VCDL Action Item: Belk Considering Gun Ban, Please Contact!

[Maverick9]

The trick, guys, is to go ahead and write that long, venting, comprehensive letter. But don't send it.

Instead, sum it up in three sentences and send that. It is important to vent and to sort out your feelings and ideas. Just save 'em in the 'draft' folder.

Good discussion.

 

[The Wolfhound]

Dear Belks,
My wallet does not travel without being lawfully accompanied by my handgun. If you like my wallet visiting your store, do not ban my legally carried handgun. Thank you.

 

[Grapeshot]

Dear Belks,
My wallet does not travel without being lawfully accompanied by my handgun. If you like my wallet visiting your store, do not ban my legally carried handgun. Thank you.

I do like that - consider it [strike]stolen[/strike] borrowed.

 

[Maverick9]

My email to them got a reply:

Dear Sir,

Thank you for contacting Customer Service at Belk.com.
"Thank you for reaching out. On this topic, there has been no talk of any change in the Belk approach to follow state laws and the policies of our landlords."
If you have any more questions or comments, please do not hesitate to reply to this email or call our Customer Service Department toll-free at 1-866-235-5443 and thank you shopping with Belk!

Sincerely,
Diana S.

Belk Customer Service Team

Sounds good to me. Not sure what is meant by 'landlord', but this, if accurate, is as good as it gets, ISTM.

 

[jmelvin]

I haven't received a reply yet, but I expect TFred works there and round filed it for me.

Good to see the rest of you got some useful feedback!

 

[TFred]

I haven't received a reply yet, but I expect TFred works there and round filed it for me.

Good to see the rest of you got some useful feedback!

Now that made me LOL!

If TFred were there, in the position to be handling such e-mails, there wouldn't be an issue to be writing about!

TFred

 

[wittmeba]

I've been thinking about this all day. Here is what I've come up with as a general letter to anyone I encounter that is changing or has posted signs for "no guns".

===
Dear Sirs,

I recently became aware that you are changing/implementing a new gun policy and prohibit guns from your business. I know guns are not accepted by everyone and when guns are visible, some people may not want to do business with you. That is unfortunate.

As a law abiding citizen, supporter of the Second Amendment, holder of a Concealed Weapon Permit issued by the State of Virginia I can no longer do business with your store due to being in violation of your planned new gun policy.

There is a balance we would like to achieve, but we know we are out numbered. We want to exercise our 2A Rights to defend ourselves against criminals who do not discriminate - they will attack anywhere; Walmart, convenient stores, shopping malls, coffee shops, movie theaters, schools, parking lots and the list goes on. You probably cannot name a place where a crime has not occurred.

I recognize that you as a merchant are trying to provide comfort with your rules to create a peaceful family environment for everyone wanting to do business with you. My request to as the business owner is this: If you can amend your policy to "No Open Carry", that would be a reasonable temporary compromise that would allow me to rightfully and legally conceal carry for the protection of myself and family. I could do business with your store while we, the supporters of the Second Amendment, will continue to fight our political battle.

Remember what you know about lawful gun owners & Concealed Weapon Permit holders:
• Have no felony convictions.
• Have never been convicted of domestic violence.
• Have no history of mental illness or drug addiction.
• Have passed a background check and have my fingerprints on file with the Authorities.
• Have passed mandatory training in both the use of a firearm and the applicable law.
Do you know anything about your other customers?

If you cannot amend your gun policy, I will be forced to do my business elsewhere. I will not break the law just to purchase from you.

Sincerely,
My Name
New Castle, Va

Member NRA
Member VCDL
Vietnam Veteran - Army 1968-69
===

 

[Grapeshot]

I've been thinking about this all day. Here is what I've come up with as a general letter to anyone I encounter that is changing or has posted signs for "no guns".

===
Dear Sirs,

I recently became aware that you are changing/implementing a new gun policy and prohibit guns from your business. I know guns are not accepted by everyone and when guns are visible, some people may not want to do business with you. That is unfortunate.

As a law abiding citizen, supporter of the Second Amendment, holder of a Concealed Weapon Permit issued by the State of Virginia I can no longer do business with your store due to being in violation of your planned new gun policy.

