| No human being has the right -- under any circumstances -- to initiate force against another human being, nor to threaten or delegate its initiation. The Zero Aggression Principle |
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03/12/10
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February
26, 2007 After nearly five months open carrying all over Wyoming and western SD, I had my first really negative experience. I've carried in a SD Walmart for three plus months, with only friendly questions from both customers and clerks on occasion. On Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2007, in a SD WalMart, I was confronted by a manager shortly after I picked up some ammunition. She said they have a "policy" that they have to walk the ammunition to the counter. This is news to me, since I've bought ammunition almost every time I've been there with no question. The clerks at the sporting goods dept. have never given me any indication of this "policy," including this time. (If this policy exists, it should be posted prominently and clerks informed.) I told her I wasn't done shopping. We talked briefly about why I open carry, and I handed her one of my cards. She walked away and I figured that was the end of it. About 45 minutes later (I'd been shopping for two hours and had a cart full), she came back and said she'd talked to her supervisors and they agreed she had to walk me to the checkout. I told her to go ahead and take the ammunition, if she needed to, but THEN she said, something like: "Oh, we need to get the gun out of here too." So, it wasn't really about the ammunition at all! She couldn't even be honest or consistent. Just what "policy" was she talking about? I suspect it's just this "manager" who thinks she can make it up to suit herself. She was sure to let me know she had a "law enforcement background" and was obviously contemptuous of someone who was merely trained by the NRA. I told
her I'd be glad to take the gun out (leave) since she was obviously not
interested in my business - or the safety of customers. She said it was
"private property" and I agreed totally. I told her they could
do whatever they wanted on their property, and I didn't have to shop there.
I left more than $400. worth of merchandise in that cart. Wonder what
the "supervisors" thought of that!! (Want to bet she didn't
tell them about that part?) I wrote a polite letter to the management of that store with copies to the regional and national headquarters. If I learn that there really is some new policy - official or otherwise - against self defense at WalMart, the gloves come off. This story will be sent to every liberty oriented and gun rights organization I can locate. It will be posted on every blog and forum I can find. And I'll be sure to send them a sign to post on their doorway so those who are willing to defend themselves and their customers will know to shop elsewhere.
I won't be returning to Walmart unless I get an apology and an invitation to return - with my sidearm! If that happens, I'll be sure to publicize WalMart's cooperation just as vigorously as I would have spread the bad news of disarmament. Maybe they can be persuaded to post this sign instead?
Remember that the simple presence of armed citizens, or the firm stance of one who is prepared to resist with force, is usually sufficient to defuse the situation. The criminals are looking for EASY targets - UNARMED VICTIMS, so if they see someone nearby is armed they're not apt to even bother - which is the whole point of open carry. Those who go ahead with their crime are dangerous indeed, but it is insanity to think that they would then be deterred by a "no guns" sign on the door, or a no guns policy. How could anyone think that wouldn't encourage them to commit their crimes instead? This is probably the most difficult thing to communicate to people who are not aware of it, let alone to those who already have a hostile mindset. The thousands of confrontations that NEVER HAPPENED because someone was armed are never known, never reported and so can't often be used successfully in our fight to educate people. It's an uphill battle, and we'd better get busy recruiting more troops if we want any hope of winning it. If we don't send this message somehow, strongly, consistently, in large numbers, we're going to lose this war.
Links from
the previous articles: Self ownership essay: http://www.mises.org/rothbard/ethics/eight.asp The Ludwig von Mises Institute: http://www.mises.org/ What about the "poor?" - Reinventing America: http://www.mises.org/freemarket_detail.asp?control=289 Advocates for Self-government: http://www.self-gov.org/home.shtml Second Amendment Sisters -- Self defense is a basic human right. Jews For The Preservation Of Firearms Ownership -- Learn more about the real meaning of the Bill of Rights and the people who have fought to preserve it. Keep And Bear Arms -- a grassroots movement of the people, by the people, and for the people. It is a call to action, a call for self-education, and a 21 gun salute to the many good men and women who fought and died to bring America into being. Gun
Owners of America -- "Gun Owners of America was instrumental
in mobilizing the grassroots to fight the crime bill." Opencarry.org - Great forum for those who open carry. These will lead you to many others. |
Letter
From The Editor The Poor Seniors - How Do We Care For Them? "The
Black Arrow" By Vin Suprynowicz Out of the Gray Zone Book Review Reclaiming Ownership Of Our Lives Open Carry - Mama's Got A (BIG) Gun! The Price of Liberty is Three Years Old Some Truth About Narcotics and "Addiction" Open Carry - For Better or Worse Complete Archives for The Editor
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