heresolong
Regular Member
imported post
Here is the letter that I have drafted to corporate. Any feedback is welcome.
Blaine, WA 98230
October 18, 2008
Richard and Donald Haggen
2211 Rimland Drive
Bellingham, WA 98227-9704
Dear Mr Haggen,
I am writing to ask you about an alleged store policy that your Ferndale Haggen manager is enforcing and about the treatment that a friend received at that store. For the record, I have been shopping at Ferndale Haggen for the past eleven years, ever since I moved back into the area after an extended absence due to military service. I have always enjoyed my shopping experience at your stores.
Richard, a friend of mine, was approached by the manager at Ferndale Haggen several months ago as he was shopping. The manager was apparently concerned that Richard was openly carrying a pistol in a belt holster. The manager asked Richard if he was law enforcement, to which Richard informed him that he was not law enforcement but that Washington state law permits the open carry of a firearm (RCW 9.41.270). Richard is an older gentleman who maintains his grooming and typically dresses in slacks and a t-shirt or sports shirt so there is nothing about his appearance that would cause alarm. The manager claimed that he had received ten complaints from “regular” customers who were threatening to stop shopping at Haggen if people were allowed to carry firearms. Richard was skeptical that this was the actual reason, having noticed nothing out of the ordinary in the public reaction to him as he shopped but he agreed with the manager that the store had the right to ask him not to carry.
Fast forward several weeks later. Richard had at this point shopped at the store on a weekly or more frequent basis, each time locking his pistol in the car prior to entering the store in acquiescence to the manager’s wishes. This time, however, he entered the store and was doing his shopping when he was approached by two Ferndale police officers and the manager. The officers told him that the manager had called them because he had asked Richard not to carry his firearm in the store. Richard pointed out that he was not carrying his firearm. The officers questioned him for a few minutes and then left. Richard contacted me because he feels absolutely humiliated. He was accosted by police in front of his community members and neighbors for no reason at all other than the store manager’s apparent unreasoning fear of firearms. He had complied 100% with the manager’s request regarding open carry even though he had never received a copy of the corporate policy that the manager promised him.
I have been openly carrying my firearm in Ferndale Haggen for over a year, long before I met Richard. I have never had any problems in the store, I have never noticed any other customers exhibiting negative reactions to my firearm, and I have never been approached by an employee of the store. I am wondering what is going on with your store. I understand that this manager is new and I wonder if he is setting store policy based on his personal feelings rather than any direction from above.
I have two questions for you as members of the Board of Directors and as the sons of the founders of Haggen grocery.
First, is there an official policy that customers are not allowed to legally carry firearms in your stores. If so, could you please send me a copy of that policy?
Second, if there is an official policy or if you are allowing the manager’s of the stores to set policy in this area, could you please explain why you feel that law abiding citizens can not be trusted with the means of their own defense. If you look at the history of the past fifty years, each and every mass shooting in this country and others has been carried out in a place where law abiding citizens were prohibited from possessing a firearm. What Virginia Tech, Columbine, Pearl, Mississippi, and Long Island, NY, along with each other mass shooting in recent history, have in common is that there were no law abiding citizens who could stop the mentally unstable shooter from committing his crimes.
The Washington State Constitution is clear on the right of the citizen of self defense and the possession of firearms. The United States Constitution is clear on the right of the citizen to keep and bear arms and has been recently upheld by the Supreme Court. Although I recognize your right as a property owner to set rules for your customers, I would hope that you would not choose to limit the ability of your customers to defend themselves, especially while causing no trouble for your other customers or your business.
I look forward to your quick response on this matter.
Sincerely,
I will also have a copy at the breakfast this am for people to look over.
Here is the letter that I have drafted to corporate. Any feedback is welcome.
Blaine, WA 98230
October 18, 2008
Richard and Donald Haggen
2211 Rimland Drive
Bellingham, WA 98227-9704
Dear Mr Haggen,
I am writing to ask you about an alleged store policy that your Ferndale Haggen manager is enforcing and about the treatment that a friend received at that store. For the record, I have been shopping at Ferndale Haggen for the past eleven years, ever since I moved back into the area after an extended absence due to military service. I have always enjoyed my shopping experience at your stores.
Richard, a friend of mine, was approached by the manager at Ferndale Haggen several months ago as he was shopping. The manager was apparently concerned that Richard was openly carrying a pistol in a belt holster. The manager asked Richard if he was law enforcement, to which Richard informed him that he was not law enforcement but that Washington state law permits the open carry of a firearm (RCW 9.41.270). Richard is an older gentleman who maintains his grooming and typically dresses in slacks and a t-shirt or sports shirt so there is nothing about his appearance that would cause alarm. The manager claimed that he had received ten complaints from “regular” customers who were threatening to stop shopping at Haggen if people were allowed to carry firearms. Richard was skeptical that this was the actual reason, having noticed nothing out of the ordinary in the public reaction to him as he shopped but he agreed with the manager that the store had the right to ask him not to carry.
Fast forward several weeks later. Richard had at this point shopped at the store on a weekly or more frequent basis, each time locking his pistol in the car prior to entering the store in acquiescence to the manager’s wishes. This time, however, he entered the store and was doing his shopping when he was approached by two Ferndale police officers and the manager. The officers told him that the manager had called them because he had asked Richard not to carry his firearm in the store. Richard pointed out that he was not carrying his firearm. The officers questioned him for a few minutes and then left. Richard contacted me because he feels absolutely humiliated. He was accosted by police in front of his community members and neighbors for no reason at all other than the store manager’s apparent unreasoning fear of firearms. He had complied 100% with the manager’s request regarding open carry even though he had never received a copy of the corporate policy that the manager promised him.
I have been openly carrying my firearm in Ferndale Haggen for over a year, long before I met Richard. I have never had any problems in the store, I have never noticed any other customers exhibiting negative reactions to my firearm, and I have never been approached by an employee of the store. I am wondering what is going on with your store. I understand that this manager is new and I wonder if he is setting store policy based on his personal feelings rather than any direction from above.
I have two questions for you as members of the Board of Directors and as the sons of the founders of Haggen grocery.
First, is there an official policy that customers are not allowed to legally carry firearms in your stores. If so, could you please send me a copy of that policy?
Second, if there is an official policy or if you are allowing the manager’s of the stores to set policy in this area, could you please explain why you feel that law abiding citizens can not be trusted with the means of their own defense. If you look at the history of the past fifty years, each and every mass shooting in this country and others has been carried out in a place where law abiding citizens were prohibited from possessing a firearm. What Virginia Tech, Columbine, Pearl, Mississippi, and Long Island, NY, along with each other mass shooting in recent history, have in common is that there were no law abiding citizens who could stop the mentally unstable shooter from committing his crimes.
The Washington State Constitution is clear on the right of the citizen of self defense and the possession of firearms. The United States Constitution is clear on the right of the citizen to keep and bear arms and has been recently upheld by the Supreme Court. Although I recognize your right as a property owner to set rules for your customers, I would hope that you would not choose to limit the ability of your customers to defend themselves, especially while causing no trouble for your other customers or your business.
I look forward to your quick response on this matter.
Sincerely,
I will also have a copy at the breakfast this am for people to look over.