Toys 'R' Us: Boycott.

[eye95]

You can return every one of the gifts purchased at Babies R Us and spend the refund to purchase the same or equivalent product elsewhere.

 

[thx997303]

Very good idea eye95. That is the action I would take.

I got a response from TRU. Below is the text of the response.

Response (Richard Latner) - 09/10/2010 02:11 PM
Dear Mr. McDonald,

I have included a copy of the Corporate Policy Regarding Firearms in Stores:

General Company Policy on Firearms

• At Toys“R”Us, Inc., the safety and security of our customers and our employees is, and always has been, our highest priority.

• As a retailer that welcomes millions of kids and families into our stores across the country each year, we take our responsibility to create only the safest shopping environment very seriously.

• While we respect citizens’ rights to carry firearms in public areas according to certain state laws, our company policy prohibits customers from doing so in any of our stores out of an abundance of caution for the safety and protection of the children and families shopping with us.

• We make our customers aware of this policy by posting signs at the front of each of our Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us stores nationwide.

• It is also our policy not to sell any toy gun that could be mistaken for a real gun. Toys“R”Us was the first retailer in the U.S. to adopt this policy, which was established in 1994.

I hope this answers your questions for you and you continue to shop with Toys "R" Us. I apologize for any inconvenience.

Sincerely,

Rich Latner
Corporate Guest Relations

 

[eye95]

I hope we can encourage them to change this policy. It is not the customers who lawfully carry about whom they need to worry.

They should be concerned with those willing to violate the law and carry illegally and, therefore, concealed. Their silly little sign won't stop those guys. However, one or two of us might keep those guys in check.

Stupid policy. Anyway I won't be shopping there unless they change the policy.

 

[thx997303]

Here is my response to Mr. Latner.

"Mr. Latner,

There are several flaws in the reasoning behind this policy.

Perhaps you recall hearing about the Trolley Square shooting in Salt Lake City Utah.

Trolley Square was, and still is a posted "gun free zone" This failed to stop the shooter.

Perhaps you recall the Columbine shooting.

Per federal law, schools are gun free zones, this once again failed to stop the shooters.

What your corporation is creating is a "victim disarmament zone"

I refuse to shop anywhere that so ignorantly creates such a zone.

I have and will continue posting this information in various locations, and am calling for a nationwide boycott of Toys 'R' Us and Babies 'R' Us stores.

Here are links to the discussions I have posted on various gun related forums. As you will soon see, there is support for this boycott.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=92947

http://forum.opencarry.org/forums/showthread.php?80532-Toys-R-Us-Boycott.

http://www.utahconcealedcarry.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=9505

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=543355

http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/rkba-news-information/158598-toys-r-us-boycott.html

You can rest assured that more forums will be notified of your policy and the boycott. These are merely the posts I have had time to post since the incident yesterday evening.

In this economy, it appears to be a horrible idea to alienate ANY customers at all.

Blockbuster is a fine example of the backlash such signs create.

I sincerely hope this matter can be resolved.

Sincerely,

Thx."

 

[eye95]

I would encourage folks who belong to various State forums promote the boycott there. Could someone post it on the Alabama forum: AlabamaOpenCarry.com ?

 

[thx997303]

I second that suggestion.

I have posted this thread to all of the gun forums to which I belong.

The larger exposure this gets the better.

 

[thx997303]

Perhaps also, when this is posted on other forums, provide a link here.

The boycott will carry more weight the more easily it is seen how large in scope it may become.

 

[thx997303]

Just bumping this to the top here.

 

[GLOCK21GB]

post it on AR15.com

 

[since9]

Yeah, I noticed yesterday that atleast two stores in two different states are posted. Interestingly enough, corporate has claimed that their policy is "follow what the law allows."

http://forum.opencarry.org/forums/showthread.php?79408-Toys-R-Us-NO-FIREARMS

Sounds like the usual mindless knee-jerk reaction at the local level.

As for the OP, I'm with you. I just wrote 'em a letter, as well:

Dear Toys-R-Us:

As a devoted father and fun-loving kid at heart, I was appalled to learn your local store actively engages in violating the Constitutional rights for which I, as an officer in the US Air Force, fought for more than 20 years. During this time, I lost three friends in the line of duty.

I'm sorry, but I absolutely will not frequent or support any establishment seeking to undermine the rights for which I fought, and for which many thousands of others died.

I strongly encourage you, marketing, and your legal staff to take a history lesson or three. Start with Germany's disarming of their citizens in the 1930s, and see where that leads.

I remain actively involved in the defense of my country at the local level, including as the neighborhood watch block captain, as well as a volunteer with both local law enforcement and fire department.

