Business ban hypocrite: Kroger stores in Ohio enacting concealed carry ban

UPDATE: Kroger ''reexamining the issue'' after massive grassroots uprising

Headquartered in Cincinnati, the Kroger Company has years of experience with doing business in concealed carry states. It is likely that CHL-holders have shopped at Kroger-owned companies while armed on literally millions of occasions.

Several members of OFCC's steering committee were among those frequent (and armed) customers while living in other states, such as Indiana, Florida, Tennessee and Texas.

Although our initial search is by no means exhaustive, we have been unable to locate a single negative incident involving a CHL-holder inside a Kroger-owned store nationwide.

Despite all of these facts, Ohioans For Concealed Carry has learned that the Kroger Co. has begun hanging no-CCW signs in Ohio stores - starting in the company's hometown of Cincinnati.

Kroger stores in Madeira, Hyde Park, and Norwood are already posted, and at least one store manager is telling customers that the order came from Kroger Co. "risk management." It has not yet been determined whether this ban is being enacted by a Cincinnati division manager or is the first wave of a state-wide policy.

How else can Ohio residents interpret this move but that the Kroger Co. doesn't trust residents of its own state and own city to practice the same responsibility that has been exercised in their stores by residents of so many others?

We are unaware of any recent incidents in Ohio which would prompt this decision. In fact, quite the contrary - a recent shooting in a Canal Winchester Kroger (while concealed carry was still illegal) highlights folly of gun bans.

That which was demonstrated in this Canal Winchester Kroger, has been demonstrated in many Krogers across the county - criminals, by definition, do not care about prohibitions, and will certainly ignore, or perhaps even be drawn to, stores that advertise that their customers' have been rendered defenseless by company policy.

Concealed carry has been illegal in Ohio Krogers for the life of the company, and yet Kroger has experienced a large number of incidents of criminals committing crimes and victimizing citizens with firearms on its property. Does the company honestly think that criminals will obey the signs (which they could have put up years ago)?

Kroger operates 3334 grocery and convenience stores in at least 32 states under the Kroger, Ralphs, King Soopers, City Market, Dillons, Smith’s, fry’s, QFC, Kessel, Cala Foods/Bell Markets, Owen’s, JayC, Hilander, Gerbes, Payless, Food4Less, Foods Co., Fred Meyer, Turkey Hill, Kwik Shop, Loaf ‘N Jug, Quik Stop, and Tom Thumb brand names. Kroger also operates 440 jewelry stores under the Fred Meyer, Littman, Barclay, and Fox's brand names.

If you have a comment or question about the Kroger Family of Stores, they say they'd "like to hear from you."

Kroger's national customer service number is 800-576-4377 or 866-221-4141. Click here to share comments online.

Click here to view a list of other "business ban hypocrites" - and to see details of progress in the effort to treat Ohioans as they do customers in other states.

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Signs come down at former hypocritical Business Banners