No Gun Signs

Spread The Common Sense

‘No Gun’ signs equal no $$$

By Scott Weber

While some Second Amendments enthusiasts are sitting back and congratulating themselves and their progressive legislators on the enactment of Ohio’s Right To Carry on April 9, there remains a larger challenge to overcome in terms of everyday carry.

Now sprouting up like dandelions on an Ohio June day are "No Gun" signs at entrances of local businesses. According to Ohio law, merchants may prohibit licensed citizens from coming onto their premises while armed. But few merchants realize the ramifications and backlash that a "No Gun" sign entails.

Ohio businesses may think they are making a "safer" environment for their employees, while in fact they are putting them in danger by posting a "No Gun" sign, as well as missing prime revenue. In this economic climate, no one can afford that.

Gun owners are a well-behaved, law abiding, well-monied bunch and to deny them access to a store’s goods doesn’t make any sense at all. Word travels fast in the gun community as to which businesses are gun friendly and which ones do not like gun owners.

Remember: A "No Gun" sign doesn’t always means the manager realizes its far-reaching ramifications. If you spend some time with them in an intelligent manner, you can get those signs taken down and continue to patronize your favorite store.

Here’s an example of how I changed store policy for the better: Last month I drove to my local Giant Eagle grocery store and, lo and behold, there was a "No Gun" sign. I cut a 360, went back out the exit doors, walked to my car, unholstered my Sig and locked it up.

I went back in the store, asked for the manager and was escorted to her. She was stocking shelves.

"I can’t come in my favorite store," I said to her.

"Why is that?" the manager said. She had a puzzled look on her face.

"There’s a sign that is prohibiting me," I said. "The ‘No Gun’ sign."

"Oh well, we don’t want any guns in here," the manager said. "We don’t want people carrying guns here, it’s unsafe."

At that point a gentleman who was shopping near us joined in the conversation. As I found out later, he was carrying a firearm.

"Did I hear you say there is a ‘No Gun’ sign on the front door?" the gentleman said. "I missed it."

"It went up yesterday," the manager said. "Our owner said to post it."

"If you don’t want my business, then I’m leaving," the gentleman said. He put the merchandise he was examining back on the shelf.

The gentleman and I got the Giant Eagle owner’s name and number from the manager, thanked her for her time and exited the store.

Out on the street the gentleman and I agreed to call the owner and listen to his explanation of the "No Gun" sign.

Later I called the owner and explained that I have spent $200 a week for 15 years at his Giant Eagle on groceries, pet food, business supplies/food and that I was barred from my favorite grocery by the "No Gun" sign.

I further explained that by placing a "No Gun" sign, a store was essentially saying: "Hey robbers, come on in, there are no guns here. We are defenseless."

By placing a "No Gun" sign and declaring that any given business is "defenseless," any thief is encouraged to hit that place.

Criminals have long preferred unarmed victims. No criminal wants to encounter resistance or get shot when they get their "crack money." Therefore, placing a "No Gun" sign endangers employees as well as shoppers.

I also explained to the Giant Eagle owner that all handguns in the store must, by law, be completely concealed. He or his employees would never know there are guns on the premises.

Further, I said, the licensees who carry concealed firearms are NOT felons, have never been judged mentally defective, are fingerprinted, backgrounded and have personally been given their license by a county sheriff.

“Now how much,” I said, “do you know about your other customers?”

I asked the owner if he had a computer by his desk. He did. I instructed him to go to

www.ohioccw.org. He then went to a section entitled "Businesses who do not want our money" and there was his Giant Eagle listed on a statewide boycott. I heard a moan over the phone.

"And further," I said. "I understand a full-service Wal-Mart with grocery is going to be built across the street from you. Estimates say that it will suck off 60 percent of your business the day they open. You need valuable customers like me to stay loyal to you. And from what I’ve heard, Wal-Mart does NOT post ‘No Gun’ signs."

There was a slight pause and then he began to speak.

"Your points are valid and well-taken. I will call my manager and the sign will be down in less than five minutes. Thank you," he said.

I’m glad to say that I’m still shopping at my favorite Giant Eagle (armed of course). And the Giant Eagle manager called to apologize to me and welcome me back into the store.

Take a tally of businesses in your neighborhood that do not allow guns on their premises. Approach them calmly and explain why it is not a good idea and that they lost your business that day and in the future. Explain where you will go to find a like item from a competitor.

The www.Ohioccw.org Web site has a nifty little business size card that summarizes the points I’ve discussed above. It’s a powerful little statement.

Order a pile of these and give them to each merchant who has a "No Gun" sign. Then tell your pro-gun friends to come by and speak with a manager or owner.

If you work hard enough and have a good enough argument, you may win a victory like I did. We deserve it.

The Ohio Concealed Carry Law is a great victory -- let’s work to make sure it applies to all of our favorite shopping places.