I'll be blunt: Either your or your store managers' decision to prohibit firearms in your stores prevents the 95% of us law-abiding citizens from protecting ourselves and our children against the 5% of us who are criminals.

Is this really what you want to do? To de-arm all law-abiding citizens who frequent your stores so the law-breaking criminals can come in shooting with little to no fear of resistance?

If so, as a law-abiding citizen, I will respect that. Please know, however, you have earmarked each and every Toys-R-Us store as a WFZ (weapons free zone), which loosely translated into a TRE (target rich environment).

OC (open carry) by citizens has, since the inception of our country, been the predominant means of deterrence against law-breaking activity in our country. In 2004, just 675,734 law enforcement officers were available to protect roughly 293 million people. That's just 0.231% of the American population. By contrast, those of us honest, law-abiding American citizens who either open carry or concealed carry comprise up to 11% of the American public at large at any given time. This is 48 times greater than the coverage you can expect to receive from your local police or sheriff's force.

So please tell me again WHY you're banning all of us law-abiding citizens from your stores?

Consider the source, the FBI's Department of Justice.

 

[since9]

Please double-check my math, people, using the FBI sources I used. I don't want to put things out there which are amiss.

Thanks.

- since9

 

[paramedic70002]

I wrote to them last week and have not received a response. Perhaps the repeated inquiries have caused them to step up their game. Time for a second, more direct letter. This is it:

I have not yet received a response to my previous inquiry, as promised. I feel I must be more direct now. And I assure you, the internet gun forums are buzzing about this issue.

Do you really think criminals obey signs? Do you really think NOT stopping a shooter is the best idea? It is generally agreed upon in the firearms community that a simple armed robbery is best handled by letting the criminal go about his business, in order to avoid a shootout. Most armed robberies do not result in shots fired. If, however, the criminal exhibits murderous intent, he is to be neutralized before he racks up a high body count.

Do you think calling the Police (people with guns) will solve the problem? Average response time of the Police to a high priority call is about 9 minutes. Waiting for SWAT to solve the problem can take hours. Then they document the dead and prosecute the offender. The Supreme Court has ruled that the Police have NO DUTY to protect citizens.

The results of disarming potential casualties, as well as the results of armed citizen intervention, are well documented. In the former, the criminal is free to kill at will; in the latter the criminal is stopped quickly.

I can only assume that your continuance of this policy, which ignores statistical facts, means that counter to your stated claims, you care not a whit for the safety of your customers and employees. While I could simply ignore your sign I am a law abiding citizen who chooses to be prepared to act against random violence. I will not leave my legal firearm in my car to be stolen. Therefore, I and my like minded citizens will continue to not patronize Toys R Us or any of your related businesses until I am informed of the policy's demise. We have no other choice but to express our displeasure at the 'bottom line.'

XXXX XXXX
paramedic70002@yahoo.com

"Each worker carried his sword strapped to his side." Nehemiah 4:18

 

[thx997303]

post it on AR15.com

I don't think I have an account on ARFCOM.

I don't, and I can't get one because my only e-mail is a yahoo account.

Maybe somebody here ought to post over there?

 

[Citizen]

They won't be getting any of my business.

 

[MatieA]

My answer from Toys R Us Corporate

Recently you requested personal assistance from our on-line support center. Below is a summary of your request and our response.

If this issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may reopen it within the next 7 days.

Thank you for allowing us to be of service to you.

Subject
---------------------------------------------------------------
Re: General Toysrus.com/Babiesrus.com


Discussion Thread
---------------------------------------------------------------
Response (John Zugg) - 09/10/2010 05:38 PM Dear Alan Matie,

Thank you for contacting the “R” Us Team.

At Toys “R” Us, Inc., the safety and security of our customers and our employees is, and always has been, our highest priority. As a retailer that welcomes millions of kids and families into our stores across the country each year, we take our responsibility to create only the safest shopping environment very seriously. While we respect citizens’ rights to carry firearms in public areas according to certain state laws, our company policy prohibits customers from doing so in any of our stores out of an abundance of caution for the safety and protection of the children and families shopping with us.

Sincerely,

“R” Us Guest Relations

Customer (Customer Service at www.toysrus.com) - 09/10/2010 03:58 PM Dear Mr. Matie,

Thank you for contacting RUs.com.

We appreciate your concern relating to the "No Firearms" sign. I have forwarded your email to the appropriate team for their prompt review, and you may expect a response from a Guest Service Specialist within 3 to 5 business days.

Thank you again for contacting RUs.com. We value your business and look forward to serving you in the future!

Sincerely,

Christina Small
Guest Service Team
www.ToysRUs.com (800) ToysRUs / (800) 869-7787 www.BabiesRUs.com (888) BabyRUs / (888) 222-9787 Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!!

