imported post
Alrighty, SunTrust is #1 on the list to check out. Thanks guys!
Now, here's the thing... I haven't been around here on this board very long, and what do I know... I'm from CA... but I think we really need to do this...
"The Letter"
I think that one of the most powerful tools that anyone on this board has talked about is "the letter." What is "the letter" you ask? The letter is what one OCDO member wrote to Home Depot (I think) when they saw him OC'ing and asked him to leave. He inquired as to their policy and ended up leaving without buying anything there. What he did next was spot on... he went across the way to Lowes, bought what he would have bought at HD, went home, and then wrote a letter to HD -- enclosing a copy of his Lowes receipt -- explaining that he viewed their policy as endangering him by prohibiting him from carrying the most effective tool of self defense. Therefore, he did the only reasonable thing, which was to spend his money at their competitor. Thus the double-whammy... them losing his business and their competitor getting his money.
So, what I propose is that we draft two "OCDO" letters: one a "Thank you for supporting my rights in your establishment and you can count on my business and word-of-mouth referrals" and the other a "I like your business, and I would spend a lot of money there but your policy of prohibiting me the tools of self defense while shopping in your establishment has left me with no option but to make my purchases at your competitor." (Maybe VCDL wants to get in on some of this action and have a joint VCDL/OCDO letter??) Having the skeleton of these letters pre-written will make OC'ers and CC'ers much more likely to actually adapt and send them. I'm no Bill Shakespeare, but here's a go...
Feel free to throw stones///
"The Good Letter"
Business Name
Business Address
Dear Sirs;
My name is Peter Lemonjello. In a typical year, I spend approximately $XXX/year on groceries/automotive supplies/hardware/panty hose/whatever and your business is my first choice for such purchaces. I am writing to draw your attention to a very positive experience which I had at your XYZ store on 123 Anywhere St., Some City, VA on 03/12/2009. I am a stong believer in personal responsibility and preparedness and, as such, I find it prudent to safely carry a firearm with me whenever and wherever I am not prohibited from doing so by law. As you may know, in the state of VA, there is no law against the safe carrying of a holstered firearm by non-prohibited adults. Private property owners and lessees such as your business are allowed to set the rules they choose on their property.
On 03/12/2009, I was shopping for "B" batteries at your store in Some City, VA. I was in the store for approximately XX hours and during that time other customers or store employees may have noticed my firearm. However, nobody made any mention of it and by the time I ended up checking out I purchased $YYY worth of goods (receipt enclosed). It makes me happy to know that your company respects my right and responsibility to defend my family and myself. Rest assured, this positive experience and your continued support of this right will cause me to continue to shop at your business and to recommend it to my friends and family as well.
-Sincerely Yours
-Peter Lemonjello
PJ's address & contact info
CC: Your Business HQ
-------------
"The Bad Letter"
Business Name
Business Address
Dear Sirs;
My name is Peter Lemonjello. In a typical year, I spend approximately $XXX/year on groceries/automotive supplies/hardware/panty hose/whatever and your business would be my first choice for such purchaces if your store policies were not what they are. I am writing to draw your attention to a very negative experience which I had at your XYZ store on 123 Anywhere St., Some City, VA on 03/12/2009. I am a stong believer in personal responsibility and preparedness and, as such, I find it prudent to safely carry a firearm with me whenever and wherever I am not prohibited from doing so by law. As you may know, in the state of VA, there is no law against the safe carrying of a holstered firearm by non-prohibited adults. Private property owners and lessees such as your business are allowed to set the rules they choose on their property.
On 03/12/2009, I wanted to buy some "B" batteries at your store in Some City, VA. However, when I arrived, I saw your sign prohibiting even the legal carrying of firearms within your establishment. As soon as I saw this sign, I turned right back around and drove straight to your competitor, Lowes/Giant/Good Vibrations/you-get-the-picture, to do my shopping. (Note: the second and third sentences could be replaced with something like: Before even giving it a second thought, I headed off to do my shopping at your competitor, Lowes/Giant/Good Vibrations, because I am aware that your business prohibits even the legal carrying of firearms on your property.) I spent YY hours in your competitor's store and during that time other customers or store employees may have noticed my firearm but nobody made any mention of it. By the time I ended up checking out I had purchased $YYY worth of goods (receipt enclosed). This is money which I gladly would have spent at your store were your policy against firearms not what it is. It made me happy to know that your competitor respects my right and responsibility to defend my family and myself. Rest assured, my positive experience at their store and their continued support of this right will cause me to continue to shop there and to recommend it to my friends and family. I hope that you will reconsider your company/store policies and allow the legal carrying of firearms so that I can shop there with confidence.
-Sincerely Yours
-Peter Lemonjello
PJ's address & contact info
CC: Your Business HQ
