Negative on Gart Bros. stores

[lovedogs]

Hate to publish anything negative but sometimes thing can get under our skin and we need to pass it on.

Don't know how many of you may have Concealed Weapons Permits but if you do this will concern you.

A few years ago while I was still employed with the USFWS I went into a Gart Bros. store.   I was off duty so was not in uniform.  I was discreet in carrying my off duty handgun under a light jacket.  A clerk spotted the slight bulge and informed the manager, who asked me to come to his office.  There he informed me that no one was allowed to carry a weapon in their stores unless in uniform.  I had my ID.  I had my Firearms Qualifications card.  I had my CWP.  It didn't matter.  If I wasn't in uniform it wasn't allowed.

My job required me to be armed at all times, as is the case with many people in law enforcement.  I thought that was a stupid rule for a store to make and was especially hypocritical for one that sells firearms.  I informed the gentleman that I'd let all my law enforcement buddies and real Americans who are legally carrying that they aren't welcome at Gart's.

On a more positive note, I recently asked a manager at a Scheel's store about their company policies and he said he welcomed law abiding citizens who were carrying and had CWP's in their wallets.

Personally, I won't do business with those who deny me my rights.  You may do as you wish.  If more of us stood up for our rights we wouldn't have so much trouble with the hoplophobs.

[Dusty Miller]

We need lots more people to contact the offenders to let'm know a pay'n customer is going somewhere else because of their company policy.

[Daks]

They won't miss the business. Not many people are going to get excited about not being allowed to carry a handgun inside the store. Even most people who have the proper permits to carry concealed won't care, I imagine. Most of them don't carry all the time and I'm willing to bet they are more motivated by price than ideology.

Almost every store I know of up in my neck of the woods will ask you to leave if you are carrying a firearm. People are frightened of other folks carrying guns. Just the way it is these days. If I didn't patronize stores that had this policy, I wouldn't be able to purchase anything except on-line.

[lovedogs]

Appreciate the input.  I know we are a dying breed, but I'm not dead yet so will refuse to roll over and play like I am.  It's like the saying goes,
"If we don't stand up for something we stand for nothing at all."

I usually don't carry all the time, either.  But when I do I know I'm perfectly within my rights and don't like to be treated like a criminal.

A few years ago I used to hike in the mountains up by the border of Glacier National Park with a church group.  I've had enough close encounters with grizzlies to know only a fool travels their country unarmed.  So I was always armed with a real weapon.  One fellow in the group always kidded me about carrying a gun.  One day his young daughter was in front of the group and ran face-to-face with a two-year old griz.  Fortunately, we all walked away.  Bet you can guess what the first words were to come out of that man's mouth.  Yup!  You guessed it.  His frantic shout was, "Where's Mike?"  I think it was his yelling that scared the bear off.