Safeway
3275 W. Colorado Ave
Colorado Springs, CO 80904
Attn: Robert Harold
10 July 1999
Mr. Harold:
I have shopped regularly at your store for nearly a year. Every time I have patronized your store, I have been armed. I carry a firearm for my own protection, because the police are not capable of protecting me, nor are they required to, according to the US Supreme Court.
I have had many conversations with your clerks in which they thanked me for carrying, since they know that the presence of firearms prevents crime far more than that presence encourages it (see "More Guns, Less Crime," by John Lott). Simply, while I'm in your store, you won't be robbed. I carry openly, with no attempt at concealment, which is legal in El Paso County. My sidearm remains in its holster, I don't carry in a threatening manner, and I'm polite and courteous to your employees and other customers.
So imagine my surprise when I was approached this afternoon by a County deputy sheriff and an off-duty fireman and advised to leave my firearm outside when I patronize your store in the future.
The deputy asked me why I carry. I replied, "Because protecting me isn't your responsibility; it's mine." He nodded, and stated that since your store has been robbed several times recently, some of your employees have become extremely nervous about people carrying guns. Therefore, I should leave my gun in my vehicle while I'm shopping.
Is disarming your good customers really a solution, or would it simply make things worse? Don't you think that word is going to get out that your store is a soft target BECAUSE you disarm your customers?
I realize that, since yours is a private operation on private property, you have the absolute right to disarm your customers. Accordingly, I have the right to spend my money elsewhere, and I will exercise that right. You have lost a faithful customer, Mr. Harold, and I will advise my armed friends to avoid your store as well.
Sincerely,
/s
Coinneach Fitzpatrick
------------------
You can't get something for nothing,
You can't have freedom for free.
--Neil Peart
3275 W. Colorado Ave
Colorado Springs, CO 80904
Attn: Robert Harold
10 July 1999
Mr. Harold:
I have shopped regularly at your store for nearly a year. Every time I have patronized your store, I have been armed. I carry a firearm for my own protection, because the police are not capable of protecting me, nor are they required to, according to the US Supreme Court.
I have had many conversations with your clerks in which they thanked me for carrying, since they know that the presence of firearms prevents crime far more than that presence encourages it (see "More Guns, Less Crime," by John Lott). Simply, while I'm in your store, you won't be robbed. I carry openly, with no attempt at concealment, which is legal in El Paso County. My sidearm remains in its holster, I don't carry in a threatening manner, and I'm polite and courteous to your employees and other customers.
So imagine my surprise when I was approached this afternoon by a County deputy sheriff and an off-duty fireman and advised to leave my firearm outside when I patronize your store in the future.
The deputy asked me why I carry. I replied, "Because protecting me isn't your responsibility; it's mine." He nodded, and stated that since your store has been robbed several times recently, some of your employees have become extremely nervous about people carrying guns. Therefore, I should leave my gun in my vehicle while I'm shopping.
Is disarming your good customers really a solution, or would it simply make things worse? Don't you think that word is going to get out that your store is a soft target BECAUSE you disarm your customers?
I realize that, since yours is a private operation on private property, you have the absolute right to disarm your customers. Accordingly, I have the right to spend my money elsewhere, and I will exercise that right. You have lost a faithful customer, Mr. Harold, and I will advise my armed friends to avoid your store as well.
Sincerely,
/s
Coinneach Fitzpatrick
------------------
You can't get something for nothing,
You can't have freedom for free.
--Neil Peart