Remember: We're trying to win converts, not enemies...
Mr Hibbard - - -
I'm sure you're probably aware that some of the e-mail exchanges you've had regarding your support of the Cease Fire "gun buy back" program are being shared with others. I'm one of the "others." I'd like to join in the discussion, if I may.
First and foremost, I want to compliment you for responding with respect and restraint to the first e-mail that was sent to you, which struck me as needlessly abusive.
Second, I want to acknowledge that Kroger's is certainly within its rights to sponsor, or not sponsor, any program it likes.
Third, though, I'd like to suggest that your stance may be based on some incorrect information.
The popular perception that a gun in the home is more likely to harm someone living in the home than to help protect them has been refuted over and over by sound research and statistical analysis. It appears the original "factoid" was developed by picking data and then purposely misapplying statistical techniques, then published in order to support an agenda. It is continues to be cited in support of the same agenda.
In addition, although the total number of guns in America is at an all-time high, and the per-capita rate of gun ownership is also at an all-time high, the gun accident rate is at an all-time low, whether expressed in per-capita terms or in absolute numbers…which is truly remarkable, given our growing population.
As I said, you and your company are free to sponsor whatever program you like. May I suggest, however, that you consider sponsoring genuine gun safety training programs? For example, the "Eddie Eagle" program teaches children that when they see a gun, they should "Stop! Don't touch! Leave the area! Tell and adult!" Something along this line would also support your admirable hopes to promote gun safety, and I believe it would have a much more practical effect. Statistically, I believe you would need to remove about 15,000 guns "from the street" to stop a single gun crime (assuming every turned-in gun had the same chance of being used in a crime) or close to 550,000 to prevent a single accident.
As a side benefit, you could host an "Eddie Eagle" program in your store, bringing in customers while firmly associating your business with civic responsibility. It may be that programs such as this are a major factor in bringing down the rate of accidents.
As a final note, my teenage daughter was once a cashier in a Krogers in Georgia, and I really appreciated the professionalism the store's staff promoted at every level of the operation.
Thanks for your time. Do well!
Paul R. Broshear
Πίστις, ἐλπίς, ἀγάπη
Pistis, elpis, agapē
"Faith, hope, love."