Walgreen's Loses My Business FOREVER

I worked for a company that has a no gun policy (I'm now retired).

About two and a half years ago, I was followed into the building's parking lot and threatened by a guy in his mid-20's (making him at least 40 years younger than me) who was obviously high on drugs.

There was no one else in the parking lot - including the alleged "security guard" that was supposed to patrol the parking lot. After a physical altercation with the individual in which I put him on his back side - I went back into the building and reported the incident to the police.

The officer that took my statement made the observation that she would not go to work in the building without personal protection of some type due to the neighborhood in which the building was located. I told her I had a concealed carry permit but did not bring my gun to work because of the "no gun" business policy.

She made the observation, "If it's concealed, how would they know you have it?"

I have a number of physical disabilities, and if the guy was much bigger than he was - the altercation might not have turned out in my favor.

I thought over what she said and discussed the situation with my wife.

I mulled that over for a couple of days, and at the urging of my wife, carried a gun in my briefcase to work every day for the last two years I worked for the company.

We all have to do what's best for us individually, and sometimes that is making hard choices to abide by a company policy that is convenient for the corporation at the risk of personal injury or even death.

I made my choice and if the company found out and fired me for my choice - fine by me, at least I didn't die from a run in with a drug addict...

I'd much rather lose my job in a place that forbids me to carry , then to not have my CCW when I need it . Jobs are a afterthough compared to your life .

Dead employees are cheaper than lawsuits. What's new...

I deal with them only when I have too. I use a independent pharmacy 98% of the time.

For those who vow to boycott every company with a no rules policy, I sincerely hope you are prepared to grow your own food and live in a cave without electricity or phone service, or........

For 12 years I worked at a company that forbid firearms. The first "C" in CCW is CONCEALED. If I had been caught, it would most likely been due to having to defend myself; and if I were alive enough to be fired then so be it. My life is more important than a job, and I'll never ask permission to defend myself.

That pharmacist will have no problems getting a job elsewhere. Now that I'm self employed my policy is don't ask don't tell. If my employees pass California's requirements to get a CCW then they are welcome to carry CONCEALED at work.

I like CVS myself, after reading this it put a bad taste in my mouth for a certain store starting with "Wal" and ending in "greens" if you know what I'm saying.

Will avoid from now on.

For several years I worked for a national company ( never mind who or what ) that expressly stated that personal carry of firearms was not permitted. I carried a small handgun in deep concealment, none of my co-workers had any suspicion that I was carrying. I knew the rules, I knew if I ever had to use my firearm I would be looking for a new job, that was a risk I accepted. In the case cited above, why is Walgreen at fault? There is such a thing as accepting personal responsibility, or is that old fashioned now-a -days.

That's so stupid. So what would've happened had the man died? I mean the man is trying to save himself and the store. If they are so worried about escalation, then why don't they just let the man just take whatever he wants and just cut their losses? I guess safety is not as important as trying to suck up to the anti gun people and the family members trying to sue a company and a person who punished someone for committing a crime. I bet he probably got off scott free or a slap on the wrist. Sometimes breaking the rules might be necessary if it saves peoples lives. That's common sense, but in this country it's like a deodorant, the ones who need it the most, are the ones that never use it. To the OP, what state was this in? That might play a huge factor on the decision. On the point of escalation, if the man came in the store with a gun trying to rob someone, how can you escalate that? I don't get it.

Ron James said:

For several years I worked for a national company ( never mind who or what ) that expressly stated that personal carry of firearms was not permitted. I carried a small handgun in deep concealment, none of my co-workers had any suspicion that I was carrying. I knew the rules, I knew if I ever had to use my firearm I would be looking for a new job, that was a risk I accepted. In the case cited above, why is Walgreen at fault? There is such a thing as accepting personal responsibility, or is that old fashioned now-a -days.

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Because he didn't escalate the situation. It wasn't where they were in an argument and a gun was drawn, he went directly to the gun and attempted to rob and kill. If that's not enough for self defense, then I don't know what is. I understand they have policies, but when does common sense and the lives of your employees come into play?

Because he didn't escalate the situation.

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He wasn't fired for escalation. That seems to be an artifact of the OP, but not of the sources he cited or that anyone else in this thread have cited. The issue isn't one of escalation, but blatant violation of a policy prohibiting guns.

Funny how hard it is when you own your own business and you try to comply with what everyone else thinks is common sense. A few companies try to manage, but very few. The larger you get, the harder it gets. It is much easier to be driven out of business than to stay in business.

