LTE: ''Dangerous signs''

April 8, 2005
The (Martins Ferry) Times Leader
Dear Editor,
I am writing with hopes of educating local Ohio business owners and their management on the signs we all see posted on the front doors of some establishments stating "No Guns Allowed". Posting a sign banning guns on their property is pointless if the reason for posting the sign is preventing a gun crime. Do these business owners and their management really believe that these signs will prevent a crime or make a criminal with a gun go victimize a different store because of the sign? Will a would be armed robber approach the door of the targeted business, see the no guns sign and say "darn, a sign banning guns, I better go somewhere else"?

Lets get real, the only people obeying the "No Guns" signs are law abiding citizens. Some of whom have taken the time to meet the requirements and obtain an Ohio concealed carry permit which enables them to protect themselves against a violent crime. Those permit holders have received the required safety training, provided fingerprints, and have had a criminal background check run on them by the local Sheriff's office before the Sheriff issued the permit. These are not the people you need to worry about.

If local businesses are going to continue to display these signs banning guns they should consider this as an alternative sign:

"Attention Criminals! This is a defense free crime zone. All law-abiding patrons of this establishment have been disarmed for your convenience."

Sincerely,

Brady Stewart
Bellaire

Click in the "Read More..." link below to see how one more Ohio business has gotten the message!

Another sign comes down

I buy steel targets for our cowboy club at Lakewood Steel in Birmingham. They had a no gun sign on the door so I left my firearm in the truck before
entering. I politely ask the owner about the sign on the door. He said he didn''t know why he posted it and could not remember where it came from. A lady
in the office said she thought the law stated that they had to post. I explained the law concerning the posting of business property. The owner stated that the
sign would not keep the criminal from entering his property. We had a very pleasant exchange and I then went in the back to pick up my steel. On the way
out I looked back to see the sign had been removed from the front door. So many times a polite inquiry can end with good results. A thank you to Lakewood Steel
of Birmingham, Oh. If you need steel targets for your club you now know where to go.

Regards, Ken W.