There is a balance we would like to achieve, but we know we are out numbered. We want to exercise our 2A Rights to defend ourselves against criminals who do not discriminate - they will attack anywhere; Walmart, convenient stores, shopping malls, coffee shops, movie theaters, schools, parking lots and the list goes on. You probably cannot name a place where a crime has not occurred.

I recognize that you as a merchant are trying to provide comfort with your rules to create a peaceful family environment for everyone wanting to do business with you. My request to as the business owner is this: If you can amend your policy to "No Open Carry", that would be a reasonable temporary compromise that would allow me to rightfully and legally conceal carry for the protection of myself and family. I could do business with your store while we, the supporters of the Second Amendment, will continue to fight our political battle.

Remember what you know about lawful gun owners & Concealed Weapon Permit holders:
• Have no felony convictions.
• Have never been convicted of domestic violence.
• Have no history of mental illness or drug addiction.
• Have passed a background check and have my fingerprints on file with the Authorities.
• Have passed mandatory training in both the use of a firearm and the applicable law.
Do you know anything about your other customers?

If you cannot amend your gun policy, I will be forced to do my business elsewhere. I will not break the law just to purchase from you.

Sincerely,
My Name
New Castle, Va

Member NRA
Member VCDL
Vietnam Veteran - Army 1968-69
===

You've obviously given this a lot of thought and it shows.

In so doing though, you miss several important points: requiring a permit/CHP excludes those under 21 yo. Those who haven't the luxury of getting a permit before it was needed are also excluded. BGs don't open carry - so only the good people are realistically effected.

Last, but not least, this is OCDO where we seek to normalize OC as we go about our everyday lives. How does [strike]hidding[/strike] concealing your gun normalize OC?

 

[wittmeba]

Thanks, Grapeshot.

I visit several gun forums each day. I thought before posting, it does not fit the "Open Carry Forum". If Open Carry is the "ONLY ANSWER" then it does not fit.

If compromise may be acceptable, there are possibilities. I felt a compromise was a start if a "No Guns" policy is on its way and I did say "temporary". I read too much into the OP post as Belk going to a "No Guns" policy.

 

[higherperspectives]

False! This is not true.

Belk is not banning guns in their store. They will honor state and federal gun laws and have no interest in opposing them. Dont believe everything you hear on the internet. This is a rumor based on fiction, not fact.

from the vcdl va-alert 8/12/2014:

I have information from an inside source that belk is considering changing their policy on guns in their stores.

Let’s contact belk and let them know that we do not patronize stores that have gun bans. Most stores do not ban the lawful carry of firearms into their stores and belk should not have such a ban either. The best policy is to leave state and local law determine if a person can legally carry into a belk store.

To contact belk, you can send an email to:

belk_customer_care@belk.com

or you can call them at: 1-866-235-5443

other contacts:

Facebook: Facebook.com/belk

twitter: http://www.twitter.com/belk

 

[higherperspectives]

This isnt true

This is a made up rumor. Belk is not opposing guns in their stores and they have no interest in opposing state or federal gun laws already in place.

 

[jmelvin]

When I get an e-mail from the VCDL as part of one of their VA-Alerts, I tend to give it credence. Based upon the information they provided I would not expect that the discussion would be widespread through the company yet. Based on my interactions with VCDLPresident and Ed and various others in the organization who I've met and generally trust, I'll take their word that they had a credible source versus the word of an unidentified person with whom I have no history.

 

[Blk97F150]

This is a made up rumor. Belk is not opposing guns in their stores and they have no interest in opposing state or federal gun laws already in place.

Would you be so kind as to provide us with the source of your information?

Edit: Also, do you work for Belk in any capacity?

 

[peter nap]

When I get an e-mail from the VCDL as part of one of their VA-Alerts, I tend to give it credence. Based upon the information they provided I would not expect that the discussion would be widespread through the company yet. Based on my interactions with VCDLPresident and Ed and various others in the organization who I've met and generally trust, I'll take their word that they had a credible source versus the word of an unidentified person with whom I have no history.

