
Expanded Timeline...
1970
Gary buys first insurance (for car) from State Farm when 16 years old on recommendation of his father. That's the only property and casualty insurance company he will deal with for the next 30 some years.
1985
Gary buys 6.5 acre wooded lot in rural Chapin, South Carolina, 25 miles from Columbia, the state capital. He builds a temporary pole building on the lot and he and his new wife move in. Gary likes to shoot, so they start shooting on their new property. That was why they bought a lot out in the country in the first place.
1988
Gary does well in his business selling heavy equipment and buys 6 more acres with a big hill on it next to his first tract. Gary buys his own heavy equipment, digs a ravine into the side of hill and throws up big dirt berms all around so he'll have a safe place to shoot. Gary believes if you're going to do something - do it right!
1990,1991
Gary's two sons, Tom and Yates are born.
1992
Gary and his family move into the new house he literally built with his own 2 hands. The wood came from trees he felled on his own property. The home he's made means everything to Gary and his family. He's good at his job and confident in his ability to provide for his family. Gary has good insurance from State Farm and is not worried on that score either. Life is good for Gary who is looking forward to raising two sons to be like him: strong, smart, independent, caring, hardworking men who also enjoy shooting.
1992-1999
Some additional homes are built in the area. Most homes sit on large parcels of three to fifteen acres with large buffers between. Time marches on, Gary and his wife are friendly people and good neighbors.
2000
Gary has been working; watching and helping his sons grow. He's enjoyed shooting and teaching his sons now 9 and 10 years old, to shoot in his backyard "shooting range". He and the neighbors have formed a close knit little rural community, visiting back and forth, as friends do. Many come to swim in Gary's pool. They have cookouts in Gary's back yard. Of course, no one just comes over and uses Gary's pool or BBQ without being asked. Ditto for Gary's "shooting range". From time to time people come over to shoot with Gary and his sons.
July 19, 2000
Gary is planning a meeting at his home to form a Neighborhood Watch Program. He calls State Farm Agent Renee Wilder's office to see if SF offers discounts for areas with Neighborhood Watch Programs. They don't. Gary makes sure they've received the premium check for his umbrella policy because he's having people over for a pool party. Gary mentions in conversation that does some shooting on his range on adjoining property. Gary used the "Range" word - big mistake. You can see a picture of his "range" at http://www.scfirearms.org/garya.htm
July 20, 2000
State Farm agent Renee Wilder calls Gary and asks about his shooting activities on his property. Gary says yes he does shoot on his property and that sometimes he invites his neighbors over to shoot with him.
State Farm agent Renee Wilder tells Gary that based on that information she would give Gary 7 days to find another insurance provider at which time she would notify State Farm HQ and his homeowners insurance would be cancelled.
Gary immediately goes to Renee Wilder's office to "see the fine print". At the office, Mrs. Wilder said a specific exclusion for shooting did not exist. However, she said that she had just gotten off the phone with State Farm HQ and had confirmed that "regular shooting activities" were a "factor of increased risk" and were clearly cause for terminating his coverage.
Gary invites Mrs. Wilder to his property (she had not asked to go see it). She goes and is impressed with the safety but reiterates State Farm policy that "regular shooting activities" were a "factor of increased risk" and were clearly cause for terminating his coverage. Mrs. Wilder said shooting "maybe once in a Blue Moon" was acceptable, but no more than that.
Gary had to give Mrs. Wilder his word he would cease ALL shooting activity on his property or face immediate termination of his State Farm homeowner's and umbrella policies.
Gary gives his word because his home means everything to his family and he will not risk being uninsured for 1 minute.
Gary starts looking for new homeowner's coverage that will let him continue to shoot on his property as he has for over 10 years.
July 22, 2000
Gary hosts meeting to form Neighborhood Watch Committee. Local sheriff's deputies present their program, leaving after an hour or so. Gary's neighbors stay to talk and have a cookout. They don't use the pool because it's overcast and sort of rainy. No one uses the "shooting range" because Gary had given his word to the State Farm agent.
