Business being threatened with boycott by gun rights advocates

[jpak]

http://www.fox6now.com/news/witi-20110624-concealed-carry-business-boycott,0,5236383.story

Bret Eulberg is the owner of Robert Haack Diamonds at 76th and Layton in Greenfield. He made a choice to say he would prohibit concealed weapons in his store. But now, he's receiving angry phone calls and messages threatening a boycott.

"We're getting phone calls saying we're not going to come to your store supporting you because you're against gun rights. We're not against gun rights, my contention is if a bad guy's in my store and you're a good samaritan in my store and you see the bad guy whipping out the gun, we already have security procedures in place to protect ourselves," said Eulberg Friday.

Eulberg says it's a practical, not a political stance that he's taking. He says he simply does not want firearms inside of a jewelry store where customers can negotiate prices.

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jackbooted GOP thugs

yup

[ileus]

1. his choice, their choice...when I see a no CC sign I don't do business there.

I don't whine, don't cry, don't complain....I just don't go there anymore.

funny how boycotts cut both ways...

[spin]

22. I don't do business at such stores and I always call them and politely explain ...

that while they have the sign posted I will not be spending any money in their store.

I rarely see such signs in Florida anymore, but then we have had "shall issue" concealed carry since 1987.

[plumbob]

2. Ummm, people like this don't buy diamonds - they have really specific

tastes on what they spend money on, and it's not fashion, jewelry or fast Internet connections:

[MineralMan]

4. They can always visit the jewelry counter at Walmart, anyhow.

Or Costco. :shrug:

"I'm never coming to your store, because I don't like your policy?"

"Did you ever come here before?"

"Hell, I didn't even know you existed until you put that policy in place."

"Oh. OK. Whatever."

[PavePusher]

7. Word-of-mouth is a type of advertising money can't buy.

And these things get a lot of that free "publicity" that spreads between socio-economic groups.

People also seem to be making the mistake that gun owners/carriers are a monolithic economic strata.

PHALE.

[MineralMan]

9. In almost every community, there are many places to buy

jewelry. I doubt a gunowners' boycott will materially affect this business. Not all firearms owners give a shit, for one. For another, the jewelry business is spread out pretty broadly. I don't really foresee much of an impact on this person's business. :shrug:

[eqfan592]

43. You may be right...

...but given the fact that particular store has been in financial trouble in the past, any hit at all will make the point clear.

[rl6214]

47. This and it is WI where EVERYONE owns a gun because

EVERYONE deer hunts.

[Straw Man]

21. Ron Burgundy says, ...

They can always visit the jewelry counter at Walmart, anyhow.

... "Stay classist, St. Paul."

[eqfan592]

42. As a former citizen of Greenfield...

...and a gun owner I can in fact tell you that gun owners actually do buy jewelery, even from jewelry stores. In fact, the jewelry store in question was one that I looked at when buying my wife's engagement ring as well as the wedding band. I would not have even considered them now.

But hey, thanks for displaying both your bigotry against gun owners AND your bigotry against people who can't afford to shop at dedicated jewelry stores. It's impressive for somebody to pull that off in a single post.

[S_B_Jackson]

26. Jewelry stores customers aren't people who are employed, educated, and willing to spend hundreds

of dollars to make a purchase of opportunity at almost anytime, and willing to spend a couple of thousand (IN CASH) as part of a planned purchase?
Cause for many gun owners/collectors, that describes them to a T and I suspect that jewelers would find such customers to be their ideal and targeted demographic.

Can't tell you the number of times on various gun boards' classified sections, I've seen someone post:
"For sale: xxx manufacturer, yyy model firearm, $$$ will ship to your FFL"
and within 30 minutes, a buyer has posted, "I'll take it, e-mail me for details".

[plumbob]

28. Well, I'm employed, educated, and willing to spend thousands of dollar

in cash at any time for the right item, which doesn't include guns (oh, I've owned my share, years ago, but I got tired of arming the other side when they were stolen, along with my tools).

My right item is income-producing properties.

And no, neither of my brothers have ever owned a piece of jewelry, not even a wedding ring, and they both own many many (I don't know, is 60+ many?) guns.

