No Guns Sign protest letter

[ZeSpectre]

I've spent some time drafting this letter and I'd appreciate a critique before I start using it.

thanks
Ze

Boilerplate letter in response to “no guns allowed” signs.

Dear (recipient)

Recently I noticed the “no guns allowed” signs at your business. While posting such a sign may seem reasonable for liability reasons, doing so has further implications that may not have been considered and which need to be addressed.

The first problem with posting such a sign is the absurd notion that a criminal is going to obey the sign. This is unlikely in the extreme as a criminal, by definition, ignores/breaks the rules and laws. If such a person were intent on using a firearm (or any other weapon) to commit a crime, they will do so regardless of a posted sign.

A related aspect of this mindset is the fact that seeing such a sign might actually encourage the criminal to select the employees and customers of the posted store. The public proclamation of a store as a “defense free zone” indicates to those with criminal intent that your place of business is probably a “soft target” (easy prey) as the law abiding would, of course, obey and be defenseless while on the premises.

Another important reason to reconsider your policy is that in posting these signs you both alienate and insult a portion of your customer base.

Holders of concealed firearms permits have undergone an extensive process at their own time and expense. Successfully completing this process means that multiple State and Federal agencies have found the permit holder’s character, background, and training, to be of the higher standard necessary to license the applicant to carry a concealed weapon.

Therefore a licensed carry concealed permit holder naturally tends to feel somewhat insulted when a business implements a policy that welcomes any unknown “John Smith” off the street while at the same time pointing to someone who has been thoroughly investigated and sanctioned (namely a CCW or CHL permit holder) and saying “we don’t trust you and we don’t want your kind here”.

In conclusion, I ask that you reconsider your policy of disrespect and remove the “no guns” signs from your place of business.

Until you change your policy, I will spend my money elsewhere and encourage everyone I care about to do likewise.

Sincerely.

Mr. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

[bogie]

Too long, and I'd break the "reasons why not" into shorter bullet points.

Recently I saw a “no guns allowed” signs at your business. While such a sign may seem like a good idea, you may need to consider some of the unintended consequences.

- A criminal is not going to obey the sign, and may in fact target the business or customers because of it.

- These signs both alienate and insult a sizable portion of your potential customer base. Over 1% of your customers have gone through the training and background check process to be allowed to legally carry a firearm. Can you afford to cut 1% off the top of your gross overhead?

Holders of concealed firearms permits have passed an extensive state and federal background check. These people are legally required to respect your signage, and shop elsewhere.

Criminals, on the other hand, will just walk on in.

It does not make sense when a business implements a policy that welcomes any unknown “John Smith” off the street while at the same time denying entry to someone who has passed this thorough investigation.

Please reconsider your policy and remove the “no guns” signs from your place of business. Until the policy changes, I will have to spend my money elsewhere and will encourage friends and relatives to do the same.

Another thing to possibly add, and this is usually a given in the St. Louis area, is...

Often your local police will bring the signage in, and tell you that you are required to post it - there is no such legal requirement. This is just political maneuvering. You will notice that many major retailers, such as Wal-Mart, Home Depot, etc., do not stop permit holders from patronizing their businesses.

 

[jazurell]

There's a "NO Guns, No Money" card here:
https://secure.ohioccw.org/catalog/
that is very effective.