I liked your letter but modified it a small amount, and tried to make it so with a couple of minor name changes it could be used for other stores/businesses.
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Roses
400 Pantops Center
Pantops Shopping Center
Charlottesville, VA 22911
(434) 296-0707
www.vwstores.com
Dear Managers/Owners,
I write because a friend of mine noticed your Pantops store was posted with a no firearms allowed sign.
I take my right to personal protection very seriously. My wife and I are fairly new to the area and are law abiding citizens who up until this today had planned on visiting your store. However, we refuse to spend our hard earned money patronizing any establishment that denies our rights and personal choice to carry a firearm.
I am sure that you can understand that criminals will not care what your policies are. While the Pantops area is a usually safe, no area is truly safe from criminal activity, and it is each persons duty to protect themselves. Policies, such as yours, put customers and employees at grave risk. When a business actively forbids law abiding customers from carrying firearms, they are telling criminals they are welcome inside and that they'll meet no resistance too unlawful activities from customers or employees.
I will request that organizations that post the names of companies that are anti-firearm and anti-personal defense, add Roses to the
do NOT patronize list.
An establishment does not have to be strongly pro self-defense; it is sufficient that a business remain neutral. A business should honor the laws of the state in which they are located. If a citizen’s conduct is legal then a business should not penalize responsible behavior. Other companies, such as: Wal-Mart, Dick's, Starbucks and Target (just to name a few) have chosen to stay neutral.
Please let me know if you decide to change your policy to allow law-abiding lawful firearm carriers inside so we may become paying customers. There are thousands of pro self-protection members across the Commonwealth and I would like to keep them updated as to what your position is.
Sincerely,