Ultimatum to My Wife's Store From an Anti

[Vol Texan]

My wife owns a small retail business in the Houston area (I won't go into too many details here because I know the opposition reads this also).

Yesterday, she received an email from one of her customers. It said (and I'm paraphrasing here), "Thanks for the Christmas wishes. We really enjoy your store and look forward to coming back soon. Oh, by the way, have you posted 30.06 AND 30.07 signs yet? We don't want to support any business that refuses to keep us safe. If you need help with signs, please let me know."

Needless to say, my wife was frustrated by this. What this customer doesn't know is that every time she has come into the store, my wife was carrying, and there's no way that's going to stop. She checked on the customer's social media, and saw that she is among a group of folks who are vehemently opposed to any kind of guns - so there won't be any reasoning with her.

We talked about it last night. My wife isn't going to respond to the email she received. If questioned about it face-to-face in the store, she'll simply say, "I do get some people requesting that I put up signs, and I get others thanking me for not having done so. I'm in the business to make and sell xxxxx, not to make political statements one way or another, so I'm going to continue as I always have."

It bugs me to see her have to be frustrated like this. Being a small business owner is hard enough. Dealing with ultimatums that fly in the face of her core values is over the top.

/rant

[Redneck_Buddha]

Spam. Pure spam. Definitely best to ignore.

[Vol Texan]

Spam. Pure spam. Definitely best to ignore.

She will ignore, but this is a real person, who really buys from her. This person is in a circle of friends who all spew anti 2A garbage constantly, and they all shop with her. That's the frustrating part.

[Oldgringo]

Good response, very good.

[FastCarry]

"Oh, by the way, have you posted 30.06 AND 30.07 signs yet? We don't want to support any business that refuses to keep us safe"


"Oh I absolutely agree, thats why i haven't posted the signs. Ill only support businesses that keep us safe also."

[Redneck_Buddha]

Spam. Pure spam. Definitely best to ignore.

She will ignore, but this is a real person, who really buys from her. This person is in a circle of friends who all spew anti 2A garbage constantly, and they all shop with her. That's the frustrating part.

I heard it best on the news the other night when they were interviewing small business owners. They are going to have to make some tough decisions and determine which side they are going to alienate less. Just as pro-2A folks are free to take their business elsewhere in the presence of signage, for right or wrong (wrong I say) the antis can take their business elsewhere in the absence of it. They are going to have far fewer choices, however.

[flechero]

Ask the customer if they would support the radical price hikes needed to hire an off duty LEO or armed security to keep her safe? Because we all know the no gun signs don't apply to criminals.

[JALLEN]

Those customers are goners anyway, so how about a reply something like this:

"Thanks for your note. I have appreciated your business for many years, but should let you know that one reason you have been safer in my shop is that I carry a concealed firearm at all times and have since ...... I value my customers safety and do what I can to protect them, and me. All good wishes. Stay safe! Etc etc"

[mr1337]

I still can't wrap my head around how people think that disarming me will keep me safe.

"You know that tool that's super effective against anyone trying to harm you, no matter their size or physical ability? Yeah, I'm gonna need you to not have that tool. For safety."

[zero4o3]

If questioned about it face-to-face in the store, she'll simply say, "I do get some people requesting that I put up signs, and I get others thanking me for not having done so. I'm in the business to make and sell xxxxx, not to make political statements one way or another, so I'm going to continue as I always have."
/rant

Might I make a suggestion on your response. the way its worded now puts you directly in the middle of the debate instead I would lean towards the krogers approach of saying you just want to run your business and follow state / local laws as you have for the last X years. Then request that everyone be respectful to each other.


I guess I would also be prepared to go to the news outlets if this group tries to bully you out of business.

[VMI77]

Spam. Pure spam. Definitely best to ignore.

She will ignore, but this is a real person, who really buys from her. This person is in a circle of friends who all spew anti 2A garbage constantly, and they all shop with her. That's the frustrating part.

These idiots are beyond reason and I doubt they're going to accept her deflection. Liberals see themselves as morally and intellectually superior so if you're not on their side you're either stupid or evil. The whole essence of liberalism is the use of government power to force those who disagree with them to do what liberals know is best. I predict the idiot who wrote the email will continue to push to get his way and at some point your wife will either have to give in or stop being polite and write off some of that business. Depending on how driven this particular nut is it is conceivable that he may orchestrate a campaign to damage her business if she doesn't bend to his demands.

[The Annoyed Man]

"Oh, by the way, have you posted 30.06 AND 30.07 signs yet? We don't want to support any business that refuses to keep us safe"


"Oh I absolutely agree, thats why i haven't posted the signs. Ill only support businesses that keep us safe also."

Beat me to it.

And this:

Ask the customer if they would support the radical price hikes needed to hire an off duty LEO or armed security to keep her safe? Because we all know the no gun signs don't apply to criminals.

[mojo84]

Many people do not realize the opposition is just as militant if not more so and outnumber the few diehard all or nothing pro open carry folks. Empathy is much rarer nowadays than it once was.

I'm glad your wife is sticking to her gun and not giving in to them. I hope she it's rewarded for it with even more business from progun folks.

[The Wall]

I would tell her to get a life, and not to worry about how I run my business.

[Salty1]

I agree with her stance to ignore and not respond to the e-mail. She is wise to pick her battles carefully and try not to become a pawn for either side of the issue. A compromise could be the posting of just a 30.07 sign, some will see this as giving in, others as a way to keep trying to grow her business while still allowing CC. A quick tour of 30.06.com shows a fair amount of 30.07 signs going up. I recently had a conversation with a gentleman who owns a few various restaurants and we discussed the various signs. He decided not to post and make a decision at a later date while waiting for feedback from customers based on actual open carry experience within his businesses. If questioned she could use the same approach, if nobody comes in open carrying then it is not an issue and she can mention that it has never happened so why look to solve a problem that does not exist with her clientele.