OKTAHA, Okla. — An Oklahoma sheriff expressed concern about armed men standing guard at a “Muslim-free” survival store after one of the men accidentally shot himself.

Terrence Veninga, 57, of Checotah, Oklahoma dropped his old Colt .45-caliber revolver and shot himself at Save Yourself Survival and Tactical Gear.

“This is a very dangerous situation,” Muskogee County (Okla.) Sheriff Charles Pearson said. “I’m very concerned about the weapons they have and their safety skills with them.”

Veninga’s gun fell from its bucket holster and discharged. The bullet hit him in the wrist, Pearson said. Veninga was guarding the store because of alleged threats against it, Pearson said.

According to Pearson, the store’s owners, Chad Neal and Nicole Mayhorn, have allegedly received threats since they put up a sign that says the business is a “Muslim-free establishment.”

However, Mayhorn contends Veninga was not protecting the business.

“The gentleman was a close and personal friend of ours, not a guard nor a customer,” Mayhorn posted on the store’s Facebook page. “He is a very sweet and dear friend who we consider to be like family. He came over today to help fix a door in my office and as he bent over his weapon fell from a malfunctioning chest holster and went off when it hit the floor. I myself performed emergency first aid until the ambulance could arrive.”

Concerned for public safety, Pearson visited the store Monday evening. He said he saw at least seven men armed with assault rifles. Pearson’s biggest concern was the proximity of Oktaha schools to the business.

A local Muslim worship leader is extending an offer for peaceful discussion with the owners of the “Muslim-free” survival store and gun range in Oktaha.

Imam John Ederer of the Islamic Society of Tulsa, Oklahoma left a message Tuesday afternoon with the store’s owners to make the offer, he said.

“I think if we just sat down civilly, we could become friends,” Ederer said. “It would be a good token of humanity to sit down and talk about these things.”

Neal and Mayhorn said in an earlier interview with the Phoenix that Islam is a dangerous religion and no Muslim has denounced violence perpetrated in Islam’s name.

Ederer said Islam, in Arabic, is derived from the root word “salam,” which means peace.

“The religion of Islam, by the name itself, is to seek peace,” he said.

Ederer said he is hopeful that he and his colleagues can sit down with Neal and Mayhorn to start a dialogue.

Harrison writes for The Muskogee (Okla.) Phoenix