No Guns = No Money: Let's educate the masses.

[ElectrikKoolAid]

I recently talked with a local business owner about his "No Guns" sign on his front door.

He stated he didn't realize that there a number of people who can legally carry, and the sign was aimed at the thugs, not "good" people. Unfortunately, the sign (which carries the weight of law in North Carolina) does not distinguish punks from people.

He agreed he would actually like to have legitimate gun owners around if the SHTF. In this case, education worked.

Using ideas from a thread on another forum, I have produced some cards that can be printed and handed out to other business owners.

Please help spread our message in a non-obnoxious manner!

 

[cambeul41]

Perhaps "unlawful" instead of "unlicensed" might be appropriate in some jurisdictions?

 

[Axel Larson]

Yes unlawful would be better around here "Vermont" because you do not need a permit to carry. although that is a good idea. Thanks for sharing

 

[Nushif]

I love the signs! this is one of the few activism things that is *almost* entirely to my liking.
unbold and un"shout" the criminal line and I will gladly carry business cards with that on it, should I ever run into a no guns sign here in Oregon. Oh yeah ... and as people said ... unlawful I guess sounds better.

Great idea!

[edit]
No, I mean it, if you repost those things with the changes people have proposed I am going to have some business cards made ... please do.
[/edit]

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I like it!

 

[hso]

Folks,

You can make them up with any wording you like and then print them on any color printer onto Avery blank business card sheets.

 

[Nushif]

Durr.

 

[sig232]

Wish I had these when I was in NY.. lol..

 

[Zoogster]

I like them.

Of course what it would remind me of if I was an anti-gunner is that I need to work at making that list longer.
A much longer list of things never done, to increase the prohibited people and reduce how many people can have those horrible firearms.

 

[tmknecht]

^^Word^^

 

[gibson_es]

I believe i will print a handfull when i get my concealed weapkns permit. Good to have just in case.

My old boss called asking.if i can come take a shift. Hes a good guy, and i always have a job there, so i said yes. Its a food delivery job. My first delivery was to a major progressive building. Sings in the parking lot ans building "no firearms on premisses"

I keep one in my vehicle, so i was unsure what to do. I think clarification was needed.

 

[hso]

These only go to retail businesses who post antigunowner signs. Since it is YOUR dollar they want you have the ability to politely and calmly convert them. This is just an "instructional aid" to help you do that.

 

[FourTeeFive]

I like this approach:

http://www.thewilderness.com/storepinnacle/index.php?p=page&page_id=CCW-friendly_AZ_Dining_Guide

 

[basicblur]

Many state 2nd Amendment groups are posting business unfriendly lists.
For VA.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

Yeah, but instead of passively denying them business,this gives you the opportunity to actively help them understand why they aren't getting your business.
And, it puts a face/name/person against a ridiculous Rambo stereotype that most people seem to have about pro-gun folk.

Very useful, imo. Much more so than just a list that people silently use. It's not the quiet wheel that gets the grease.

 

[FourTeeFive]

Yeah, but instead of passively denying them business,this gives you the opportunity to actively help them understand why they aren't getting your business.

If you look at the AZ business list it has a number of them that have changed their policy since being presented with the facts by a gun owner. That is the type of win we're looking for.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

I did look at the list. My position still stands. I think it's more important for individuals to do this than groups.

 

[gibson_es]

Here is for florida

Though, if i read the law right, a sign dont mean crap in florida. If they have a sign, and. arry anyway, no law is broken. If they ask you to leave however, then you must. but sense all we have is concealed carry, chances are they wont know your carrying uless you have to use it in SD. Which would not be illegal, assuming you fallowed the law in your actions.

http://www.floridacarry.org/index.php?view=article&id=34&option=com_content&Itemid=30

 

[thedrewcifur]

i don't spend any money anywhere that won't allow me to open carry my pistol. i love my local wal mart. i once had a manager tell me he feels safer because i'm in his store and am armed. i have only once had a problem there and that was with a customer who cussed me out calling me a "domestic terrorist". he made a big fuss and ended up getting himself kicked out. that is why i love wal mart. i don't have a ccw permit... yet so i have to open carry if i want to be legal.

