Jared Galleria of Jewelry shuns CCL holders

[Tomecek]

I'm here in Austin. I never liked them anyhow- those commericals annoy the hell out of me.

I will tell all my buddies now, though, and we won't be doing business there anymore.

Thanks for the heads-up. Shame they're that way.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

That's how we should "appeal" to them. Point out that we're not a small population, but instead that we're the exact demographic they make their living off of.

The typical gun owner that has a CCW spends hundreds of dollars a year on their guns and accessories.

This has not been my experience of typical Texas CHL holders.

Let's see, there are about 325,000 Texas CHL holders. Texas' population is about 24,800,000. Approximately 70% are 21 and over and of age for CHLs, or about 17,360.000. That means about 1.9% of the age eligible population has CHLs. Based on discussions here and elsewhere and polls from CHL classes, anywhere from 60-80% of CHL holders don't carry on a regular basis, but being generous, let's say it is 50%. So now we are down to 8,680,000 or 0.95% of the 21 and over population.

I would just be guessing here, but I doubt more than 30% of the CHL population is a stickler for gun rights. Most still shop places that restrict carry, but let's be generous again and say it is 50%, or the 8,680,000, being 0.95% of the population.

Of course, CHL holders are not evenly spread across the state by percentage of the population, but tend to concentrate in more heavily populated areas. In this case we are talking about Austin and Travis County. Travis County has about 2.4% of the issued licenses (extrapolated from data on applications accepted and licenses revoked over the last three years for which data are available). So 2.4% of 325,000 is 7800 licensees in Travis County, maybe on half of which are regular carriers or really care all that much about being offended by signage postings, so 3900 people. Travis county happens to have about 999,000 people. 70% are 21 and over, or 699,300 people. With 7800 licensees, that means there is a respectable 11.7% are CHL holders and 5.85% that would be those who carry regularly or who are offended by signs.

So out of those 3900 people in Travis County who have CHLs and would be offended by such signs, how do we determine the percent that have the disposable income to really make Jared want to target them because they are being an untapped market.

I don't know how gun ownership defines having disposable income. The majority of folks in the 3 CHL classes that I have taken and few that I have helped administer were folks that owned only 1 or 2 guns (many were first time gun owners) and people renewing often had not shot since their last qualification several years prior. In a class of 20, you can count on 1-2 being either retired or otherwise on a fixed income (5-10% of the attendees). Certainly a big chunk of these folks are not spending a lot of the their disposable income on guns and gun activities.

 

[TysonC]

Good for you, Guilermo!

For this and other reasons regarding corporate policy (lack of customer service if you're not buying) I choose to use a small, family-owned jeweler. Always nice to support small American owned businesses.

 

[Boba Fett]

In Texas, just go get your long gun and carry it on a sling into the store. That is legal.

I just told them to expect me do so and to train their employees not to get excited at the sight of a rifle. I slso said I'm looking for a ring in the $50,000 range. If they check my credit based upon my information, they have no choice but to believe I'm going spending the money.

The reply should be great. I'll keep you guys posted.

There is more to it than that.

It is and it isn't legal.


1) Even though it may be legal in many instances, it probably isn't wise, especially in a suburban / city environment. Rurally it's less of an issue.

2) And then there's Texas Penal Code 42.01:
http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.u.../htm/PE.42.htm

Sec. 42.01. DISORDERLY CONDUCT.

(a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly:

(8) displays a firearm or other deadly weapon in a public place in a manner calculated to alarm;

(c) For purposes of this section:

(1) an act is deemed to occur in a public place or near a private residence if it produces its offensive or proscribed consequences in the public place or near a private residence;

So if you simply walked into the local Jareds with a rifle over your shoulder, you will have a very difficult time proving that your intent wasn't to alarm.

So, is it legal? Yes and no.

 

[scythefwd]

Geneseo1911- if you ever need a goldsmith in IL, let me know. Not sure what your dealer does, but this lady is incredible.

 

[hso]

Folks, we need to stay focused on the topic of the thread - Getting this company to change it's policy or making sure they know about every penny they've lost because of their policy and which direct competitor got the money.

Discussions on how you don't do business with them because of price/quality/stupid commercial or how you or your spouse/significant other don't like jewelry just aren't on topic.

