Letter to the Editor: ''No Guns'' signs say 'Welcome' to robbers

March 16, 2005
Akron Beacon Journal

Two branches of FirstMerit Bank, a Dairy Mart store and the Lucky Corner bar have one thing in common: They all had "No Guns Permitted'' notices displayed, yet all four establishments were robbed by a man with a gun.

More than 135 Ohio firms, including some chains, have removed such notices from their door because they realized these notices were merely a feel-good but futile attempt to keep guns out of their place of business.
Think about it. The "No Guns Permitted'' notice is actually an invitation for a criminal to rob a business, because he realizes that law-abiding citizens with concealed-carry permits either will honor the sign by leaving their gun in their automobile before entering or will have refused to patronize that particular firm to begin with and taken their business to another bank or establishment that does not exclude the business from law-abiding citizens with concealed-carry permits.

Thus a criminal need not worry about being confronted by law-abiding armed citizens and can commit his armed robbery in relative safety -- after which, in certain instances, he could conceivably lock in the vault or cold-storage room employees and any unfortunate patrons who happened to be present (or worse, shoot them to assure himself a safe getaway).

Considering the criminal's mind-set, in which establishment would you feel safer transacting your business: one displaying the notice or one that does not display it? Which would cause the robber to wonder whether he would be safe in committing his robbery?

Actually, wouldn't a sign reading "We Welcome Concealed-carry Permit Holders'' make more sense?

John J. Myers
Medina