I received this in an e-mail from a (gun nut) buddy in Louisville, KY today: ALERT FROM JEWS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF FIREARMS OWNERSHIP America's Aggressive Civil Rights Organization October 31, 2006 JPFO ALERT: COSTCO GUN BAN We received the following email from a member, who had heard that Costco Wholesale warehouse clubs had banned firearms in their stores. Read the letter, and the response from Costco below. While JPFO agrees that Costco has the right to restrict firearm possession on their premises, we also believe that firearms supporters have the right to protest with their dollars, by not shopping at Costco. If you're a Costco member and decide to discontinue your membership as a result of this policy, we suggest that you make sure that Costco knows why! And don't forget to read the new book _Guns in the Workplace_ by Chuck Klein. It's available through Amazon.Com and at booksellers nationwide. - The Liberty Crew -----Original Message----- From: xxxxx Sent: Friday, October 20, 2006 4:16 PM To: Investor Relations Subject: Banning guns I heard through the grapevine that Costco had banned guns in their stores. Please confirm or deny the allegation. Thanks. -----Costco Response----- From: Stephanie Bradley [mailto:sabradley@costco.com] Sent: Monday, October 30, 2006 12:43 PM To: Investor Relations Subject: RE: Banning guns Dear Mr. xxx, This email is in response to your October 20, 2006 letter to our Investor Relations department, regarding Costco's "No Firearms" policy at its warehouse stores. As an initial matter, Costco is not a place of ?public accommodation? within the meaning of civil rights laws. The definition of ?public accommodation? does not include a bona fide private club or other establishment that is not in fact open to the public. Costco Wholesale is a membership-only warehouse club. It is not open to the general public. It restricts membership to a limited group of qualified individuals who agree to membership conditions. We have the right, and the obligation to our members, to enact and enforce membership rules. The Member Service Employees at the exit doors are obliged to follow these rules. By obtaining a Costco membership card, our members agree to comply with the Membership Rules and the Privileges and Conditions of membership. Costco does not believe that it is necessary for firearms to be brought into its warehouse stores, except in the case of authorized law enforcement officers. For the protection of all our members and employees, we feel this is a reasonable and prudent precaution to ensure a pleasant shopping experience and safe workplace. Our policy is meant to protect our members and employees in all warehouses around the world. This is not a new policy and we do not customize the policy for each individual city/county/state/country where we do business. The shopping experience is not enhanced by bringing a firearm into our warehouse. Our primary goal at Costco Wholesale is to keep our members happy. Sincerely, Stephanie Bradley Executive Assistant to: Joel Benoliel - SVP-Legal & Administration Paul Latham - VP-Membership, Marketing & Services sabradley@costco.com ============================================================ JPFO mirror site: http://www.jpfo.net ============================================================ LET JPFO KEEP YOU INFORMED -- Sign up today for JPFO Alerts! Just send a blank e-mail to jpfoalerts-subscribe@jpfo.org. To unsubscribe, send a blank email to jpfoalerts-unsubscribe@jpfo.org ============================================================= Regain your freedom - download the song "Justice Day" today! http://www.rebelfirerock.com/downloadjd.html ============================================================= Original Material in JPFO ALERTS is Copyright 2006 JPFO, Inc. Permission is granted to reproduce this alert in full, so long as the following JPFO contact information is included: Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership PO Box 270143 Hartford, Wisconsin 53027 Phone: 1-262-673-9745 Order line: 1-800-869-1884 (toll-free!) Fax: 1-262-673-9746 Web: http://www.jpfo.org/
That reminds me of the trouble Home Depot got into with its gun toting customers when an anti-gun policy started to show up at stores in Michigan and Minnesota. Gun owners in those states and fellow gun nuts from most every other state not affected, sent in letters to Home Depot HQ saying that they will spend their money at Lowes (and elsewhere) where they do not ban firearms from their stores. Soon the signs started disappearing and clarification letters went out that said concealed carry is ok in their stores. Some gun owners were mad that Home Depot still prevents employees from carrying and also does not want open carry. I read the statement as saying that while Home Depot HQ misjudged the reaction of gun owning customers, this was all just to keep the sheeple happy and feeling safe, but gun owners must be aware that if you open carry into a Home Depot store and someone has a hissy fit at seeing a gun and tells a manager, you will be asked to leave, or at least leave your gun in the parking lot. However if you conceal your firearm and the sheeple are fooled and therefore the managers are not harrased, then firearm carry is perfectly fine with Home Depot HQ.