Remember that Activism is about plans to do something. Complaints and off topic drift belong somewhere else.

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=270671

 

[Harley Rider 55]

Boba Fett
If the Black Panthers (with Al Lipscomb) can carry rifles "at the ready" through Dallas, pushing the issue of a rifle carried on a sling is not wise unless you have the best civil lawyers in the U.S. I could use the cash.

When my bamk posted a 30.06 sign, I walked in with my AR on a sling. After a nice 1 hour conversation with the police, the city attorney, and bank management, the 30.06 sign came down.

Bottom line is to be nice during the entire precess. Nice goes a long way.

While on my motorcycle, I carry a carbine in a scabbard all the time. I get checked, but always am free to leave.

 

[Boba Fett]

Boba Fett
If the Black Panthers (with Al Lipscomb) can carry rifles "at the ready" through Dallas, pushing the issue of a rifle carried on a sling is not wise unless you have the best civil lawyers in the U.S. I could use the cash.

When my bamk posted a 30.06 sign, I walked in with my AR on a sling. After a nice 1 hour conversation with the police, the city attorney, and bank management, the 30.06 sign came down.

Bottom line is to be nice during the entire precess. Nice goes a long way.

While on my motorcycle, I carry a carbine in a scabbard all the time. I get checked, but always am free to leave.

What some other group has done and how they were dealt with doesn't really matter.


What matters is what the law says. And encouraging people to walk into banks and jewelry stores with rifles is simply not wise AND it can be against the law.

You can be as nice as you want and you can have as good an attorney as you want, but that does not mean that a judge isn't going to apply Texas Penal Code 42.01 to your actions.

 

[Harley Rider 55]

I never got arrested. A sling is the most benign way of carrying a long gun, as it it not (according to case law) a "threatening manner".

What another group has done DOES matter bacause my civil rights are no different from theirs. The race card work in more than one way. I'm walking into a store with a rifle on a sling. The black panthers were dressed in military combat uniforms and shouting about LOOKING for trouble.

Being arrested would only make me a wealthy man.

We have "long gun at Statbucks" day all the time. The manager loves it. If folks complain, he tells them it's legal.

 

[Boba Fett]

I never got arrested. A sling is the most benign way of carrying a long gun, as it it not (according to case law) a "threatening manner".

What another group has done DOES matter bacause my civil rights are no different from theirs. The race card work in more than one way. I'm walking into a store with a rifle on a sling. The black panthers were dressed in military combat uniforms and shouting about LOOKING for trouble.

Being arrested would only make me a wealthy man.

We have "long gun at Statbucks" day all the time. The manager loves it. If folks complain, he tells them it's legal.

Cool, which Starbucks? Might be fun. Good that the Manager is alright with it at his store.


The law does not say "threatening manner," it says "manner calculated to alarm."

When you walk into a bank or a jewelry store with a rifle, you are going to have a difficult time proving your intent was not to alarm.

I'm not saying you shouldn't do it. What you do is your responsibility. I'm simply saying that it is not as legal as you purport it to be. And you shouldn't encourage other people just walk anywhere they want with a rifle without making them aware of that law. It is irresponsible to give people the idea that they can do so without making them aware of the potential consequences.



As for other groups, no they do not apply. Just because someone else has done something illegal and gotten away with it or was not punished that time does not give you the right to commit the same illegal act.

 

[Harley Rider 55]

ALWAYS let the manager know your intentions. That way the employees don't freak out. We use a mid cities Starbucks.

If it's illegal, the other group should have been arrested or it's flat out discrimination. We are dressed in dockers and such. They were dressed in battle fatigues and promoting violence (with a city councilman right in the middle). A good lawyer would LOVE to have that violation of civil rights case.

 

[hso]

Being arrested would only make me a wealthy man.

We see this said all the time, but no one cites any applicable examples. I don't advise anyone to bet their freedom on this old chestnut without consulting with a lawyer that specializes in civil rights cases(perhaps a whole passel of them).

As to dealing with the legal posting of a retailer, this drift warrants it's own thread and is outside the scope of this one.

 

[Boba Fett]

We use a mid cities Starbucks.

Do you have their address? When do you guys meet? Sounds like a hoot, and I enjoy supporting establishments that promote firearms.

 

[sonier]

Well they wont get my buisness. Im going to write them a nicely worded letter.

