Sitting Duck Zones

I understand that Half Price Books, as a matter of corporate policy, post "No guns" signs. Today, I sent the following letter to corporate counsel for Half Price Books:

March 4, 2008

Corporate Counsel,

Half Price Books, Records, Magazines Incorporated
5803 East Northwest Highway
Dallas, TX 75231

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am writing to ask you to correct a dangerous condition which I am given to understand exists in all your Ohio stores. I am sure we agree that safety of the public and of your employees is a top priority.

Your stores have no guns allowed signs. In 2004 when the Ohio General Assembly enacted concealed carry legislation, those signs seemed like a good idea. Guns are dangerous ordinances and need to be handled properly, carefully and safely. Unfortunately, experience has proven that gun free zones are a bad idea.

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." And by the way, he had time to reload.

The lesson is clear: Homicidal maniacs do not obey gun free zone signs. However, they may well see these zones as safe harbors where they can kill without fear of being killed themselves.

On December 9, 2007, a homicidal maniac murdered four people, entered a church in Colorado Springs obviously intent on killing more. He had over a 100 rounds of ammunition on him and he was wearing a bullet proof vest. A parishioner who was a volunteer security guard and had a concealed carry permit fired at the maniac. The murderer took his own life without killing further innocent people.

Ohio's concealed carry law requires permit holders to pass a background check and take 10 hours of training before being issued a permit. The history of the law in Ohio and in other states has been excellent. Permit holders do not commit gun crimes. They are the law abiding citizens. I attach a recent article from the Columbus Dispatch attesting to that fact. I also enclose a sheet from the Ohio concealed carry association.

What about your stores? Do you believe that homicidal maniacs or gun-toting robbers will obey your sign? Isn't it more likely that the sign tells them that your store is a better victim and that they will be safer as they commit their crimes on you, your employees, and the public?

In Ohio, one person in eighty has a concealed carry permit. Concealed carry permit holders will likely not shop at your store. You lose their business and the protection. Protection? Yes. If criminals know they may face guns in committing their crimes. They are more likely to think twice. As for the other customers, concealed carry means the weapon is concealed. There is nothing to make other customers uncomfortable, because they will not see any fellow law-abiding citizen's weapon.

I have read comments from criminals. They fear being killed by their victims for more than being killed by the police. In the UK where all guns are banned, 53% of all burglaries are committed with the residents at home ("hot"). In the US, burglars fear that the homes will be defended, so they do a better job of casing the targets. Only 16% of burglaries are "hot." The potential presence of legal guns deters violent crime.

Your signs, placed there with the best of intentions, protect the criminal and leave your customers and your employees at risk. The signs make your stores dangerous for customers and employees alike, because, perversely, it invites gun crimes.

I urge you to remove the sign, which creates the hazard to your customers and your employees. I would like to resume shopping at your stores.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

David Carroll