| Exploring the Corporate Anti-Gun Mentality |
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| Written by Mike Kinsey | |
| Monday, 23 October 2006 | |
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Regular readers of this website have seen a lot of material regarding a private business’s choice to prohibit licensed patrons from carrying a handgun for self-defense. A legally binding sign in Ohio may be almost anything at all. It could consist of only two words: “No Guns”. However, those two words imply so much more. They imply that management somehow thinks such a sign creates a magic bubble around the front door that repels evil. They imply that your money isn’t welcome if you’d like to spend it while ensuring the safety of your family. They imply that you’re not trusted to be safe and responsible with your concealed handgun even though millions of law-abiding licensees live, work, and shop in forty-eight states without incident. This last implication is perhaps the most insulting. The corporate policy of Costco, a large volume and wholesale retailer, is the latest to be brought to the attention of Ohioans For Concealed Carry. We have received several emails from people all over the country explaining their personal attempts to persuade Costco Corporate Management to adopt a more logical and tolerant policy. One gentleman in Columbia Heights, Minnesota has been working for these changes in his area and has shared the polite, yet dismissive, response given to him: “…Costco does not believe that it is necessary for firearms to be brought into its warehouse stores, except in the case of authorized law enforcement officers. For the protection of all our members and employees, we feel this is a reasonable and prudent precaution to ensure a pleasant shopping experience and safe workplace…”A quick Google search confirmed this author’s suspicions that Costco stores are not immune to violent crime. Therefore, since Costco can’t stop criminals from attacking you, why should they prevent you from doing it yourself? A great deal more time was spent trying to find proof that a citizen with a Concealed Handgun License has done something either illegal or dangerous with their legally carried firearm. That research produced nothing. While I respect the rights of private property owners to decide for themselves how to run their business, they need to be educated as to the true ramifications of “No Guns” policies. Those signs do nothing to deter armed criminals. In fact, they may have the opposite effect by creating a safe haven or Criminal Protection Zone (CPZ) where armed robbers, rapists, and murderers are assured that no one is capable of standing up to them. Also, they need to realize that the signs are effective in keeping out millions of patrons and, more importantly, their wallets. If you would like to contact Costco and respectfully disagree with their criminal-friendly policies, you may do so by contacting them at: PO Box 34331 Seattle, WA 98124 1-800-774-2678 |