http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/14281375/detail.html

'Homeland Security' T-Shirt Yanked Off Museum's Shelves
Shirt With Native Americans Is Thought To Be Offensive To Some

Russell Haythorn, 7NEWS Reporter

POSTED: 5:03 pm MDT October 5, 2007
UPDATED: 6:35 pm MDT October 5, 2007

DENVER -- On the weekend of the Columbus Day holiday, a T-shirt is at the
center of a long-standing conflict between those who celebrate the holiday
and those who say it doesn't deserve to be celebrated.

The T-shirt had been for sale at the Colorado History Museum, but has
recently been pulled off the racks.

The T-shirt features four Native Americans with guns along with the slogan:
"Homeland Security. Fighting terrorism since 1492."

You can't buy it at the museum anymore, but jump over to the 16th Street
Mall, and you'll find it at the Only in Colorado shop.

"We don't sell it because it's controversial. We pretty much sell it
because it sells really well. It's one of our best-selling shirts in this
store," said store employee May Joo.

In fact, in a store packed with T-shirts, it's the third best seller.

At the Colorado History Museum, visitor Jonathan Hagn learned that he would
have to walk away empty-handed.

"I was told I couldn't buy it because they're not selling it," Hagn said.

The shirt was yanked off the gift store shelves after some found it
offensive. The shirt hints to the premise that explorers such as
Christopher Columbus were essentially "terrorists" when they invaded a land
that had already been occupied.

Protesters to the Columbus Day holiday say that Columbus shouldn't be
celebrated for discovering America because Columbus' "discovery" led to the
oppression, degradation and deaths of hundreds of thousands of Native
Americans.

Coincidentally, there are current exhibits at the museum featuring the
history of the Italians and Native Americans. The gift shop owner said one
complaint letter led to the store removing the T-shirt.

According to the company that prints the shirts, the history museum sold so
many that they would have to order a new batch every week just to keep up
with the demand. But that was before the controversy started.