Home Depot (again. . . !)

S

Seminole

New member
This afternoon after work I went to the new Home Depot that has just opened up in midtown Memphis. Since I live in midtown, I've been very excited at the prospect of not having to drive as far to shop at Home Depot. I need a couple of florescent light panels to remodel my den and I thought I would buy them at the new store today.

But as I walked up to the door, lo-and-behold--there it was a big sign declaring that pursuant to the relevant section of the TN code, Home Depot bans firearms at that location!

After returning to my van, and temporarily storing my weapon, I walked in and asked for the manager. The cashier paged him, but he seems to have had something more important to do than talk to a customer at that moment because he never showed up. I walked out after 15 minutes of waiting.

Now I remember a thread either here or on THR about Home Depot banning firearms and then rescinding that ban, but I can't seem to find the thread. Can anyone help me out?

I've shopped at other Home Depots in the three years I've lived in Memphis and have never seen a sign banning weapons.

I will be sending an e-mail to corporate headquarters as well as telephoning the general manager of this store and following up with a letter, but I really would like the information about the previous Home Depot bans.

Thanks for any help.
 
Home Depot is exceeded in craptacularness only by ****ty Mill (Hawaiians will know what im talking about), another home improvement store. Why is it that service at these places always sucks? Contrast it to the know how of the employees at computer retailers... Maybe its just that the kids that are being hired as unskilled labor know more about Counter-strike than drywall?

Every time I go there and talk to the employees they want to "hold on, I'll go get someone else." Because they're dumb lazy bastards. It's pretty sad that the manager did it though...
 
I think you did the right thing by removing and securing your weapon per there signage. I also believe they have a right to forbid firearms on there property if they wish. I also believe you have the right not to shop there any more.. :)
 
Send in that email, I think HD corp policy is not to restrict CCW. I know here in OH none of them are posted that I have visited.

Jim
 
I called the Home Depot office and asked to speak to the Director of Public Relations. Unfortunately, it was after 5:00 p.m. in Atlanta and he had already gone home (the nerve of the guy. . . ;) ) Anyway, I voiced my complaint to the polite young lady who had answered the phone, and was encouraged to call back to speak to him tomorrow. I will do so.

I also sent this e-mail from Home Depot's web page:

To Whom it May Concern:

I have been very excited about the new store that recently opened in midtown Memphis, TN. Today I stopped in for the first time to purchase two fluorescent light panels that I need to remodel my den.

Unfortunately, I noticed a large sign prohibiting the carrying of firearms at that location. As a holder of a Tennessee Handgun Carry Permit I have undergone a thorough background check that certifies that I am among the most law-abiding of citizens. Furthermore, I have carried my weapon without incident on each of the other very frequent occasions I have shopped at the other Home Depot locations in Memphis for the three years I have lived here.

In a letter to the Tennessee Firearms Association dated December 5, 2003 David Sandor, the Director of Public Relations for your corporation, stated, "the Home Depot does not prohibit anyone who is legally permitted to carry firearms from entering our stores, provided the firearms are carried in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations." The sign at this store appears to be in direct violation of your stated policy.

Being legally prohibited by the sign from entering the store, I went instead to a Lowe's store, where I am not prohibited from exercising my right to protect myself and my family, and purchased the two light panels I needed. Although it was out of my way, I spent $208.00 at Lowe's because your store refused me entry.

I hope that you will remedy this situation soon and will bring this store into compliance with what you have stated as policy.

Sincerely,
[Seminole]
Click to expand...

We'll see what develops.
 
Ive wondered about the legality of places deciding to ban the carrying of weapons on property. The two Ive ran into are Colleges. Indiana University of Pennsylvania (which is no big deal) and Penn State University (which is a huge pain in the ass for me, details might not be worth it)

But the point is, can they do this?
 
It may not be a corporate-level decision. The HD nearest me has no such signs and I have carried there many times with no trouble.

-Dave
 
Downey Savings Bank in Kingman AZ has a similar sign . If I were to be carrying concealed (which in AZ is as hard to get as sunburn) I would probably still carry . Stop and think , if you needed it and I mean REALLY needed it you are better caught with it than without it . Question : What could happen if you carry legally in a state and the store says NO and you still carry concealed ? I would think that you are legal and not trespassing since it is a public place . Asked to leave if they somehow notice ?
 
I did not notice any anti-sign the last time I went to the HD store. I do not go often but would feel obligated to protest to the manager if I saw a sign restricting firearms.

Since CCW means "concealed" I do not see a problem unless you had to defend yourself or if your firearms fell onto the floor from your holster. The store has the right to serve (or not) whowever they please, just as we have the right not to be a customer. :)
 
Sneaky Socialism

Because a business invites the public to buy their food or groceries or gas or whatever, does not make that business a public place. Those of you that buy into the governments designation of such, are buying into socialism. Period.

The property owner, the business owner, the owners agent, all have the right to state under what terms they will conduct business and with whom. That is the basis of private property rights.

The fact is, that many, if not most people, buy into this "public place" nonsense without giving it a second thought. Such governmental designations serve to curtail two main rights: 1)Private Property rights (government control of how you can conduct business and what you can do with your property) and 2)Individual rights (government control to curtail your choices).

You either believe in Liberty or you don't. It's not a cafeteria wherein you get to pick and choose.
 
i always thought that iup forbidding carry was funny, i went to the police academy there and we all had to bring our weapons for retention training and pre range inspection.
harry
 
In the Los Angeles Home Depots 99 percent of the employees are non-english speaking Latinos or high school kids. Oh and outside you have 500 illegals sitting around in groups waiting for some nervous upper-middle class white guy driving a van (not me) to hire them to do construction work.
 
paratrooper said:
Question : What could happen if you carry legally in a state and the store says NO and you still carry concealed ?
Click to expand...

Well, that depends on the state you are in. In Tennessee, which is where this problem has arisen, by carrying in a posted location you commit a felony, are subject to having your handgun carry permit revoked, and fined $500.00. Since I have a choice in the matter, I'm not shopping in a store that subjects me to those kinds of consequences simply as a result of my choosing to protect myself and my family.

No response to my e-mail yet and I just did not have a spare 5 minutes to call Home Depot's Atlanta office today. I'll try on Monday.
 
"S_O_Laban" said:
Home depot: havn't noticed any signage here in MO at the two HD I frequent. BTW good letter.
Click to expand...

Thanks. As I mentioned in it the letter, I've never seen such a sign in the other HDs I've shopped in either. This is a first, and I don't want to let the camel's nose under the tent.
 
The Youngstown Ohio area HD's are posted as you go into the Tool Rental area in the very front of the store. I talked with the Rental Guy behind the counter and explained my No guns, No money policy and his response was "thats fine, we don't want you in here".

I'm not sure but I think HD leases this area to the Rental Company. I may be wrong but the other two entrances have no signs up. Anyone have any more info on this? I think I'll go back and explore it with the store manager tomorrow.
 
Shamus-

The sad thing is, the rental guy likely won't change his attitude after he's been pistol whipped and robbed of $78.43 by a crackhead. And that's not the worst scenario.
 
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