Another ''no-guns'' First Merit robbery; Branch once held OFCC's accounts

10:41pm Thursday, July 22, 2004

Ohioans For Concealed Carry has learned that the Garfield Heights branch of First Merit bank was robbed on Wednesday, July 21. According to sources, the perpetrator walked right past "no-guns" sign on the outer door, made his way to the counter, and presented a demand note.

First Merit has posted "no-guns" signs at its branches throughout Ohio for just eight weeks, and OFCC has documented at least seven robberies in various parts of the state since that time.

What makes this branch notable is that it once held the accounts of Ohioans For Concealed Carry Inc. Upon the posting of signs, and after the failure of bank management to even enter a dialogue about the potential danger they were forcing upon patrons, OFCC began the process of moving its accounts.

Pictured at right is a photo of the Garfield Heights "no-guns signs". The red sign in the background was posted after the robbery - "This office closed temporarily due to an emergency. We regret the inconvenience."

"We've tried and tried to tell them - posting signs will not keep out armed criminals, and may even provide them incentive," remarked Jeff Garvas, OFCC President. "When it became clear that bank management was unwilling to put the safety of their patrons ahead of imaginary liability concerns, OFCC began the process of moving our accounts, just as many other Ohioans have moved their business away from businesses who deny their self-defense rights. First Merit is proving to be a very unsafe place to do business."

While no First Merit employee was willing to speak on record, citing fear of being punished at work, one employee did provide comment upon condition of anonymity:

"Over and over we are robbed, and one day someone is going to be hurt or killed. But they will not even consider the safety of their employees or their customers. They think and claim that they are, but it never fails - this happens and they are helpless to stop it. This robbery is another perfect example of them being helpless in protecting us, leaving us helpless to do it ourselves".

Ohio has one of the highest bank robbery rates in the nation. The Ohio Banker's League is distributing instructions on how banks can ban CHL-holders. Did anyone honestly think the bank robbers would honor the signs?

FirstMerit has been serving Northeastern Ohio for over 155 years, and purchased branches in Western Pennsylvania in the past decade. Pennsylvania has had a concealed carry law since the late 80's, and up until frustrated Ohio customers began pointing out the hypocracy, these stores have never been posted with discriminatory signs.

Customer Contact Center - 1-888-554-4362
In the Akron area, please call 330-996-6025.
Email: [email protected].
(If you would like to hear back from a FirstMerit customer representative, please indicate that in your message.)

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