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Blockbuster
Video's Clintonspeak by Chuck S., Tennessee Originally published on this
website June 16, 2000
To: Customer Service/RetailOp/Corporate/Blockbuster@BBEGI,
customer.service@blockbuster.com
Subject: Handgun Carry Dear Blockbuster: As a long time and regular Blockbuster patron,
I am concerned about what appears to be your corporate "don't ask, don't
tell" policy on the lawful carry of firearms in your stores. I understand that you want your customers and
employees to feel safe while on your property. This is the very reason that law
abiding gun owners prefer to patronize businesses that allow them to protect
themselves and others. I doubt that Blockbuster can guarantee the personal
safety of each patron and employee, and I'm certain that local law enforcement
can post an armed officer at each location to help ensure this. As Mr. Harris (from Tennessee Firearms
Association) has previously stated to you, Tennessee has no law requiring that a
handgun be concealed when carried by a permit holder. However, most prudent gun
owners do not carry their firearm openly visible in to a retail establishment. My question is: If a lawful permit
holder unknowingly had his gun visible to a Blockbuster employee, would that
employee be required by your company to call the local law enforcement agency?
If so, what crime as he/she committed? Is it possible to just have the manager
politely ask the customer to either conceal the weapon or leave the property?
That is the policy of a little company you may have heard of.....WALMART. Please clarify this policy for me, so that I
may pass it on to the other 80 million gun owners that may or may not want to do
business with Blockbuster. As for me, I only trade with businesses that allow me
to protect myself while shopping. I DO NOT carry my gun openly or "brandish
it" as you say - but I am concerned that if it were to be seen
inadvertently, Blockbuster could contribute to the loss of my Second Amendment
Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Thank you in advance for your reply, -Chuck S. Blockbuster's Response: In a message dated 6/13/00 10:41:56 AM Central
Daylight Time, customer.service@blockbuster.com
writes: First, we want to thank you for your e-mail.
Customer feedback is very important to us we are glad you took the time to write
because it gives us the opportunity to respond to your concerns. At Blockbuster,
we believe the key to staying number one in our industry is to listen to our
customers; especially if a customer is dissatisfied with a product or service. We want our customers and employees to feel
safe while in a Blockbuster store, therefore, Blockbuster does not allow
customers, except for members of law enforcement, to openly carry or brandish
weapons in our stores. If a customer enters a store with a weapon that is
visible, employees are instructed to contact the local law enforcement agency.
Further Blockbuster employees are prohibited from carrying weapons of any sort
into the store, on to company property, or to any company function. In states with concealed weapons laws,
customers have the right to carry a concealed weapon. The very nature of a
concealed weapon is that it is concealed and, as such, employees would not see
it. However, Anyone found carrying a weapon in violation of the state law would
be referred to the local law enforcement agency. Thank you for letting us know how we can better
serve your entertainment needs. We take your comments very seriously and welcome
them, as a valuable tool needed to improve the quality of our service. Please
feel free to contact us anytime in the future with your questions or comments
regarding any of our services or products. Sincerely, Blockbuster Consumer Services Gun Owner Comes Back: Dear Blockbuster, Thank you for responding to my E-mail regarding
handgun carry. However, I asked you a very
specific question about the state of Tennessee to which you responded
by sending the same FORM LETTER that you sent to Mr. Harris of the TFA. I am asking for a specific answer to this
question: What is your corporate policy
(directive to employees) if a firearm is inadvertently exposed in a Blockbuster
store in TENNESSEE - WHERE FIREARMS DO NOT HAVE TO BE CONCEALED? Please reread my previous E-mail and answer the
question. By your form letter, I read
"if we can see it, we will call the cops." Although I am NOT REQUIRED
by the state of Tennessee to conceal my weapon...I always do. But what
will Blockbuster do if I bend over to help a little old lady pick up the video
she just dropped, and my jacket slips open? -Chuck S. To Get Your Letters Printed
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