I have been asked to post a letter here that I wrote for a long-time Shooting Bench listener back in 2008. He and some co-workers were at odds with their employer over having guns at the workplace. For fear of retaliation, they did not want to approach their employer so I was asked if I could write something up for them and send it to the employer. Of course, I jumped at the chance and here is what I came up with. Feel free to use it if you wish with proper credit given...
A number of your employees and customers have
contacted us with concerns about your prohibitive firearms policy and
their personal security. In view of the numerous attacks on unarmed employees
and students across the country in recent months, they have come to realize
that when seconds count, law enforcement is only minutes away. With this in
mind, those that have the desire to protect themselves and their loved ones
find themselves at odds with company policy.
Placing a "NO FIREARMS" sign on your door
or having a known policy that prohibits firearms lets the criminal know that
he can work in a relatively safe, hazard-free environment without fear of
confrontation. Many of the establishments that have been recently attacked
have had such signs and policies. Do you think the criminal will change his
mind and leave when he sees such a sign? Hardly. It just emboldens him.
We understand the liability concerns of having
firearms on your property and in your building. However, we are not sure that
you understand the liability concerns that you should have for
yourselves and your company should the unthinkable happen and one or more of
your employees, customers or their families are injured or killed due to
their inability to protect themselves because of your policy.
In lieu of allowing these individuals
to legally carry a firearm for self-protection, they have asked that you
provide full-time, armed security, adequate for each
employee, during all work hours. If this is not acceptable to you,
please know that legal and civil action may be taken against your
company and each of you personally if an incident
unfolds in which these individuals are not properly protected or
allowed to protect themselves.
Across the nation, it has been proven over and over
again that legally licensed, trained individuals carrying concealed weapons
have NOT propagated incidents in which "blood ran in the streets"
as was predicted by so many. In fact, quite the opposite has been the
case. Nationwide, only a minute fraction of CCW holders have even been
involved in a violent crime of any description. Many have been able to
prevent or stop crimes with little or no injuries or loss of life. CCW
holders have been involved in incidents where they were able to lend
assistance to law enforcement professionals with favorable results.
With all of this in mind, the aforementioned concerned
individuals respectfully ask that you reconsider your policy and put
something in place that would be acceptable to both parties. A possible
compromise might be that if someone wishes to carry at work, they should
provide proper training and licensing credentials and severe disciplinary
action be taken if they are observed handling their weapons in any manner on
company property unless it is in defense of themselves or others.
Sincerely,
Cope Reynolds
Southwest Shooting Authority
