Walgreens

[ColdDeadHand]

This is from my blog, but I feel it's an important issue, so I'm reposting here. Please join me in my boycott against Walgreens Pharmacies and any other company who feels their employees should lay down and die like sheep. I also list contact information at the end so you can pass your feelings along to Walgreens Corporate. I pasted this article and sent it to them. Hopefully if they get enough feedback from sane gun owners, they can change their ways.

http://tokeepandbear.blogspot.com/20...walgreens.html

I am an NRA member, card-carrying, and I read my "American Rifleman" magazine every month. One of my favorite sections is "The Armed Citizen" so I usually head there first. Right there in the August issue I saw this snipped about a pharmacist, Jeremy Hoven, who was fired for using his legally-carried concealed weapon to defend himself, his co-workers and Walgreens' inventory from 2 armed robbers.

I followed the citation and went over to The Herald-Palladium, a newspaper up in Michigan, and they confirmed the same facts. The original article can be found here:
http://www.heraldpalladium.com/artic...ws/5741185.txt

The synopsis is this. The store was robbed by gunmen. Employees complained to Walgreens management that they needed better security at the store. Walgreens ignored these complaints, so Hoven went and got his concealed carry license and a pistol. The next time the store was robbed, Hoven picked his moment. When the robbers tried to coerce the employees into the back room of the store (a tactic that often leads to execution), Hoven fired on the robbers. The robbers fled, no employee was harmed, the police arrived and made their report and no charges were filed against Hoven. So Walgreens fired him because he violated company policy by carrying a firearm to work.

WALGREENS: This is not acceptable. It is despicable. If you don't want employees to carry a weapon to work so they can defend themselves, then you, Walgreens, are responsible for hiring armed security to protect them. Mr. Hoven broke no law when he carried that weapon, and not only did he protect himself and his coworkers from harm, he also protected your precious cash. You are despicable backstabbers who would rather see your own employees die than violate your company policy. This is truly a case of not being able to see the forest for the trees.

I will not set foot on Walgreens property again until you extend an apology to Mr. Hoven, offer to give him his job back, and change your policy to allow your employees to carry concealed weapons where legal. I will also use any means at my disposal to promote a boycott against you and to promote any and all of your competitors until these demands are met.


Walgreens customer service can be reached via the following means (please be sure to share your opinions with them, I know I will):

Web:
http://www.walgreens.com/marketing/c...mp;h4=consumer
Phone: toll-free (800) 925-4733
7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time, Monday thru Friday
Address: Walgreen Company Consumer Relations
1411 Lake Cook Rd, Mail Stop #L428
Deerfield, IL 60015

 

[hso]

Who are viable alternatives to Walgreens? Does CVS have an anti employee carry policy? Walmart? Kroger?

Most large corporations have similar policies for employees and folks may need to ask their current pharmacist if they have a policy forbidding employees to carry weapons on premises.

Locally owned pharmacies are most likely to permit carry. I know of a couple locally that do carry in their stores and allow their employees to do so as well.

 

[Zach S]

Just about any corporation has a similar policy - including the one I work for.

If I refused to do business with any corporation that didn't allow lawful CCW by employees I couldn't even buy gas to get back and forth to work.

I aint saying Walgreens is right in their actions, but as an employee, he was aware of company policy, and he decided that the ability to defend himself was more important than his employment. Several folks here on THR have admitted to doing the same thing.

All of your links are broken.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Does walgreens have a "no guns" sign in their window too, preventing law abiding citizens who lawfully carry from doing so? Jus tcurious if they want to disarm everyone in their facility, not just the employees.

Good reason to continue using the drive-thru pharmacy, I can still have a gun in the car.

 

[Zach S]

Does walgreens have a "no guns" sign in their window too, preventing law abiding citizens who lawfully carry from doing so? Jus tcurious if they want to disarm everyone in their facility, not just the employees.

I was at the local Walgreens yesterday, I didn't notice one.

 

[jcwit]

Anyone consider it might just be the Insurance carrier that corporate headquarters uses?

Maybe?

 

[USAF_Vet]

Insurance carriers or corporate policy... either way, it leaves people defenseless when this particular place has been robbed multiple times.

 

[jcwit]

What I was attempting to bring out that it might not necessarly be Walgreens Corporate policy but their insurance policy. You're correct the end is the same but thats true in life with many things.

I'm sure the employee knew this when he hired on, if he didn't agree with it it was his responsiblity to move on. Not to break the rules.

