[Date]
[Name of Offending Establishment]
[Address of Offending Establishment]
Attn: [Manager's Name]
Dear [Manager's Name]:
An acquaintance was beaten and robbed at knife point in a shopping
center parking lot last year. Because of this, and numerous similar
crimes in the news, I must question the 'no weapons' policy (even
by those holding court issued permits) at [Mall or Store
Name].
However well intended your policy may be, the net result is that
law-abiding citizens are at the mercy of the criminal element while
patronizing your establishment.
[Virginia] permit holders have passed thorough local, state and
FBI criminal background checks. They are trained in safety and
the law and the responsibilities they bear prior to being issued
a permit by the courts. Concealed firearms permit holders, and those who choose to openly carry a lawful defensive sidearm, are
among the nation's most responsible and law-abiding citizens.
Please imagine these two hypothetical situations.
Criminals
Welcome
The management of this facility has made
every effort to disarm your potential victims.
Law abiding persons in our
stores and parking lots are defenseless. |
or
Warning
To Criminals
Some Patrons in our Mall Stores and
Parking Lots May Be Legally Armed.
To help ensure the safety of our customers,
the management of this
establishment
encourages the patronage those carrying lawful firearms.
Trained
holders of Court Issued
Concealed Handgun Permits are especially welcome |
The first scenario is the message sent by your "no legal firearms" policy, and in essence, the message you are sending
to criminals who would prey on your patrons.
Do you genuinely believe that violent criminals,
intent on plying their trade in your establishment are going to
obey your signs?
I am not requesting that you display signs welcoming
law-abiding carriers of legal, defensive sidearms onto your property, merely that you remove the
signs denying them access.
Otherwise what
you are telling the public is that the only people who are
armed in your stores are the criminals. That's not very reassuring.
This/Last holiday season my family and I made a concerted effort to
avoid stores, malls, restaurants and other public spaces that disarm honest citizens, leaving them at the mercy of those who don't obey signs, rules
or laws.
I urge you to examine your policy that leaves your law-abiding
patrons defenseless while on your property, and at the same time
encourages and emperors armed criminals.
Respectfully
[Signature]
[Name]