from Sarah Thompson
director@utgoa.org

Many of you are aware that AOL (America OnLine) is stridently anti-gun.  Last year, three AOL employees were fired for having firearms in AOL's parking lot - a PUBLIC lot in which AOL leases parking spaces. Their supervisor has admitted that the only reason they were fired was the guns. (See www.utgoa.org for more information.)

The employees are now suing AOL, and have asked for a partial summary judgement. (See http://www.utgoa.org/cgi-bin/alerts?alerts01/072701.html.)

Thursday (August 9) it was announced that several Utah business organizations have filed an amicus (friend of the court) brief in support of AOL. In other words, much of the business community in Utah is advocating on behalf of criminals - and against the right of hard-working Utahns to defend themselves!

Many employees work in unsafe areas, or work at night, or have to travel long distances to and from work. Most female employees travel alone. And criminals don't stay out of businesses or parking lots because of "no guns" policies.

Utah law is quite clear on this issue. Concealed carry permittees may carry _without restriction_ in any area open to the public - except those areas designated secure facilities by the legislature. And firearms may legally be carried in vehicles as long as they are unloaded.

In other words, there is no legal or moral justification for firing employees because they have guns in their cars!

Here's how you can help.

Tourism is a major industry in Utah. Chambers of Commerce and restaurant associations know this. They know they depend in large part on non-Utahns for their prosperity. Likewise, most Utah manufacturers know that they depend on interstate business for their success. 

Please let the following organizations know that you will spend your hard-earned dollars somewhere other than Utah - somewhere where businesses aren't actively advocating victim disarmament!

Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, http://www.saltlakechamber.org 
Mailing Address:
Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
175 E. 400 S. 6th Floor
Salt Lake City, UT 84111 
Phone: 801.364.3631
Fax: 801.328.5098
Email: info@saltlakechamber.org 

Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce, http://www.echamber.cc/default.asp 
2393 Washington Boulevard 
Ogden, Utah 84401 
Phone: 801-621-8300 
Toll-Free: 888-621-8306 
Fax: 801-392-7609 
chamber@echamber.cc 
Contact info for officers is at http://www.echamber.cc/contact.asp 

Utah Restaurant Association, http://www.utahdineout.com 
420 East South Temple, #355  
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 
801-322-0123 
info@utahdineout.com 

Utah Manufacturers Association
136 East South Temple, Suite 1740
Salt Lake City, UT 84111-1134
(801) 363-3885
(801) 363-0505 (Fax)
uma@umaweb.org 

If you are planning a trip to Utah, note that most of these organizations list their members on their web sites, making it very easy for you to decide where NOT to spend your money. These lists include hotels, restaurants, wholesale and retail stores, professionals, and just about every other type of business.

Please remember that individual members probably don't even know that they're supporting gun control - although the organizations themselves most certainly do. If you're contacting a member business, be polite and try to educate, not threaten!

If you would like to help support the former AOL employees' lawsuit, contributions may be sent to:

U-GOLD 
8773 S. 450 East 
Sandy, UT 84070 

Please include a note saying your contribution is for the AOL case. Contributions are NOT tax deductible.