Belk Department Stores Consider Gun Ban: Please Contact (Info from VCDL)

[jmelvin]

This afternoon the Virginia Citizen's Defense League (VCDL) provided the following information in the VA-Alert (regular e-mail) regarding Belk Department Stores considering a change in their gun policies. Several ways are provided to politely contact Belk to encourage them to continue to allow for lawful carry as defined by the state or localities where they do business:



I have information from an inside source that Belk is considering changing their policy on guns in their stores.

Let’s contact Belk and let them know that we do not patronize stores that have gun bans. Most stores do not ban the lawful carry of firearms into their stores and Belk should not have such a ban either. The best policy is to leave state and local law determine if a person can legally carry into a Belk store.

To contact Belk, you can send an email to:

belk_customer_care@belk.com

Or you can call them at: 1-866-235-5443

Other contacts:

Facebook: facebook.com/Belk

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/belk

 

[jmelvin]

We're also watching this down in the Virginia forum, but I wanted to get this out there so folks in other states could see this example as well. Here was what I wrote to Belk's customer care e-mail address. Feel free to use as much of this as you like, but please write or call.



Good afternoon folks of Belk!

I was recently told that Belk management was considering implementing a policy to ban customers from lawfully carrying sidearms for their personal protection. To me this is an absolutely disgusting thought that a retailer would care only about extracting a potential customer’s money, while asking them to forgo their tools to defend themselves from the miscreants who occasionally wreck the lives of decent folks who just want to go about their business. I can only hope that this information is untrue, but if my source is correct let me ask you to abandon these plans and simply allow local and state laws to govern how your customers may care for themselves.

My wife and I both have found Belk stores to be a good resource for finding lines of clothing in styles that we like and in the sizes we both need. When I’m in need of clothes the one place I start (and usually end) my shopping is Belk, because I’ve come to find that the Izod and Chaps brand styles you carry suit my tastes well, and the Saddlebred jeans and pullover shirts are one of the few brands that both fit me well and wear well.

I also know that Belk, up to now, doesn’t pretend that “No Guns” signs or policies will keep anyone safe. These policies are feel-good thoughts, like unicorns and rainbows; but unlike unicorns and rainbows that everyone loves, “No Guns” policies result in customers being hurt when criminals ignore signs, laws, and even the threat of punishment in prison or on death row. We can all wish we won’t be exposed to crime, but we know that wishes and signs don’t stop criminals. If these worked, then Belk could put up “No Stealing” signs on their doors and get rid of the locks on their doors, the diligent loss-prevention staff, and any other theft deterrents kept on merchandise. However, you know like I do that this doesn’t work, so I hope you won’t pretend it works any better at protecting innocent lives that are far more precious than a pair of nice jeans or a pretty new purse.

Please let me know that Belk management has abandoned consideration of any “No Guns” policy and my family and I will gladly continue to do business with a store we’ve come to rely on. If I can answer any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Your customer,

 

[jmelvin]

Elsewhere on the forum folks provided feedback that longer notes may not be read. Here's another example that's shorter.


Dear Belk Customer Service,

I have heard that Belk management is considering a gun ban for customers. As one of your customers I ask that you abandon these plans and stick with allowing customers to defend themselves from criminals in the ways state and local laws allow. If signs and policies worked to stop other crimes you'd slap "No Stealing" signs on your doors and never bother to lock them again or worry with loss-prevention staff. Please don't think doing the same will stop predators who hurt the good people who are your customers.

Let me know if I can be of service. Thanks,

XXX

 

[Kopis]

Elsewhere on the forum folks provided feedback that longer notes may not be read. Here's another example that's shorter.


Dear Belk Customer Service,

I have heard that Belk management is considering a gun ban for customers. As one of your customers I ask that you abandon these plans and stick with allowing customers to defend themselves from criminals in the ways state and local laws allow. If signs and policies worked to stop other crimes you'd slap "No Stealing" signs on your doors and never bother to lock them again or worry with loss-prevention staff. Please don't think doing the same will stop predators who hurt the good people who are your customers.

Let me know if I can be of service. Thanks,

XXX

i like this one!

 

[Custodian]

Wait I can't digg or up rep something on this forum? Dang it!

+ 1 or +100

Whichever isn't subject to inflation.