Governmentally-sanctioned Criminal Protection Zones
So Joe Lester is using taxpayer dollars to help create Criminal Protection Zones ("CPZ's"). Now, just like schools, courthouses, and other locations where concealed carriers are statutorily barred from entering, bad guys have nothing to fear in such establishments. Even worse, Sheriff Lester thinks it is an appropriate use of tax dollars to create signs that give citizens the mistaken impression that barring LEGALLY CARRIED weapons is somehow heightening their safety.
As we all know, nothing could be further from the truth. Criminals, by and large, don't pay any attention to signs. They don't obey signs, or the law - that's why they call them CRIMINALS. The bad guys now know that any store with a GunBuster sign on the door, like the ones you've listed, is "easy pickin's". He has the blessing of the High Sheriff, who has helped the merchant prohibit any law-abiding citizen from bringing a weapon into his store. ("Hey, Jose - that store is posted ! That's safe for us to hit, homie !!!".)
I hope concealed and open carriers in Oklahoma mount a strong and unified campaign to let merchants know that what they are doing is a mistake - that what they are doing is INCREASING, not DECREASING, the danger to their customers - that pistol permit holders are not the folks they need to be worrying about - that you and every other permit holder is going to VOTE WITH THEIR FEET, and take their hard-earned dollar to a merchant who thinks with his brain instead of his emotions. If he did so, he would immediately realize that posting a GB sign is exactly the WRONG move to protect his customers from harm. No Guns/No Money cards, and well-composed letters listing all the reasons why this is a BAD business move, are very useful in this battle.
It is painstaking and time consuming - but I can tell you from first-hand experience that calm and rational discussion with businessowners can have a positive impact. What's important is that we remain professional and objective in our presentations to them. Their position is based 100% on emotion. Logic simply does not enter into it. The shameful thing is that the Sheriff, a law enforcement officer who you would THINK would know better, is spreading this sort of Barbara Streisand in his county....