I have to agree Jmelvin. I think this is a case of there being smoke that VCDL saw but because of the uproar, it never got any further than a suggestion from a desk bound security person.

Ed aside, Philip is not prone to crying wolf!

 

[marshaul]

Thanks, Grapeshot.

I visit several gun forums each day. I thought before posting, it does not fit the "Open Carry Forum". If Open Carry is the "ONLY ANSWER" then it does not fit.

If compromise may be acceptable, there are possibilities. I felt a compromise was a start if a "No Guns" policy is on its way and I did say "temporary". I read too much into the OP post as Belk going to a "No Guns" policy.

OC is not the only answer, no.

But a CC-only compromise is not acceptable for those of us who, on righteous principle, refuse to ask permission for (and in the process render mere privilege) that which is an inalienable right.

Not at all acceptable - not in the way that OC-only was an "acceptable compromise" in alcohol-serving restaurants for those who could also, by virtue of having a permit, CC elsewhere.

 

[peter nap]

OC is not the only answer, no.

But a CC-only compromise is not acceptable for those of us who, on righteous principle, refuse to ask permission for (and in the process render mere privilege) that which is an inalienable right.

Not at all acceptable - not in the way that OC-only was an "acceptable compromise" in alcohol-serving restaurants for those who could also, by virtue of having a permit, CC elsewhere.

There is no compromise. If carry in any form were banned, we should all be on the bandwagon. Unfortunately, many don't feel that way and do compromise, which hurts everyone.

It also makes VCDL's membership a tad lighter although they are starting to walk the short walk's now.

 

[Grapeshot]

There is no compromise. If carry in any form were banned, we should all be on the bandwagon. Unfortunately, many don't feel that way and do compromise, which hurts everyone.

It also makes VCDL's membership a tad lighter although they are starting to walk the short walk's now.

That dance card hasn't been filled completely yet.

 

[wittmeba]

I received the same reply as already posted from belk_customer_care@belk.com but from a different person - Leigh D.

I also sent an email of apology for false and inaccurate accusations.

 

[TFred]

Let's consider what we have here:

From the VCDL VA-Alert 8/12/2014:

I have information from an inside source that Belk is considering changing their policy on guns in their stores.

[...]

My email to them got a reply:

Dear Sir,

Thank you for contacting Customer Service at Belk.com.
"Thank you for reaching out. On this topic, there has been no talk of any change in the Belk approach to follow state laws and the policies of our landlords."

[...]

Belk Customer Service Team

Sounds good to me. Not sure what is meant by 'landlord', but this, if accurate, is as good as it gets, ISTM.

I received the same reply as already posted from belk_customer_care@belk.com but from a different person - Leigh D.

I also sent an email of apology for false and inaccurate accusations.

I would suggest that the first two accounts are not necessarily mutually exclusive - they could both be entirely true. Language is everything. What does "talk" mean? Do you have to talk about something to be considering it? What if the internal dialog was conducted entirely by e-mail? If Belk management were startled* by the swift and negative reaction and quickly dismissed the idea, they surely would not admit that they had actually been considering it. VCDL is too well-trusted to be dismissed so quickly. Are they perfect? Of course not. But I trust PVC well enough to give them the benefit of the doubt, especially considering the source and circumstances of the denial.

Reading these accounts leaves me a long way from apologizing for inaccurate accusations.

If I were going to reply to any of this, I would instead thank them for their reassurance that individual self-defense is safe for now at Belk, and then take the opportunity to point out to them that they can be quite assured by the reaction they have received that such policies, should they ever be enacted in the future, would most definitely hurt the business.

JMHO,

TFred

* Startled. Remember, many of these management teams are not gun folks. All they know is what they hear in the anti-gun media. It's not "their issue", so they very well could be taken by surprise that such a policy change would have consequences.

 

[Grapeshot]

Remember the joke/riddle "Why do elephants have flat feet?" Ans: To stamp out flaming ducks.

VCDL tries to keep flaming ducks at a minimum by stamping out the flames at their source.

VCDL is the elephant in the room.....and like the elephant has a very looong memory, but treat the elephant nicely/fairly and he can be a great friend.