 

[basicblur]

I did look at the list. My position still stands. I think it's more important for individuals to do this than groups.

Nuttin' wrong with a two-pronged approach!
If you hand the card to a business owner, he may just blow you off as just one customer. While not as direct as the card, I'd be willing to bet the owners of said businesses know they're on the list, and have probably visited the relevant state's 2nd Amendment activist group's website, which they can't blow off as just one customer.
I can pretty much bet the folks on VCDL's gun unfriendly businesses site have been contacted by VCDL in order to get them to rethink their policy.

So...why not do/use both?

 

[CutMan]

Here in Texas, I ignore the signs that aren't the legal 30.06 type. However, I am going to print some of these off. (maybe two or three) I've only run into two signs and one was displayed at 'Whole Foods Market'. It, however wasn't a legal sign. It said 'no guns'. However, I haven't been back since, so the card would have been a great idea, especially since I cold still just walk in and hand it to the manager.

 

[GEM]

If you see a noncompliant sign in TX and then go tell the manager, etc. and then he or she tells you that he or she doesn't want carry - it is my take on the law that you have been personally notified and cannot carry. Even if the sign is no good, you've been told.

 

[mr.scott]

Gem. to be in violation of 30.06 the sign has to be valid. You can be charged under 30.05 if they ask you to leave and you don't.

As far as signs go, make sure you ask them how well the restrictions of guns worked at VT, our Columbine. A sign isn't going to stop anyone intent on commiting crime.
I liken it to a no turn on red sign. There is nothing that will physically force you to comply with that sign.

 

[ElectrikKoolAid]

As requested, I have changed the "No Guns = No Money" education card. It is now formatted as a 4x6 print, which can be printed at any Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, etc. photo kiosk for 15-20¢ and cut in half for distribution.



The original full-resolution file can be found here.

It doesn't require a hard-sell, or a confrontational discussion to make your point. (Doing so will only reinforce whatever negative stereotypes the business owner already has about "Gun Nuts".)

Is it worth 10¢ and 2 minutes of your time to RESPECTFULLY educate business owners about who their customers are?

 

[ElectrikKoolAid]

Lists of "Gun UN-friendly businesses" will not likely change anyone's mind about this.

The natural reaction of anyone when they are attacked is to dig in, and become defensive.

Organized boycotts are only effective if the pain of lost sales exceeds the conviction of the owner about the issue. Even if you win, compulsion is never a pretty emotion to swallow. Someone who holds very strong convictions will likely strengthen them further, no matter the cost.

The card above is a way to put a "low-confrontation" spin on presenting your issue in a way that allows the opportunity for the business owner to see not all gun owners are mall-ninjas, psychopaths, or gang-members.

It doesn’t require a hard-sell, or a confrontational discussion, to make your point. The strategy is not to PUSH someone into your way of thinking, but to gently lead them to reconsider how bad theirs is with gentle pulls. (Anyone who has ever worked with a mule will understand the technique.)

You are seeking to put a polite, respectful face on legally-carrying gun owners, nothing more.

Launching into a Second Ammendment lecture, or making fear-mongering about The Zombie Apocalypse will NOT help. (Doing so will only reinforce whatever negative stereotypes the business owner already has about “Gun Nuts”.)

Someone who is shy (like me), could just hand the card over, say something like "I just wanted you to know how this sign affects me, a loyal customer" and leave. (No stressful deep conversation required.)

No, you can not change the world overnight, but you CAN improve your little piece of it, one step at a time!

With the heavy media stereotyping after every gun-related atrocity, is it worth 10¢ and 2 minutes of your time to RESPECTFULLY educate business owners about who their gun-owning customers really are?

Please help spread the word about this “low-confrontation” education mission to others you know.