Or mayhap we all should just pick and chose what rules and laws we wish to obey and what ones we wish to ignore.

Ya, That'll work out just great!

 

[Handyguy]

I have decided NOT to patronize Walgreens!

 

[jcwit]

Yup, that really gonna affect their bottom line as most of their profits come from large population centers where firearm ownership is a non issue with the general populace overall.

But go for it and check the policy where you do take your business.

 

[Strykervet]

The guys that come up with these policies are just either trying to cya or they are ignorant or both. For cya, it could be insurance. It could be that they think that if nobody can confront a bad guy, then the guy will just take their cash and pills.

But what about that guy in Jersey or New York? The one that shot everyone in the store?

Bottom line is that a pharmacy is NOT like a regular store. It has drugs as strong or stronger than heroin, and that is a strong motivator in an addict, not to mention the fact that someone strung out on multiple drugs could do things they normally wouldn't while under the influence. Regardless of the policies of the store, the individuals need to be able to protect themselves when a robbery goes south. I feel it no longer becomes their store during a crime --it becomes a crime scene. In a life and death situtation, I could care less about appeasing some lawyer in some other state. I could care less at all, come to think of it.

I personally don't care about policies. I don't even take the time to read them. I carry everywhere I go that isn't expressly forbidden by our Constitution. If I get kicked out, I'll sue. Nothing can stop me from doing that. If I win, fine, if I lose, fine. The idea is that if others will do the same, this big corporation will be tied up in truly frivilous lawsuits --get enough going at once, they'll change the policy just so they can get rid of the ridiculous legal team they need to employ in order to fend off lawsuits. For corporations, it simply is a matter of money. Make it expensive to keep a policy they don't really feel that strongly about and they'll change it.

For instance, here in WA we have a big open carry thing going on now. Flash mobs show up at businesses and open carry. Starbucks came under fire when they said they supported them and that they were welcome in their stores. Then the antis jumped in and started a boycott. Well, the response from folks that carry was huge. During the boycott, tons of folks patronized Starbucks because they wouldn't back down. They said they didn't have a dog in the fight and wanted everyone to get along, but that they weren't willing to infringe upon rights.

The one right down the street from me was the site of battle between the antis, the pros, and a couple of ignorant cops. It was on youtube and talked about on here. Anyway, the end result of a complaint about flashing a gun ended with the guy capitulating. But that wasn't the whole end. The store was mobbed for weeks after, and I went there just last weekend, and do you know what was on the first table next to the door? An empty holster.

And the antis still go there too. I guess the coffee really is that good. I think it is all a matter of standing up for what you believe in, taking hits for it from time to time, and never giving up. Because, you see, the average anti doesn't feel as strongly about 2A as the weakest of us do. They will give in tomorrow, just hold out until then.

 

[Old Shooter]

So if you decide to take a job with a company that has a no guns policy you have to decide if you will or will not abide by the policy, simple choice...yes or no.

If you decide to carry discretly even though there is a no gun policy you are accepting that if something happens that you need to use your ccw piece or if it is somehow discovered that you are carrying, then you may be fired for violating policy, whether you saved a dozen lives or not.

So, man up to it. If you have to use the ccw in defense of your life and get fired you can always look for another job. IF you decide to not carry and are killed on the job you will look really nice in your casket and the company will probably send a very nice selection of flowers in your memory.

1: Follow rules, don't carry, hope nothing happens.

2: Don't follow rules, carry concealed, mayby nothing happens or mayby you get fired.

3: Look for employment elsewhere. As mentioned above this may be a common rule for many employers or their insurance companies.

ps: If I've got pants on....I'm carrying and nobody needs to know but me.

 

[jcwit]

Well put, Old Shooter

 

[Pat C.]

Old shooter are you currently emploied or retired?? Not saying your wrong , just saying finding a job that will let you carry while on the job is a tough task!! Hell just finding a job that pays well is tough!! I think if you look at most companies your out with the CCW on the job. Now I don't know about the rest of you I need my pay check!! I guess youll just have to use a little common sence and pray your not shot on the job!! Pat C.

 

[jcwit]

Follow the rules or face the consequences, fairly simple rule of life.

 

[oneounceload]

I carry everywhere I go that isn't expressly forbidden by our Constitution

Since the Constitution doesn't prohibit carry anywhere (at least not in the Document I read in school), this statement has no meaning as it is written.

I am sure that Walgreen's policy is driven by insurance requirements set by their carrier - which they need to be in business.

