Prime Outlets Malls: Shopping for Defenseless Victims

Ohioans For Concealed Carry first notified supporters about Prime Outlets mall's discriminatory signs on May 3. The Jeffersonville mall holds a dubious distinction on the Do Not Patronize While Armed list, as the only retailer which has had employees victimized by the Ohio "Retail Rapist".

Prime Outlets has placed "NO WEAPONS" signs at the EDGE of their property lines. This means that when you travel to Prime Outlets in Jeffersonville or Lodi (usually a 1 hour or longer drive for most of their customer base), customers are faced with a sign that prohibits them from even entering their property with their vehicle if they are concealed handgun license-holders and are carrying a firearm.

Click here to read the memo Prime Outlets delivered to each store owner announcing the ban.

OFCC's calls were referred to Peggy
Wimberley, regional Vice President for "the whole west region" according
to the Lodi management offices. We spoke with her on June 1.

Our call was answered on a speaker phone, and it was quickly apparent that Peggy Wimberley was not interested in what her customers think of Prime Outlets' policy.

Click on the "Read More..." link below for more.

Wimberley reiterated that Prime Outlets "doesn't want anyone" on their property with a firearm. We asked if they really meant anyone, and they made it clear that the company doesn't even let their own security guards carry firearms.

When explained to Wimberely that most of their malls are in the middle of nowhere and where police response times are questionable. When we pointed out that we didn't think it was safe to put our safety into the hands of Prime Outlets, she became even more testy.

Clearly, Peggy Wimberly has received quite a few phone calls already, and she has very little patience for customers who shop Prime Outlet malls and wish to carry a firearm for self-defense. She even accused us of harrassing people "opposed to the ruling" -- proving she has absolutely no knowledge that this is Ohio law, not a
court ruling.

We decided to try one last effort at common sense, and inquired if this is a corporate policy of Prime Outlets, or is just being enforced in Ohio? We mentioned that we've been to Pennsylvania and Michigan Prime Outlets without seeing these signs, and that we're pretty confident they don't exist anywhere else.

Wimberly's response was to say that they'll get right on that and post in Pennsylvania, and any other state (the company's current portfolio includes 32 outlet centers in 20 states). She had nothing to say about the lack of problems already well-documented in those states' stores.

Wimberely blamed the policy on people above her, and ended the call by saying (threatening?) that we'd hear from Gee Cosper, Prime Outlets' "Security Consultant" out of Baltimore, in the anti-gun state of Maryland.

OFCC did speak with Gee Cosper, also in early June. He seemed most intrigued when we explained to him that the way they have their signs posted at the parking lot entrances, licensees can't even park their cars on the lot. Cosper admitted
he "sees our point" since CHL-holders have "literally no options but to turn around
and go home".

When we inquired as to what the most common crime at Prime Outlets was, he answered, "car theft". Just as we explained to legislators and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce when fighting against the removal of the parking lot exemption, we told Cosper this is exactly why the firearm is safer on the person than in the car on his parking lot.

Next Cosper went down the liability angle, completely oblivious to the fact that Ohio law contains a civil immunity clause. He was surprised to hear that, and ended the call with a promise to consider this information, along with some other literature which had offered to provide.

More than a month passed, and another inquiry from OFCC was necessary, in order to elicit this response from Mr. Cosper:

----- Forwarded message -----
Date: Mon, 12 Jul 2004
From: Gee Cosper
Subject: RE: OhioCCW.ORG FAQ for High Risk Businesses

Jeff, good afternoon.

Prime Retail has revisited your concerns and their policy on the concealed gun issue.

Although we appreciate your concerns, with all due respect, Prime Retail has committed to continue this policy that is currently in effect throughout their entire portfolio. Prime feels very strongly about not allowing firearms on their properties with the exception of sworn law enforcement.

I know I speak for Prime Retail in saying we wish we could keep you as a satisfied customer. However, we respect your opinion.

Gee Cosper
Director of Corporate Security

We are certain the Retail Rapist will be pleased with the news.