Gun Free Zones Chase Away Customers

From CNNMoney.com on February 12, 2008:

One more merchant worry: Mall violence

For the first time, industry groups will meet with mall operators and retailers to discuss recent shooting sprees.

By Parija B. Kavilanz, CNNMoney.com senior writer

February 12 2008: 3:02 PM EST

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Typically shoplifters, fraudsters and scammers pose the biggest threat to merchants' bottom line.

But a much more dangerous type of crime - mall shootings - has the retail industry on edge.

Earlier this month, five people were fatally wounded in a strip mall shooting in Illinois.

In December, a shooting at an Omaha mall - which was at least the fourth at a mall or a shopping center last year - resulted in the deaths of eight shoppers .

"There's been an increase of these incidents in the past months, and it's raised concern in the industry," said Joe LaRocca, vice president with the National Retail Federation (NRF), the industry's largest trade group.

The answer seems obvious to me: Stop inviting homicidal maniacs by posting the malls as "gun free zones." Recent history is clear. Gun free zones are really sitting duck zones. Malls would be safer if gun free zones were eliminated.

On March 3, 2008, I wore the following letter to Mr. La Rocca:

Joe La Rocca, President
National Retail Federation
325 7^th St. NW 1100
Washington DC 20004

Re: Decline in Mall Customer due to Gun Violence

Dear Mr. La Rocca,

I read that your federation is concerned about declining mall customers due to gun violence. From the recent history, it seems clear that homicidal maniacs are attracted by so-called gun-free zones. Consider the facts:

On December 6, 2007, a homicidal maniac entered the Westwood Mall in Omaha, Nebraska, and murdered eight people until an off duty police officer who just happened to be there fired at him and the shooter killed himself. The mall was a posted gun free zone. The shooting was at least the fourth at a mall or shopping center in 2007, following incidents in Salt Lake City, Utah; Kansas City, Missouri; and Douglasville, Georgia.

On April 17, 2007, a homicidal maniac opened fire on the Virginia Tech campus, hunting down his victims, ultimately murdering 32 students and teachers before killing himself. Virginia Tech is supposed to be a gun free zone, so no teachers could be armed to defend their students.

On February 14, 2008, another homicidal maniac murdered 7 defenseless victims and injured 21 more at Northern Illinois University in, you guessed it, a "gun free zone." Oh yes, and he had time to reload.

The lesson is clear: gun free zones attract homicidal maniacs. I see them as sitting duck zones and will not go there regardless of whether I am armed. They are too dangerous. I feel same only where guns are permitted, because the nuts will go elsewhere.

I enclose an excellent article by Ohio's liberal Columbus Dispatch newspaper which notes that since concealed carry was enacted in Ohio, there have been NO PROBLEMS from permit holders. The article is incorrect about concealed guns saving lives. Apparently the article's author did not research the Dispatch's own files. I attach a copy of an April 24, 2007 article where a concealed carry permit holder killed an armed robber who pulled a gun in the course of the attempted robbery. I also enclose an excellent summary of the issue by Ohioans for concealed carry.

I respectfully request that the National Retail Federation adopt a policy that will promote greater safety in member malls, specifically removing all "no guns" signs, thus opening the malls to the significant population of customers who have concealed carry permits.

Please respond with a clear statement of your position on removing the unsafe and abhorrent "no guns" signs from member malls.

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

David Carroll

No response, yet. But, the voices of reason need to act together to contact these people who apparently think that homicidal maniacs will obey "No Guns" signs. Join me in contacting Mr. La Rocca.