As the gun debate rages on, more and more retailers are caving to the pressure of anti-gun folks and “requesting” that you not carry in their stores.
Walmart, CVS & Kroger Ask Customers: PleaseDon't Carry Guns In Our Stores. (Costco Bans Them Outright) @billmurphyjr https://t.co/kMiIfrSyGT
— Inc. (@Inc) September 10, 2019
Walgreens is asking customers to no longer openly carry guns into its stores, the company announced. It joins fellow retailers Walmart and Kroger, which announced similar policies the day before. https://t.co/0K5npoduwv
— CNN (@CNN) September 8, 2019
ALDI has joined a list of retailers asking customers not to open carry in stores. https://t.co/TZ61roE9rV
— News 19 (@whnt) September 10, 2019
But seriously, how will they stop them?
They can’t.
The man who allegedly slaughtered 22 people at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, in August was never going to listen to a Twitter or Facebook plea by an out of touch public relations department.
I won’t open carry in these stores for a couple of reasons.
1. I think open carry is foolish. Anyone walking around with a long gun is looking for attention and trouble — they may find both.
2. I respect their property rights — to a degree.
The problem with all of this is quite obvious: Only law-abiding citizens are going to abide by the law.
We also will never live in a world where we have to pass through a metal detector before we enter a big box store.
Two weeks ago, I went to a minor league baseball game and left my firearm in my vehicle thinking there would be metal detectors and bag checks. The stadium had neither, I felt uncomfortable and vulnerable.
Why? Because I was following the rules being dictated to me by a sign on a wall telling me it was a gun-free zone and backed up by… the good behavior of potential psychos.
So, until they find a way to stop people who want to cause others harm, it will be completely reasonable for law-abiding gun owners to break the arbitrary rules of corporate America to protect themselves and their families.
Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 7-11 am weekdays on WVNN.
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