 

[hso]

Let's try to stay focused on changing the retailer's policy or in making sure they understand that not changing it looses business for them. http://thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=6562676&postcount=31

 

[sonier]

can someone write up a real nice letter one we can copy paste, or a letter with numerous signatures, someone needs to take some iniative and try to get this going, my grammar skills are renown around here as being horrible and im no tech guy to make a website.

 

[wojownik]

I'll try posting again with more of a RKBA slant.

I shopped there twice with my wife. The second time I was there, I was carrying - so I stashed my Sig in the glove compartment and went into the store with my empty holster. That actually got the attention of a store employee (couldn't tell if he was sales or security) who told me I couldn't be in the store with "that" (an empty holster). That got my riled enough to make a few phone calls. Jared's position seems to be pretty firm, and my conversation with both the store and corporate folks indicated clearly that they do not care much if they don't get my (or others) business.

Tiffany's has no such prohibition, nor do Shaws, Zales, etc. (so long as the mall itself does not ban carrying). I'll vote with my wallet, as their management truly does oppose RKBA on their premises.

 

[Guillermo]

WTH? They won't let a customer with an EMPTY HOLSTER in the store?

I would LOVE to hear their explanation for that

 

[wojownik]

I didn't pursue it with the Jared's guy when he got in a snit over my holster. I just rolled my eyes, politely but firmly told him he lost my business, and walked out. Took it up the next day by phone, but my questions fell on deaf ears.

 

[RonBernert]

I emailed them..

On Jun 22, 2010, at 9:59 PM, <[email protected]> wrote:

Dear Ron Bernert,

I would like to respond to your e-mail concerning the Firearms/Weapons policy posted at our Jared the Galleria of Jewelry location.

Even though many states have laws permitting residents to carry concealed weapons and firearms, private employers have the right to ban weapons and prohibit persons with weapons from entering the premises. For the safety and security of our customers and store employees Jared has made the decision to ban weapons and anyone possessing them from entering the store.

Sincerely,

Amanda L
Customer Care

So I responded:



Thanks for the response! Most companies would not take the time, and that means very much..
My point, and the point of others, is that you WANT people like me in your store. I have passed a federal, state, and local police checks. I have been through training and have had to qualify to carry a concealed weapon. I have never been convicted of any drug offenses, I do not have any felonies or violent misdemeanor convictions.

I am EXACTLY what you are looking for in a customer. I am the upper percentile of your clientelle.

People like me follow the rules, we respect the people around us and we pick and choose who we want to do business with.

Jared stores should really examine this much closer. I mean no disrespect to you, Jared, or anyone who works for and/or with you, but you are alienating the custmers that have the money and are the "cream of the crop".. Exactly how much do you know about your other customers?

Respectfully submitted,
Ron


Sent from my iPhone
Ron Bernert
513-518-8188



And I have not heard from them since..

 

[wojownik]

Ron - IMHO, that is an excellent response - polite, clear, puts it in terms they can relate to (i.e. "safe" customers), and no polemics (which they wouldn't relate to).

With your permission, I may send this in myself as a belated followup to my encounter with Jared.

Might also use a version of this as a note to State Farm Insurance, which I just saw has a big ugly red sign smack in the center of the entry door - no firearms, including if you have a carry permit (they actually made the extra point about that).

Now, off to Starbucks, where I can carry to my contentment....

 

[19&41]

I see that this business has been discussed in previous threads. Might a sticky thread listing organizations that have policies opposed to 2A considerations help? It could be a useful point of reference if kept current.

 

[HankB]

Kay Jewelers in the Austin, TX area is posting the infamous PC30.06 sign as well.

A little research turned up the fact that Kay and Jared are owned by the same parent company, Sterling Jewelers, Inc.

Two places I avoid when making a purchase for a special lady.

 

[wojownik]

I have to retract mentioning Kay Jewelers in a previous post. I'll need to double check, but I don't recall seeing such signs at several mall locations in No. VA. But they are apparently in locations in PA and as Hank8 mentions in TX. Odd.

On the other hand, see what Tiffany's did to a S&W New Model (a hundred years ago). Now that's a real jeweler.

 

[rick newland]

The Kays stores in Huntsville AL have signs on their doors banning guns in their stores and parking lots.