[S_B_Jackson]

37. That's all well and good, but

you're initial claim is that those who carry concealed, don't buy diamonds and therefore the jewelry store should not be concerned by their lack of custom. I own a couple of items of jewelry, that I wear daily, a ring and a watch - and I enjoy window shopping for and occasionally buying jewelry for my wife, and in the last couple of years, my daughter.

Most retailers, here in TX have found that not pissing off a segment of the population with a proven history of lawful conduct, and significant disposable income is in their best economic interests.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[PavePusher]

5. "...we already have security procedures in place to protect ourselves,"

And your plans for the other customers?

Since you wish to restrict their personal options...?

What a dick.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[PavePusher]

8. No brain, no shame. Easy. n/t

[msongs]

10. can't get robbed at gun point if the customer can't bring in his precious guns eh? nt

[petronius]

12. Gosh, if only it was that easy!

:rofl:

[spin]

18. When "shall issue" concealed carry passed in Florida ...

many store owners posted "no-gun" signs.

When I seen one, I would avoid going into the store and I would call to politely inform the store that they had lost my business as long as they had the sign posted.

Six months to a year later such signs were rare.

In defense of the jewelry store owner, it's very common for jewelry stores to have firearms available for defense against a robbery. The owner may fear that if some fool decided to rob his store and a person with a carry permit drew his own weapon, he might shoot the customer. Perhaps beside his "no guns" sign he needs to post a sign that says all store personnel are armed.

Often gun stores in Florida have signs saying that loaded weapons can not be brought into their store. In most of those stores, the clerks have holstered firearms on their belt. I have no problem doing business in those stores. They are definitely not gun free zones.

A book and magazine store owner was interviewed in the video which reminded me of my favorite newspaper store in the Tampa Bay area. The owner carried a holstered S&W Model 642 snub nosed revolver. That's the same firearm I carry concealed.

[TPaine7]

39. Wow! Just wow!

I had a hard time believing that anyone was stupid enough to actually believe that a sign could stop an armed robber. And to actual write or say it.

The comic depicticting a couple of robbers realizing that they can't rob a place because it has a sign banning guns was a joke--a humorous jab at the anti's apparent faith in signs. But surely no real antis were literally that dumb. Surely they expected the sign to stop accidental discharges or to prevent dangerous heroics by people who didn't have the imagined super-duper training every cop and agent in America has with weapons.

Your post is an amazing piece of work.

[GreenStormCloud]

40. You really expect an armed robber to obey a "No Guns" sign? N/T

[Zoeisright]

11. That's about what I'd expect.

Just confirms I'm on the right side.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

14. Your anti rights bent has been quite plain for some time

[friendly_iconoclast]

23. Do the words "Brady Campaign" and "Starbucks" ring any bells for you?

Sauce for the goose, meet the gander....

[Taitertots]

13. The key phrase in his response is "OURSELVES", not you

" my contention is if a bad guy's in my store and you're a good samaritan in my store and you see the bad guy whipping out the gun, we already have security procedures in place to protect ourselves,"

Basically, we got "Ourselves" covered and you can go fuck yourself.

[shadowrider]

16. I wonder if his "security procedures" involve guns behind the counter n/t

[Taitertots]

17. What else could it be? n/t

[spin]

19. Many small jewelry stores in the Tampa Bay area of Florida ...

had guns behind the counter.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

15. It is not like he did not know what would happen when he posted the sign

Have to wonder why he is whining in the media about the perfectly predictable results.

[east texas lib]

20. Eulberg is free to operate his business as he sees fit...

His potential customers are free to patronize his business or not as they see fit. If all his clerks wore sidearms and he was catching flak from people opposed to that policy it would still be his call to make. But if armed customers are not allowed in his shop he should probably have armed security during business hours due to the high risk of robbery. I doubt that a criminal would give a tinker's damn about his no weapons policy.

From the article: Danielle Haber owns "Booked Solid." The (owner) takes the position opposite of Eulberg ("owner" inserted by me to correct poor proof reading by article writer).

"This is an equal opportunity store. I don't censor any of the magazines, I don't censor any of the views here we carry everything fire arms are not political, they're a tool, a mechanical advice that will make people safer in certain situations, they don't jump off a counter and shoot somebody," said Haber Friday."

