I made a huge mistake related to the release of the new Shield firearm, I was the guy that took the "leaked" picture. I had no plans when I took the picture, I was just excited to see the new M&P and had a spur of the moment impulse to take a picture of it. Now, because of that picture, 2 very good employees of Smith and Wesson have been released from their employment there. Do I have to say how I feel.... besides embarrassed, I feel terrible that these two loyal and hard working employees, J and T are now out of a job. I have to say, if there is anything I could do to change things I would, I have tried contacting a few of the white shirts I thought may be involved in this decision and have had no success or response back. From what I understand it goes to the top of the chain for this way over the top decision.
This is a situation that has so many levels of mistakes that it just doesn't seem right to punish anyone. Even I can say I didn't release the picture publicly, but I did talk about seeing and handling it. The mistake I made, saying I had a picture but didn't think it was a good idea to show it publicly. I succumbed to a few guys on M4Carbine asking me to pm the picture to them and they promised not to pass it on... what a fool I was, it may not have been them though. It may have been someone smart enough to trace other pictures I posted in the past back to my Photobucket account, I believe someone definitely got the picture from there. By the time I realized the picture was displayed publicly, it was photoshopped badly and I knew it was my picture, it was too late. Next, it showed up on blogs around the net, I just had a sick feeling then that it was not going to be good. Well, it wasn't until the Friday, after the official release that I got a call informing me of T & J getting released from Smith and Wesson and I can tell you, I was stunned.
To sum this up, I want to publicly apologize to these 2 fine employees of S&W, they are truly 2 of the best employees I have met there, both hard working and always a pleasure to deal with, I was the one that broke their trust. We all had a relationship in that store, I visited often and always had guns on layaway there, in fact I have 2 guns at this moment, the Governor and a 627 Pro on layaway. Every time I walked in that store and spoke with T and J, they were friendly and ya know what we talked about.... you guessed it, guns, not just any gun but Smith and Wesson guns. The new guns, the M&P's, the new 1911 E series, the Governor, the M&P AR's, if it was S&W, we talked about it. They were truly company employees, 2 of the best and I just can't believe they are being punished like this. It is a huge mistake letting them go. I know I would have never seen that gun and taken a picture if I understood the ramifications. I was shown that gun because I was trusted, I just didn't realize the seriousness of the advertising campaign and what it meant to some. The funny part is several people said how the picture must be a "leak" from corporate to generate more interest, many said it was a fake picture, but the bottom line, it actually generated positive interest in the Shield and no doubt enhanced if anything, the release. I had no plans of having a picture anymore than J & T had of losing their jobs. This is one of those situations where we can all learn from our mistakes. Whatever happened, it was not done with any malice intended by anyone. Give a stern warning, a few days off, anything but being fired.... just doesn't seem fair.
Ok, one more point I would like to make. I am as loyal of a Smith and Wesson customer as there has ever been, I would not do anything to hurt this company. I would take the heat and stand up and be heard if I felt something wrong or inaccurate was being posted here or anywhere else, I would step up to the plate and defend Smith and Wesson products at the drop of the hat. I promote and almost exclusively use S&W because I believe they are the best. I believe the company is the best in the world of guns and because of this I believe they are run by the best in the world, but when it comes right down to why they are successful..... it's because of good employees, no, great employees, it's the guys and the girls in the front lines, it's those people in the stores, in manufacturing, at the ranges and just plain on the street that promote and use the Smith and Wesson product, it's the little guys. Those good people are few and far between, I beg Smith and Wesson corporate, if the people that saw the Shield picture see this post, please.... please reconsider keeping these 2 great employees of your company, they didn't leak that picture, I did!!
This is a situation that has so many levels of mistakes that it just doesn't seem right to punish anyone. Even I can say I didn't release the picture publicly, but I did talk about seeing and handling it. The mistake I made, saying I had a picture but didn't think it was a good idea to show it publicly. I succumbed to a few guys on M4Carbine asking me to pm the picture to them and they promised not to pass it on... what a fool I was, it may not have been them though. It may have been someone smart enough to trace other pictures I posted in the past back to my Photobucket account, I believe someone definitely got the picture from there. By the time I realized the picture was displayed publicly, it was photoshopped badly and I knew it was my picture, it was too late. Next, it showed up on blogs around the net, I just had a sick feeling then that it was not going to be good. Well, it wasn't until the Friday, after the official release that I got a call informing me of T & J getting released from Smith and Wesson and I can tell you, I was stunned.
To sum this up, I want to publicly apologize to these 2 fine employees of S&W, they are truly 2 of the best employees I have met there, both hard working and always a pleasure to deal with, I was the one that broke their trust. We all had a relationship in that store, I visited often and always had guns on layaway there, in fact I have 2 guns at this moment, the Governor and a 627 Pro on layaway. Every time I walked in that store and spoke with T and J, they were friendly and ya know what we talked about.... you guessed it, guns, not just any gun but Smith and Wesson guns. The new guns, the M&P's, the new 1911 E series, the Governor, the M&P AR's, if it was S&W, we talked about it. They were truly company employees, 2 of the best and I just can't believe they are being punished like this. It is a huge mistake letting them go. I know I would have never seen that gun and taken a picture if I understood the ramifications. I was shown that gun because I was trusted, I just didn't realize the seriousness of the advertising campaign and what it meant to some. The funny part is several people said how the picture must be a "leak" from corporate to generate more interest, many said it was a fake picture, but the bottom line, it actually generated positive interest in the Shield and no doubt enhanced if anything, the release. I had no plans of having a picture anymore than J & T had of losing their jobs. This is one of those situations where we can all learn from our mistakes. Whatever happened, it was not done with any malice intended by anyone. Give a stern warning, a few days off, anything but being fired.... just doesn't seem fair.
Ok, one more point I would like to make. I am as loyal of a Smith and Wesson customer as there has ever been, I would not do anything to hurt this company. I would take the heat and stand up and be heard if I felt something wrong or inaccurate was being posted here or anywhere else, I would step up to the plate and defend Smith and Wesson products at the drop of the hat. I promote and almost exclusively use S&W because I believe they are the best. I believe the company is the best in the world of guns and because of this I believe they are run by the best in the world, but when it comes right down to why they are successful..... it's because of good employees, no, great employees, it's the guys and the girls in the front lines, it's those people in the stores, in manufacturing, at the ranges and just plain on the street that promote and use the Smith and Wesson product, it's the little guys. Those good people are few and far between, I beg Smith and Wesson corporate, if the people that saw the Shield picture see this post, please.... please reconsider keeping these 2 great employees of your company, they didn't leak that picture, I did!!
