February 26, 2007

Dear Mr. Jones,

As a long time customer and supporter of WalMart, I'm writing to you with a serious concern. I sincerely hope there has just been some misunderstanding, and I want to give WalMart every opportunity to make it right.

I carry my gun, openly on my belt, wherever I go. I've carried in both the Spearfish and Rapid City Walmart for three plus months, with only friendly questions from both customers and clerks on occasion. I am well trained and open carry is clearly lawful in SD or Wyoming.

On Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2007, in the Spearfish 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. See card enclosed.

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'm sorry I didn't have a way to write down her name, and I don't remember.

I told her I'd be glad to take the gun out (leave the store) 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?)

I would like to know exactly what your corporate policy is for WalMart stores in both SD and Wyoming, where I live. I would like to continue to believe that WalMart is ready to stand behind responsible Americans who are prepared to defend themselves and others if the need should arise.

I pray that WalMart is not going to join the ranks of those who would provide a crowd of helpless, unarmed victims for a madman such as the one who visited a mall recently in Utah. I will not shop where I am expected to become a disarmed and helpless victim. I could not live with the thought of being in such a situation, trained and ready to respond, but forced to stand by without any way to prevent murder and injury to innocent people.

The criminals will not be worried about the rejection of armed citizens. They won't leave their guns outside. They'll be happy to have another safe place to commit their crimes.

Please tell me it isn't so.

Sincerely,
Susan Callaway, RN, EFT-cc

Copy to:
District Manager Steve Hanselman
3209 S. Louise Ave.
Sioux Falls, SD 57106 -704

WalMart Stores, Inc.
Bentonville, Arkansas