FYI - my string of correspondence. Thanks for the heads up. Levi Strauss is definitely off my Christmas list:
_____________________________________________
----- Original Message -----
From: Jeff Thomas
To: <levistrauss@levi.com>
Sent: Sunday, November 21, 1999 9:01 PM
Subject: Re: General LS&CO Questions Feedback (from P
> Dear Jessica:
>
> Thank you for your kind response.
>
> Actually, PAX is a very anti-self defense organization, and their positions
> are not consistent with the right of Americans to defend their lives and
> their children's lives. It is also clearly based upon pseudo-science.
>
> For example, on their home page they state "A gun in the home is 43 times
> more likely to kill a friend or a family member than an intruder.' This
> bogus 'statistic' is touted quite often by the anti-self defense movement.
> It is based upon research published in the New England Journal of Medicine
> by Arthur Kellerman. He examined 444 homicides in 3 counties, and do you
> know how many of those people were killed by their own gun? 8. That's
> right - 8. The rest of the '43 times' number occurs because other homicide
> victims owned guns, but they were not actually killed with their own gun.
> As a matter of fact, there are other statistical and mathematical flaws in
> Kellerman's work, and even he has greatly revised his findings. But, a
> great 'sounding' statistic like that is just too great to revise based upon
> truth. So, the anti-self defense movement continues to tout this lie.
>
> And, 'Every day 100,000 children in America bring a gun to school.'?
> According to the Justice Department they 'only' caught 6,000 in 1996. That
> makes the 100,000 statistic somewhat questionable, but the more interesting
> thing to note is how many of those 6,000 caught were actually arrested for
> this crime ... it was less than 10. If we care so much about our children,
> then why don't we care enough to enforce the laws we already have?
>
> The so-called PAX Petition is just so much more pacifist propaganda. It
> calls for the elimination of 'assault weapons', which is another mindless
> acceptance of the demonization of semi-automatic rifles. A revolver is
> essentially a semi-automatic in its operation. These are not machine guns.
> More ignorant lies.
>
> It calls for licensing and registration of guns, like automobiles. There
> are many arguments to expose this fraud, but for now I'll just connect you
> to
http://www.sksbuyback.org/ . This is California's official web site for
> the confiscation of SKS rifles, which they required to be registered years
> ago. This is the classic conclusion to registration - confiscation. I will
> also note that PAX's plea that it does not seek to ban firearms is naive at
> best, and more probably disingenuous, to put it nicely.
>
>
> So, it is clear that Levi Strauss' management is knowledgeable regarding
> this subject, and they are willing to destroy an important American freedom.
> Or, perhaps just as ominous, perhaps your management is doing what so many
> others in our society are currently doing - making an emotional decision
> about this topic, and having no logical, historical or philosophical basis
> for their decision. Either way, your company is no longer acceptable to me,
> my family or my friends. I will do my best to make others aware of your
> stand against self defense. I regard companies such as yours as 'gun
> bigots' - they are clearly intolerant of our philosophy of self defense.
>
> If you find my tone extreme, or my assertions incredible, then I suggest you
> and your management give a damn about the issue, and do some reading. I
> suggest:
>
> 'More Guns, Less Crime' - by Dr. John Lott
> 'That Every Man be Armed' - by Stephen Halbrook
>
http://www.3-cities.com/~barryg/nation.htm - A Nation of Cowards, by
> Jeffrey R. Snyder
>
> There are many other good books that do a good job of honestly considering
> this issue, but these will get an honest person started. The intellectual
> high ground is truly held by those who have studied and support the true
> meaning and import of the Second Amendment.
>
> Jessica, take care. I will hope that at least you as an individual will
> consider this alternative philosophy. I will consider doing business with
> Levi Strauss again someday when I hear the company has abandoned the false
> promises of PAX.
>
> Regards,
>
> Jeff
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <levistrauss@levi.com>
> To: Jeff Thomas
> Sent: Friday, November 19, 1999 9:24 AM
> Subject: RE: General LS&CO Questions Feedback (from P
>
>
> > Dear Jeff:
> >
> > Thank you for taking the time to write us. Customer feedback is very
> > important to us and we appreciate your taking the time to express
> > your opinions about this issue.
> >
> > PAX is a non-profit, anti-violence organization which strives to reach
> > youth all over the country by making a difference and attaining a
> > society free of gun violence.
> >
> > Levi Strauss & Co. supports PAX's goal to bring all Americans
> > together to support common sense solutions to the gun violence
> > epidemic. PAX does not seek to ban firearms. It only seeks to end
> > firearm violence through measures which the majority of Americans,
> > including gun owners, can support.
> >
> > Levi Strauss & Co. believes that all students should have an
> > opportunity to learn in a safe environment free of violence and by
> > supporting PAX and their petition, we hope to help put an end to gun
> > violence in our schools.
> >
> > We appreciate your taking the time to write and express your
> > thoughts about this important issue. Your views have been registered
> > and forwarded to our senior management.
> >
> > For additional information regarding this issue we suggest you look at
> > the website,
www.paxusa.com.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > Jessica
> > Levi Strauss & Co
> > jescor1547767
> >
> > --------------------< you wrote >--------------------
> > FirstName: Jeff
> > LastName: Thomas
> > Email:
> >
> > Comments: Does your company provide any funds or other resources
> > in the U.S. or elsewhere to deal with gun violence? Couldn't find that
> > information on your site. Thank you, from a long-time Dockers
> > customer.
> >
[This message has been edited by Jeff Thomas (edited November 24, 1999).]