July 30, 2000
Gary is shopping for other insurance for his home. He tells all prospective agents of his situation with State Farm and his shooting activities. The agents say they can work with him but they want to confirm "higher up." They can! The other insurer is fully aware of Gary's circumstances and activities. Through the NRA, Gary has found other companies that offer special insurance that cover "marksmanship" clubs. His shooting range is on a separately deeded (but adjoining) piece of property. Gary is still hopeful to retain his State Farm coverage.
Gary contacts State Farm Agent Renee Wilder offering to let State Farm completely exclude his "shooting range" property from their coverage for any and ALL liability. He tells State Farm that if he forms a "club" with 6 of his neighbors, they can get special liability insurance for his shooting activities from another company that specializes in that type coverage. He offers to indemnify and hold harmless State Farm from ANY shooting related liability claims. Gary faxes information about the new liability coverage to State Farm.
Aug 2, 2000
Sorry, Gary - No dice! State Farm agent Renee Wilder calls to confirm that State Farm was proceeding with cancellation of Gary's insurance policies.
Aug 3, 2000
State Farm prints "Return Premium" check #527 516823 to Gary for $289.46. However, Gary won't receive this check till he gets his official cancellation letter at the end of August.
Aug 5, 2000
Gary calls Lockton Risk Service to bind liability coverage on his "shooting range" and marksmanship club because State Farm has cancelled his insurance.
Aug 13, 2000
Gary writes check to NRA to form his "NRA club" of neighbors. He does this with 6 neighbors (minimum allowed) in order to be able to get liability coverage for his "shooting range". These are his neighbors. The same people who've been coming over for years to use Gary's BBQ and range. This isn't any special club, he just formed it so he could get the special liability insurance that State Farm didn't want to provide. He thought this would make State Farm happy.
Aug 15, 2000
State Farm writes official letter of cancellation to Gary. It says, "This decision was made because of the increased liability exposure due to the operation of the shooting range on your property." It was signed by Ron Payne, Underwriting Operations Superintendent, Duluth GA. This letter can be seen at http://www.scfirearms.org/garya.htm
Aug 16, 2000
Gary signs his home and car insurance coverage with American National. He is not aware of any official cancellation date by State Farm, at this point - the letter and refund check don't get to him by snail mail for several more days.
Aug 21, 2000
Gary writes check to Lockton Risk Service for $520 for special liability coverage.
Aug 28, 2000
Gary feels State Farm has infringed his right to legally and safely keep and bear arms. He trys one last time. He calls and talks with Ted Loy at State Farm headquarters in Bloomington, IL. Gary faxes Mr. Loy all the details and asks State Farm to please respond before Gary does everything in his power to take this issue public. Other State Farm policyholders call Mr. Loy, complaining about the case and asking him to review it. After 3 days, they hear back from State Farm HQ that Agent Renee Wilder has expressed State Farms policy accurately. Gary hears nothing back from State Farm.
Sep 18, 2000
Gary meets with GrassRoots South Carolina and tells his story. GrassRoots decides that State Farm's policy, if followed by other insurers, would seriously jeapordize our RTKBA. GrassRoots sees the likely outcome of this policy to be that homeowners would eventually not be able to obtain insurance if they kept loaded (or any) firearms in their homes. GrassRoots agrees to get the word out to other gun owners about how State Farm cancelled Gary's insurance because he shot guns on his property and sometimes had some neighbors over to shoot.
Oct 2, 2000
GrassRoots sends first email alert about Gary and State Farm to the GrassRoots South Carolina list.
Oct 5, 2000
GrassRoots and Gary meet with State Farm reps from the Bloomington headquarters, Atlanta and Columbia. GrassRoots, and Gary, explain they want a clear written statement from State Farm as to the rights of their policy holders to discharge firearms on their insured property. The State Farm reps say such a thing can not be done.
GrassRoots encourages State Farm to try.
How High will State Farm Let this Counter Get
Before Coming Clean with Gun Owners?