OFCC Member John Myers was recently printed in the Akron Beacon Journal an took a new approach to letter writing.  In challenging the various banks and cash advance establishments that have decided to post "No Guns" signs, Myers pointed out the increase in robberies of these locations in a specific area, and the common belief that these signs simply encourage these locations as targets.

When advising OFCC of this published letter Myers encouraged OFCC to encourage our readers to use this same concept, writing letters to your local newspapers when "No Guns" establishments become the victims of crime.  You can read Myers' letter to the editors here as the fourth one down the page: 'No guns allowed' sign invites criminals

In the event that this letter should disappear from the Beacons online edition we've archived it here for future reference:

`No guns allowed' sign invites criminals

Some banks and merchants don't realize that the minute they post a ``no weapons allowed'' decal on their door, they have declared themselves a Criminal Protection Zone.

They tell criminals who may be considering robbing their establishment: ``Our employees are unarmed; we do not allow law-abiding citizens with permits and carrying a concealed weapon to enter our establishment; so you may proceed with your robbery without fear of interference.''

Put yourself in a criminal's shoes. Wouldn't you feel safer robbing a bank or retail store displaying a ``no weapons allowed'' sign than one without it, and thus be assured no one with a gun will stop you -- or worse, shoot you?

Recent armed robberies in the area of bank branches and of a cash-advance office in Wayne County indicate the fallacy of relying on a 25-cent ``no weapons allowed'' decal to discourage a criminal. Rather than discourage, the decal offers the criminal a safe working environment.

Wouldn't a sign reading ``We welcome and serve law-abiding citizens with concealed-carry permits'' be more appropriate? This might prevent a criminal from even entering.

Ohioans who pay for and take a concealed-carry gun course, learn gun safety and the heavy responsibility of carrying a concealed gun, pay for a background check, are fingerprinted by the sheriff and pay $40 or more for a permit obviously do not do so intending to commit armed robbery. They do so intending to protect themselves, their family and property.

To date, after an explanation as to the futility of relying on ``no weapons allowed'' signs by members of Ohio for Concealed Carry, at least 15 major chains and more than 200 other businesses have removed their signs.

It's time bankers, merchants and the general public learn what 30-some other states have learned: It's not the citizens with a concealed-carry permit you need fear, it's the criminal.

John J. Myers

Medina