Woods (True Value) Hardware of Roselawn

[Brian D.]

Hello. Woods Hardware is a Cincinnati-based family of hardware stores under the same ownership umbrella, as I understand it. Seeing as my own neighborhood has no hardware store, I got in the habit of checking out other places. The Woods location in Roselawn isn't all that far away. But apparently the manager of that store feels the need to post a "No firearms on these premises" sign. Not sure when he had this bright idea, but I'm going to see if I can do some mind-changing.

This should be interesting. The neighborhood demographics go about 75% African American, which is higher than the other Woods locations. Interestingly (as memory serves), the manager of the Roselawn store is also African American. It will be interesting to see if he has a "race card" in his deck of arguments. All I've got are a bunch of "No Guns = No Money" cards...and hopefully my keenest wits about me when we have the conversation.

You don't see a lot of hardware stores posted, that's why I'm following up.

The reason I mention race here is because I've seen instances of this from companies and corporations before. For example, IHOP has four or five greater Cincinnati locations. (Or even more, way out in suburbia, I haven't looked it up lately.) Best I know, the only one posted is in a neighborhood that charts maybe 50-60% African American. I have engaged several managers of that restaurant in conversation about the matter through the years. Their answers run along the lines of "This neighborhood gets bad at night, we have a lot of shady characters coming in at 2am." My reply has consistently been a series of questions: "Well, why don't you throw them out, trespass them if need be, or just close up from midnight to 6am or so? Or, is it better to cater to some hood rats late at night, rather than to several thousand local concealed carry licensees at any time? And, why does this restaurant go through so many managers anyway? I never get to have this conversation with the same person twice in a three month period. Is it because they get tired of dealing with the shady characters and transfer out or quit?"

I'm picking on IHOP pretty hard here, they aren't the only company I've seen show what I consider to be a covert racism in their business dealings, just a very cogent example. It likely happens like this in all other big cities too.

[docachna]

"So you think these 'shady characters' are going to be deterred by a sign on your front door saying 'NO GUNS' .

Yeah. That'll work, all right. Just like it worked at Parkland School, Virginia Tech, Aurora theater, Columbine.........."

[Brian D.]

Think I'll go back to Woods Hardware today and chat up the manager. I like to be emotionally detached for these conversations. Woke up in a pretty decent mood this morning.

[3FULLMAGS+1]

Along with all the other things I know you'll probably say to the manager, Brian, you might mention that patronage or interest in their store just might "increase" if they do away with the anti policy and better yet post a sign "welcoming" carry and that licensee's "look" for places to do business with, that allow them to protect themselves, especially in "bad" neighborhoods such as his......worth a try bringing that up......I have at times.
Offer to even get him one of the carry welcomed signs too ! I did that once.....lol.

[Brian D.]

I got distracted by a minor car issue that day and didn't get to the hardware store. Still on my to do list.

[Brian D.]

Followed up on this today. Sign on the front door reads "No firearms allowed on the property". So, I parked across the street and disarmed. Walked around a bit inside, then asked for the manager. Explained how as a CHL holder, such a prohibition made it nearly impossible for me and about 500,000 other Ohio licensees to shop there.

He explained that he had a few people come in that were probably underaged, and/or otherwise not carrying legally, but were doing so anyway. He went on to state that the sign was meant for them, not licensed carriers.

As I started to explain the fallacy of that, a police officer from a nearby jurisdiction came in, and the manager asked him to join the discussion.

In short, the LEO agreed that the sign's wording was pretty much bass-ackwards, and he agreed with what I'd stated. Manager said he would change the sign to something more useful and appropriate.

I'll stop back in a week or so to follow through.

[WY_Not]

So... rather than report the criminals to the authorities to be dealt with he just posts a sign to punish everyone else? After all if those 'yutes are already ignoring the law they most certainly will ignore his sign.

Noticed that he isn't taking down the sign, just changing to one that is more appropriate?

[Brian D.]

I do what I can, WY_NOT. There are other small hardware stores about the same distance away, in different directions. I prefer the mom 'n' pop ones, but not averse to Lowe's or Menard's either.

[WY_Not]

Oh, was by no means knocking on your efforts to get this fixed. Was aimed at the store owner. As they say, "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink."

[Brian D.]

When licensed concealed carry was new to Ohio, I had more patience trying to win hearts and minds to our side.

But it's been around since 2004, business owners should be a little more savvy about it by now.

[Brian D.]

As of this morning they still had the "No firearms on the property" sign on the door. Patience, Brian, patience.

[Brian D.]

Went by again, same sign. I have better things to do than pursue this further.

[WY_Not]

At least send them a few big ticket receipts for items that you purchased elsewhere because of the sign.

[Brian D.]

At least send them a few big ticket receipts for items that you purchased elsewhere because of the sign.

No big ticket hardware purchases on my horizon, WY.

[WY_Not]

Buy a few things, take pics of the receipt, and promptly return the item.