Haber is free to operate his business as he sees fit and again his potential customers are free to patronize his business or not as they see fit. I daresay that if the anti 2A types were calling for a boycott of this business the usual suspects would be singing their praises.

I must congratulate you, jpak, citing Fox as a source and using terms like "jack booted (even GOP!) thugs". You've come a long way,baby! ;)

[shadowrider]

24. But I thought Fox was an ultra-right wing, GOP controlled, Tea Party watched network

that wasn't fit to use as a source here (That's what we hear from anti's when a pro-gun story from them is used).

OH, WAIT!!! UNLESS the story matches certain criteria, then it's more than ok..got it..

[east texas lib]

27. It'a a case of "the ends justify the means"...

Or else the j-ster really loves pretzels. I don't know how else to explain such tortured, twisted logic.

[gravity556]

25. He's within his rights to post "No Guns" signs.

That's his privelege as the property owner. That said, I carry a gun. If a business wants to put a sign up stating that they don't want my business, then I'll spend my money elsewhere. In about 6 months those signs will come down-that's about how long it'll take for the store owners to realize that the Brady's and VPC are so full of shit that their eyes are brown.

Economics.
yup!

[Hoyt]

29. He ain't losing much business -- gunners spend their money on more and more guns, ammo, etc.

[gejohnston]

31. I certainly think that is the more socially responsible thing to do

besides, my wife would rather have a gun than a diamond.

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=29498

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_diamond

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Beers#Diamond_monopoly

[friendly_iconoclast]

32. A conclusion undoubtedly based upon your usual impeccable research.

I await publication of your monograph on the demographics of gun ownership.

What issue of the Journal of Keyboard Studies is it scheduled for?

[ileus]

36. Gold and Diamonds are forever, guns and ammo...could be grabbed tomorrow.

[rl6214]

48. My guns are going to go up in value

My wifes diamonds, maybe not so much so.

[benEzra]

30. So? If he wants to bar CHL holders, it's his right to do so. If anti-CHL activists

wish to flock to his store in order to have a "no CCW allowed" shopping experience, they can do that. And CHL holders who don't wish to have to draw the weapon in their car in full view of everyone in order to store it while entering his store can just shop elsewhere, if they so choose.

Choice. It's what makes a pluralistic society possible, after all.

[friendly_iconoclast]

33. Ah, but some are not making the "proper" choice....

I take it you remember the old joke ending with "...will defend to the death your right to agree with them."?

I think this is what has certain posters upset. I'm sure said posters will studiously deny having ever heard the phrase

"Starbucks boycott".

[krispos42]

34. "...we already have security procedures in place to protect ourselves,"

Yeah, fuck the other customers and their children.


This guy has a fundamental lack of understanding of the problem. The CCW guy isn't carrying to protect the register-jocky... he's carrying to protect HIMSELF.

[tortoise1956]

35. Now you're against boycotts?

What next? Will you require gun owners to wear special insignia so that the average unarmed citizen can live without fear of being shot in one of those millions of murders committed every year by crazed, gun-worshiping psychotics?

Jpak - as much as it might pain you, boycotts are a recognized, non-violent means of attempting to change the status quo. I'm sure you weren't against the boycotts used by the civil rights movement in the 1950's and 60's, right? Then why do you object to the other side using the same tactic for something they feel strongly about? Are you saying that only one side is acting honorably when they boycott? I hope not, because if you are, then you present yourself as an extremist, and you will probably lose the support of he center of the political spectrum,who don't like extremists from EITHER side of the center.

[michreject]

38. I agree with the boycotters

NO anti gun business will get any money from me.

[GKirk]

41. WTF?

He doesn't want firearms inside the store where customers can negotiate prices?
WTF does he think a customer is going to do; pull out his gun and say "give me a better deal"?

[krispos42]

44. Yeah, all those jackboots all over the place

:eyes:

[friendly_iconoclast]

45. Damn those jack-booted thugs for not strutting all over his business!

Don't worry, Jewelry Store Dude- it wasn't over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor!

[rl6214]

46. You've never boycotted a business?

If you don't like the policies of a business you let your dollars do the talking.