I got a call back from Gary Hilt, a Vice-President at Farm and Fleet a few minutes ago.
Gary was nice enough to spend about 1/2 hour on the phone with me discussing the issue and genuinely, he was very receptive and seemed to consider my points vs. being dismissive.
He shared with me some information about how Farm and Fleet came to their policy on a "weapons free environment" (at least weapons free from those who carry legally)
At this time, my personal opinion is that the information Farm and Fleet relied on to come to their policy (input from legal counsel/insurance/anecdotal customer survey) was not as robust and informed as it could have been.
I don't think it gave them a true picture of the support that right to carry has. (again just my opinion based on our conversation in addition to considering that SO many other regional and national retailers (Woodmans, Pick n Save, Best Buy, Dunhams Sports, Home Depot, Wal-mart, CULVERS, Starbucks, etc) ALL surely went through a similar exercise and came to a DIFFERENT conclusion They definitely aren't an "anti-gun" organization in principle (just in practice).
Mr. Hilt advised me that he was going to go back to the board over the next 2 weeks (lots of people on vacation this week with the holiday and review their policy)
At the current time, their policy has not changed, but he IS going to review it.
AS SUCH, I think the time is right for all of us to send polite letters and make contact with Farm and Fleet to let them know that their customer base really DOES support the right to carry. Let Farm and Fleet know you prefer to continue to patronize their stores, but cannot in principle as they don't support your right to carry in practice
It was also interesting. Mr. Hilt shared with me that in the 55 year history of their company there has never been an instance IN THEIR STORE of someone being assaulted or needing to defend themselves.
I think as you all drop letters and make polite contact with Farm and Fleet you might offer the knowledge that while no one may have been assaulted IN their store, a person's safety IS in jeopardy walking FROM their store to their car.
Case in point:
http://badgerherald.com/news/2010/12/08/crime_in_brief.php
DECEMBER 8, 2010 LESS THAN A MONTH AGO, RIGHT HERE IN MADISON, WI
ROBBERY
South Stoughton Road
Madison resident Ricky Harris, 17, was arrested Saturday afternoon on multiple charges of battery, strong-armed robbery and disorderly conduct, an MPD report said.
According to the report, Harris flipped a disabled man out of his wheelchair and proceeded to assault the man at the Farm & Fleet parking lot on South Stoughton Road.
When Harris pulled down the victim’s pants during the attack, the victim’s wife tried to intervene. Harris punched the wife numerous times in the head, the report added. Harris took the wife’s money and the man’s cell phone and fled on foot, but was caught and arrested by officers.
Farm and Fleet may be able to claim that in 55 years no one has been assaulted IN their store, but they surely can't claim that no one has been assaulted OUTSIDE their store. Criminals ARE committing crimes in Farm and Fleet parking lots against INNOCENT defenseless people. By prohibiting people from carrying IN their store, they are also making those people defenseless victims IN THEIR PARKING LOT as criminals now CLEARLY know (based on posted signs) that anyone coming from Farm and Fleet will be unarmed. (even after Wisconsin passes concealed carry this year)
PLEASE share this example with Farm and Fleet when you contact them.
Polite letters and contact should be made to:
Blain's Supply, Inc. (corporate office)
3507 East Racine Street
Janesville, WI 53546-2320
or
Blain Supply, Inc.
PO Box 391
Janesville, WI
53547-0391
Blain's Farm and Fleet 24 hour customer care hotline:
1-800-210-2370
electronic contact opportunities: (use customer contact form on this page)
http://www.farmandfleet.com/customer_care/default.aspx
Wisconsin Carry will be sending this information around to all of our members over the next couple of days. Please share with your fellow freedom minded friends/family.
Lets politely share with Farm and Fleet how many of their customers do NOT support their restriction on the right to carry in their stores.
Carry On