A firearms and martial arts training facility with a name that continues to stir controversy might open up a location in Dallas.
88 Tactical, headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, describes itself as an entertainment facility — part recreation center, part social club — and is set to open locations in 16 cities around the country, including Austin, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Indianapolis, and Tampa, among others.
The company’s stated goal, according to its website, is to “provide an inviting and empowering community that enables individuals, families, and professionals to discover their true potential.”
88 Tactical offers firearm and martial arts training to civilians of all ages, law enforcement officers, and military personnel.
Its freshman facility in Tekamah, Nebraska, described by critics as a “fortress,” spans more than 160 acres.
It also raised eyebrows because of its name, particularly its use of the number 88, which has been and continues to be used as shorthand for “Heil Hitler” in neo-Nazi and white supremacist circles, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
For its part, 88 Tactical emphatically denied any connection or affiliation with Nazism in a Facebook post back in July 2016, stating that founder Shea Degan first started a company called Signal 88 Security in 2003 after working in law enforcement in Nebraska.
The company, the post states, was named after a local police code that means “situation secure.”
“Any allegations to the contrary, which are usually posted anonymously on the internet, have no basis in fact and are made recklessly based on unfounded assumptions, or maliciously by our competitors,” the post read.
“88 Tactical is committed to upholding the laws of the United States and does not condone, support or sympathize with any white supremacist or hate groups.”
The Dallas Express reached out to several Nebraska law enforcement agencies and asked if they used the code “88” to signal “all clear” or “situation secure” between officers. Omaha Police Department and Douglas County Sheriff’s Office confirmed they do use signal 88 to convey to officers that a “situation is secure.”
Brook Carreker, president of Signal 88 Security in the Dallas-Fort Worth area –a group which connects private security officers with clients — told The Dallas Express that her company is no longer associated with 88 Tactical.
She also said that she is aware of the controversy and that the security group is rebranding as “Signal” because it has been expanding internationally.
“Over in Germany, one of the focus groups pointed out that 88 stood for something bad,” Carreker said.
Carreker said she did not think the association between Nazism and the number 88 was as prominent in the United States as it was internationally.
Still, social media posts on Reddit allege that 88 Tactical is a far-right group, claiming that the eagle in its logo is similar to the one used by the Nazis during World War II.
There is currently no timeline available for when the Dallas 88 Tactical location will open.
The company’s website purports that the new locations will be more than 100,000 square feet and feature shooting ranges, fitness centers, childcare, and more.
The Dallas Express reached out to 88 Tactical but did not receive comment before press time.