Of course there is the problem of competing common sense. A large number of Americans think it is common sense for employees to be armed. A large number of Americans think it is common sense for employees to not be armed. Which common sense is correct?

Employees and customers want total security, but don't want to pay for it (lower wages and higher prices).

Companies are not liable for harm caused in armed robbery, but are liable for any sort of fratricide.

And yes, it really does come down to $. That is the basis on which businesses operate.

If this guy had followed the rules, he would very likely be dead. So their policy, which it is their right to set, would have proven fatal to him.

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From the company's perspective, death of a few employees is a small price to pay (because they don't have to pay it.) Many large corporations would even see it as a bonus -- as long as they have someone else they can blame for it.

I just keep reading these "I'm never stepping foot into (insert company here)........" and wondering how long it is going to be before there is nowhere left for you to shop.

If all these folks really followed through on these hollow threats, they would be forced to live off the grid because there would be nowhere to go.

As for this story, why don't you call CVS or USA Drug and see what their policy is on employees carrying firearms at work? See what they say. I bet you won't shop there after that either.

As for this story, why don't you call CVS or USA Drug and see what their policy is on employees carrying firearms at work? See what they say. I bet you won't shop there after that either.

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PLEASE do. Independent pharmacies (in my experience, run by good people who treat you as family rather than a number on a spreadsheet) would appreciate your business!

And the "you" in the parenthesis up there refers to customers AND employees.

PLEASE do. Independent pharmacies (in my experience, run by good people who treat you as family rather than a number on a spreadsheet) would appreciate your business!

And the "you" in the parenthesis up there refers to customers AND employees.

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Won't do any good. None are in walking distance. I cannot call them to order a script or have it delivered because the phone company has the same policy and their driver or I would have to use a car and cars are manufactured by companies that don't allow you to carry at work. As noted, you gotta live off the grid and not just off the grid, but WAY off the grid to support hollow threats. Nobody here on this thread is actually doing that.

Good for you. You VOTE with your wallet. Money talks and baloney walks. Good for you and bad for the thief.

jfrey said:

These big corporations aren't worried about employee and public safety,

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Nope, some of them have even taken out life insurance policies on their employees with themselves as the beneficiaries.

They listened to their lawyers and accountants - their is no "anti-gun agenda", merely a desire to avoid large lawsuits caused by an over zealous employee possibly killing some kid over a candy bar.

If you do not like their rules, don't let the door hit in your the butt on the way out - and that also includes if you are an employee


People screaming about their "rights" need to remember that only applies from a Federal Government perspective, not a private individual or business

it is the right of a company to ban firearms ! hey that is their right ! i work in a place that doesn't allow them ! but there is a letter filed that if i should be attacked and killed going to, from, or at work. That my surviving family is to pursue any legal options they can against my employer for denying me the chance to defend my life and my rights !
Even if the law suits prove fruitless , if more people hurt injured or killed by those policies went after them tunes may change ! I don't know about you , but jobs in this area that pay anything are few and far between so you have to settle for things you may not like , and cling to them for dear life .

I have had a boycott against Walgreen's for many years, it has nothing to do with company policy, their prices are to high. The only Walgreen's I go to is on Freemont St in Las Vegas. I go to Las Vegas once every 5 or 6 years. Walgreen's is not making over $20 a decade off me no matter what they do.

What national pharmacy chains don't have a similar weapons policy for employees?

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That's really not the issue, for instance a Papa Johns pizza delivery guy recently shot someone attempting to rob him while delivering a pizza. Even though aPapa Johns has the same policy they said he would not be fired.

They definitely have the right to make a policy prohibiting workers for carrying at work, that's likely a policy that most Americans would agree with. But, regardless of policy it seems stupid to fire a man for doing something that saved his life, and possibly the lives of others in the store.

IIRC, the PJ employee was female, but nonetheless, in these situations, you work at the discretion of your employer.

I've come to the conclusion that freedoms mean freedoms.

I fully understand the LEGAL aspect... having said that:

You're 14th Equal Protection freedoms and rights are protected in a workplace. You have certain freedoms of worship, and other protections (some of which absurd or pretty far reaching). You can't be "discriminated" against unless you are wanting to defend yourself by carrying an otherwise lawful firearm! Absurd.

Why aren't your rights to carry a gun and defend yourself?

I was unaware of this, but will also boycott Walgreens over this policy.