Try sending letters asking for the policy and pointing out the obvious - maybe it does something, maybe not

As to being an employee, I have never seen a major corporation allowing CC by employees that was not required as part of the job. Their handbooks specifically spell out the rules on things like guns, drugs, alcohol, etc.

Their property, their company, their rules - if you do not like them, you are free to go elsewhere - both as a customer and an employee

 

[gennro]

I didn't even know about this and I won't shop at Walgreens ever again after they handed my wife some one else's prescription. They also did this to a friend of mines wife. This just takes the cake here.

 

[TexasBill]

You can write Walgreens and boycott them all you want; it won't change anything.

The truth is it's all about money. If the employee accidentally shoots another employee or a bystander or overreacts to a situation, Walgreens could lose millions. This is true of most companies, especially large ones. Heck, a lot of companies don't even allow their uniformed security personnel to carry firearms.

I was a department supervisor for a large electronics chain. The company fired people for chasing shoplifters after they got out of the store. This included loss prevention personnel. I knew a little old lady who worked for a major grocery chain as an overnight checker. Somebody tried to steal beer and she stopped them forcibly. She almost got fired.

The reasoning is that money and merchandise losses are covered by insurance, liability for employee shootings or injuries incurred while trying to foil a theft are not. They bank on the odds that a robber will be happy with the money and leave and then everything can be turned over to the police. Sometimes it doesn't work out that way but they have insurance for that, too. Doesn't do the dead employees any good, but there you have it.

Shop at Walgreens or CVS or wherever makes you happy. But if you want a private-sector job that allows you to carry a gun, become a security guard or armored car driver.

 

[Busyhands94]

i have made the decision to not shop at a place that would rather have their employees dead and a robber alive than a lawfully carrying employee defending the store and his fellow workers from an armed robber. that is the very definition of evil.

thank you for informing me of this fact, i will be sure to write a letter or send an email.

~Levi Hawken Dabney

 

[Para Cassatt]

Thank you for the headsup CDH. I had no idea that they had this policy. After the high profile pharmacy incident, I can only imagine that more corporations will make similar poor decisions.

 

[ChCx2744]

I, personally, think that it would actually be a good idea to have either armed security guards or allow the employees to CC at pharmacies. They carry all kinds of stuff junkies like and stuff that dope boys can sell on the street. Pharmacies are probably often targeted for robberies and burglaries as much as gun stores, jewelry shops, pawn shops and check cashing joints. Sometimes "company liability" can be quite ridiculous in the eyes of the higher ups in corporate, these people don't understand this.

 

[Cactus Jack Arizona]

Ironic, isn't it? A company will "trust" customers (read: complete strangers) with concealed carry, but not their employees. It always makes me wonder just how bad a company treats it's employees when they have policies like this.

 

[hso]

Most large businesses have this policy. It is nothing new. They adopt the policy because of liability issues, not because they have an Anti political/philosophical view. Their costs are limited if employees are injured or killed. Their costs are unlimited if an employee injures or kills a customer accidentally. It could be nothing more than pure economics.

BUT is it a false economic stance because they could, and do, carry liability insurance. The could add to that liability insurance to cover this potential problem. It would add to the overall overhead costs to the company, but it would be possible.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Follow the rules or face the consequences, fairly simple rule of life.

Breaking the rules/ company policy, the resulting consequence may be getting fired.
Follow the rules/ company policy, the resulting consequence may be getting killed.

I can't speak for anyone else, but even in this economy I can find another job, I can't find another life.

Sometimes, breaking the rules is the right thing to do.

 

[Cop Bob]

I moved my prescriptions away from Walgreen's about the time that this happened, however it was due to a change in insurance, not their policy.. As stated, to boycott every company that had a negative firearms policy would gridlock most of us..

I disagree with their policy, as would most here.

As far as an employee carrying in violation of policy, ah, that is a matter of choice. In today's economy, as hard as any jobs with benefits are to get.. It again is a matter of choice.. one that any individual in that position would have to do some soul searching. It all boils down to choice..

Choose to take the chance of getting caught, and being terminated, as we used to say, "Judged by twelve, or carried by six"

Just thinking out loud, I wonder if they would have fired a Pharmacist under those circumstances? My guess is that the public response by the company would be yes, but if they could sweep it under the rug, they probably would protect their 6 figure employee..

In my work place now, for the office staff, the question is not IF you are carrying, it is usually WHAT you are carrying....not a good idea to rush the office..