Home Depot prohibits CCW??

4DEC03 | xsrdx

[xsrdx]

This is the text of an email circulated in a local VA/MD sport shooting newsgroup - I have not confirmed it's authenticity but if true, HD might respond to some Freeping.

Is this old/erroneous info? Local VA stores are not posted.

Original Message Follows:

Dear Home Depot Consumer Affairs, I have just been informed that Home Depot is implementing a ban on all concealed firearms carry within the stores. This is very distressing to me as I carry legally concealed at all times.

I am a wife, the mother of three children and a huge believer in my right to protect myself and my family. We are in the middle of building our brand new home and we have spent THOUSANDS of dollars at Home Depot.

I can assure you that if this information regarding your policies on concealed carry is correct, that we will never set foot in Home Depot again.

In fact, I will return every item that I can and re-purchase it from Jerry's Building Supply.

Those of us who carry concealed firearms are among the safest, most law abiding citizens in the world. We are fingerprinted, federally background checked and registered. We are NOT criminals and we are NOT dangerous.

This policy, if implemented, is a direct attack on our rights and our families. Rest assured that Home Depot will lose more business over this than they can imagine.

Sincerely, Lisanne D.; Cheshire, OR

Home Depot's "Response" - typical and not well considered:

Hello Lisanne, Thank you for your feedback.

The Home Depot has a long-standing policy prohibiting the possession of ALL weapons in its stores. Consistent with that policy, customers are prohibited from carrying firearms in our stores.

Where required by local legislation, The Home Depot will install necessary signage to reiterate this policy to all customers.

Sincerely,

Jennifer, Customer Care; homedepot.com

[xsrdx]

This is one of the responses sent so far, from a local USPSA member:

Dear Home Depot, I have a concealed carry permit issued by the State of Maryland. I have been fingerprinted and subjected to rigorous state and Federal background checks. My presence in any of your stores ADDS a measure of safety to your employees and patrons.

Since The Home Depot has banned carrying concealed weapons by legally permitted, law abiding citizens, the only persons in your stores who are armed will be criminals (presumably with criminal intent).

Consequently, I shall no longer shop at The Home Depot as it represents an environment which is demonstrably less safe than establishments which allow the exercise of concealed carry privileges. I shall likewise encourage my family, friends and acquaintances to shop elsewhere for their own safety.

William A.; Eldersburg, Maryland

[xsrdx]

If this is factual, Home Depot should be taken to task.

Prohibiting LEGAL permit holders from carrying is fabulously misguided - they are not only the MOST LAW ABIDING demographic, but also tend to have significant discretionary incomes.

Nothing like alienating your best customers...

[AlaskaErik]

I can't imagine Home Depot instituting a ban in Alaska. It would be required to post signs to that effect, and I have never seen them. This might be an urban legend. You can check it out on swopes.com. If it is true, they'll take a lot of flack up here.

[joesnuffy]

If true...and I have heard this same rumor on another board..
My next house will be built using products sold at Menard's
and I will be all too happy to send Home Despot copies of the purchases they didnt get...

[Khepera]

So how will home depot enforce this ban? What would be the consequence? If they ban weapons of all types would thay not also have to ban box cutters (Stanley knives) all other knoves, Nail Guns etc?

[Steven W.]

I seem to recall Lowes propaganda ... get a grip. seriously

[GovernmentShrinker]

Sending receipts from competitors, along with letters of protest, would be a great tactic.

[Kenton]

So, the wife goes into Home Depot and loads up a shopping cart with several hundred bucks worth of merchandise and gets in line. When she gets up to the cashier, she announces "Sorry, my husband has our credit card. He was shopping in another store and was on his way here to pay for this merchandise, but he just called me on my cell phone and told he's not allowed to come in your store, because your store doesn't allow concealed carry. I guess you'll have to put this stuff back. See ya..."

This only has to happen a few times a day to get the point across.

[StatesEnemy]

Hell... what about 2x4's, claw hammers, and good sturdy rope?

Let's not even begin to discuss the chemical/explosive weapons one could devise from HD's inventory...

[xsrdx]

This might be an urban legend.

I wasn't able to find anything in a brief search, but that doesn't mean this is actually Home Depot policy.

I posted it for discussion, somebody may know, or have researched, the real deal.

[mel]

Oh that is too funny. Absolutely love it.

[StatesEnemy]

BTW, what are they doing... having the "greeter" pat people down?

[bmwcyle]

Click Here

[Khepera]

How will they know if you have a weapon if it is concealed? If you use the weapon to save a life in their store how will they react?

[xsrdx]

So how will home depot enforce this ban?

As a practical matter, they cannot.

The argument is about principle - do you want to shop at a store that doesn't trust you with a gun, and more importantly, encourages criminal activity with a "gun free zone" policy?

I have seen smaller retailers respond to pressure from gun owners; Home Depot is a big fish that may be impervious to common sense.

[jude24]

The Home Depot is private property, and has every right to tell you to leave your firearm at home.

[xsrdx]

and has every right to tell you to leave your firearm at home.

Oh, absolutely positively, they can.

The point is, it's A STUPID POLICY with ZERO BENEFIT.

Gun owners have EVERY RIGHT to be annoyed and shop elsewhere.

[lelio]

I don't go to HD as I have better things to do than stand around in their ridiculously long checkout lines.

[SW6906]

"The Home Depot is private property, and has every right to tell you to leave your firearm at home."

Yes they do, and I have every right not to reward them with my business for having such a policy! And I have the further right to encourage everyone else I know not to spend their money there!!!

[DonQ]

I've shopped in Home Depot stores plenty of times, and sometimes the only way to get any attention from a salesperson would be to fire off a few rounds.