I have been a loyal customer of Aldi's for many years.
On my visist to your Delavan, WI store this past Saturday, 4/2/11, I finally stopped and read one of your signs by the front door. It says:
"No person shall knowingly possess, have under the person's control, convey, or attempt to convey a deadly weapon or dangerous ordinance on these premises. O.R.C 2923.125 & 2911.21"
In WI, the only way I can carry a firearm is openly, according to state law. I open carry every day, every where. I carry in Wal-Mart, Piggly Wiglly, Starbucks and other places too numerous to name. I have, before I noticed this sign, open carried in this Aldi.
It has been shown that banning the carrying of firearms in a business only guarantees that the only people carrying are criminals. This creates a criminal free-fire zone.
I would ask that Aldi do what other merchants do, remove the sign and issue a policy that states that they 'follow state law'. If you do not do this, I legally cannot carry in your store anymore and therefore do not feel comfortable shopping in your store due to the fact I would be unable to protect myself. I can get my groceries at other facilities that allow me to exercise my right to self defense, albeit at a higher price.
In addition, I am a member of a nationwide group OpenCarry.org that monitors businesses treatment of customers that support self defense. They could possibly join me in my decision to forgo using your establishment.
Here is the thread on the forum that I started.
A couple other point about the sign. The sign mentions OCR 2923.125 & 2911.21 which according to my research are Ohio laws. OH laws are unenforceable in WI.
Also, the sign uses the term 'ordinance' which means 'laws', so, if I read the sign as written, I can't carry a weapon or deadly laws. I believe the word you mean to use is ordnance, which would cover explosives and such.
Please feel free to contact me if you wish to discuss this further.