 

[DCKilla]

I'll do my best to keep my wife from patronizing Toys'R'Us or Babies'R'Us. I have noticed many times the sign outside of our local store and pointed it out to my wife. It's not only a 2A issue, but also a safety issue.

 

[okboomer]

Very good idea eye95. That is the action I would take.

I got a response from TRU. Below is the text of the response.

Response (Richard Latner) - 09/10/2010 02:11 PM
Dear Mr. McDonald,

I have included a copy of the Corporate Policy Regarding Firearms in Stores:

General Company Policy on Firearms

• At Toys“R”Us, Inc., the safety and security of our customers and our employees is, and always has been, our highest priority.

• As a retailer that welcomes millions of kids and families into our stores across the country each year, we take our responsibility to create only the safest shopping environment very seriously.

• While we respect citizens’ rights to carry firearms in public areas according to certain state laws, our company policy prohibits customers from doing so in any of our stores out of an abundance of caution for the safety and protection of the children and families shopping with us.

• We make our customers aware of this policy by posting signs at the front of each of our Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us stores nationwide.

• It is also our policy not to sell any toy gun that could be mistaken for a real gun. Toys“R”Us was the first retailer in the U.S. to adopt this policy, which was established in 1994.

I hope this answers your questions for you and you continue to shop with Toys "R" Us. I apologize for any inconvenience.

Sincerely,

Rich Latner
Corporate Guest Relations

So, at this time, they are selectively enforcing this policy against certain customers ... as pointed out, the BG's won't pay attention to the sign?

IMHO, unless they install metal detectors at the doors, the only enforcement of this policy will be towards LAC who WILL COMPLY with a posted sign.

 

[thx997303]

It does appear you are correct.

 

[thx997303]

Because of the canned responses to e-mails we have been seeing, I think it is time to go up the chain a bit.

According to Linked In, Jennifer Albano is the "Senior Manager, Corporate Communications at Toys"R"Us, Inc."

Her contact info is as follows.

Toys"R"Us, Inc.
Jennifer Albano
973-617-5632 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting**************973-617-5632******end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Jennifer.Albano@toysrus.com

Here is the text of the e-mail I have just sent Ms. Albano.

Ms. Albano,

A few days ago I was asked to leave a Toys 'R' Us location in Orem, Utah. The catalyst behind this request was my Lawfully carried firearm.

It has come to my attention that it is a corporate policy to ban firearms from Toys 'R' Us stores.

This policy leaves a sour taste with me regarding Toys 'R' Us and any stores owned by Toys 'R' Us.

The unfortunate thing about no firearms policies, is that they do nothing to stop the criminal element of society from carrying their illegally carried firearms.

It does however, disarm law abiding customers, as they are apt to respect the corporate policy.

Disarming the law abiding leaves nothing but a target rich environment for those who are inclined to commit crimes.

As a concealed carry permit holder, and a veteran of the United States Army, I find it offensive that Toys 'R' Us considers me too irresponsible to carry my firearm in their stores.

I have decided to ask firearms owners to boycott Toys 'R' Us and any stores owned by or affiliated with Toys 'R' Us unless and until this policy is changed.

For your convenience, I will now link to the discussions on this topic at various internet firearms forums.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=543355

http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/rkba-news-information/158598-toys-r-us-boycott.html

http://www.utahconcealedcarry.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=9505

http://forum.opencarry.org/forums/showthread.php?80532-Toys-R-Us-Boycott.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=92947

Take careful note not only of the replies to these threads, but to the number of views to these threads.

I myself have spent $200 at another store that I had planned to spend at Toys 'R' Us, merely because of your policy.

Others have returned merchandise totaling in excess of $1,000 to Toys 'R' Us locations because of this policy.

Given the economy's state, and the upcoming holiday season, I would imagine that alienating any customers at all would be a bad idea and will hurt profit margins.

Despite the claim that (excerpt from an e-mail received from Rich Latner of Toys 'R' Us corporate guest relations)

"• It is also our policy not to sell any toy gun that could be mistaken for a real gun. Toys“R”Us was the first retailer in the U.S. to adopt this policy, which was established in 1994."

It is immediately apparent that this claim is false. See link below.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4365587

That product could easily be mistaken for a real gun, especially given the advent of duracoat.

To recap, I am calling for a boycott of Toys 'R' Us and all related companies because of Toy's 'R' Us' stance on firearms.

Sincerely,

Thx.

 

[heresyourdipstickjimmy]

Well that stinks! TRU seems to be the only ones carrying GI Joes in our area. :banghead:

I'll check my local TRU and see if it's posted. If it is, I'll post up the location and your thread will be promptly taken to missouricarry.com.

Thanks for the info!