GrassRoots - Putting Teeth Into Concealed Carry
Close Encounters of the Posted Kind
– Guide to Merchant Contact

Grassroots South Carolina was originally founded to deal with the problem of merchants posting their businesses against the lawful carry of concealed handguns by persons possessing concealed weapons permits (CWPs). Merchant contact remains a cornerstone of Grassroots South Carolina's gun rights activities. Presented for your enlightenment is an overview of the merchant contact program and how permit holders can gather information on posted businesses as well as communicate with business owners on the social good that our state's CWP law represents.

The Merchant Contact Program

Grassroots South Carolina's Merchant Contact Program serves two important functions:

  1. It is an evolving database of posted merchants that serves notice to permit holders where not to break the law by carrying concealed handguns... it's a list of merchants who don't want law abiding citizens to carry concealed weapons on their premises.
     
  2. It serves notice to posted merchants that permit holders, as principled individuals, will not do business where their right to lawful armed self-defense from violent criminal attack is denied.


When Grassroots receives information that a merchant or business dependent on public goodwill is posted, our organization sends a formal letter of protest to that businesses' owner of record or corporate CEO or president. The letter politely informs the merchant or business that:

  1. Permit holders have undergone scrutiny by both state and federal law enforcement agencies.
     
  2. Merchants who post against concealed carry invite criminal mayhem from individuals looking for easy targets of opportunity.
     
  3. Merchants who post against concealed carry have implied assumed responsibility for the safety of their patrons and may face financial redress in the event of a criminal act, which results in injury/death of a patron.
     
  4. Permit holders are consumers who represent a valuable commodity.
     
  5. Alternate signs are available which court permit holders yet serve notice on others.


Depending on the situation, a posted merchant or business may receive alternate signs with the letter along with a copy of the Grassroots newsletter. The name and address of the posted merchant or business is then added to a computer database which you see in your newsletter. This information is also forwarded to another Grassroots volunteer who enters the information on the organization's web site. If the merchant or business removes their posting signs or replaces them with the alternate signs, the name of that merchant or business is removed from the list of banning businesses and placed on our Welcome Back! list. Placement on this list may be subject to verification by Grassroots staffers or recognized community volunteers. Merchants who do not remove their signs receive a follow-up letter and may also receive 'extra attention' in the form of postcard mailings or, if necessary, negative publicity events (picketing). Merchants who are caught cheating also receive extra attention from Grassroots.

The Merchant Contact Program and You

Grassroots South Carolina, as an all-volunteer organization, must depend on information gathered from permit holders from around the state. Therefore the information provided Grassroots is only as accurate as what is provided us from you, the CWP holder. The more information about a posted merchant provided the better.

Turning Observation Into Action

What do you do when you encounter a merchant or business that is posted against concealed carry? Grumble and walk away? Disarm yourself and spend your hard-earned dollars with a merchant who denies you your right to armed self-defense from societal predators? Or do you turn a problem into an opportunity?

The growing list of merchants featured on the Welcome Back! list did not happen simply because they received a protest letter from Grassroots. Conversely, a letter from Grassroots is rarely sufficient to convince a merchant to stop posting. Merchants stop posting because they receive a steady influx of complaints from the public... their former customers who make good on a promise to do business elsewhere until the posting policy is rescinded.

The "Rule of Thirds"

Four years of merchant contact experience has taught us what we can refer to as "The Rule of Thirds":

  1. One third of posted business will immediately rescind a posting policy upon receiving an overview of the benefit of concealed carry as a strong deterrent to violent crime. This overview can come from either a communication by Grassroots or a personal visit by a permit holder(s).
     
  2. One third of posted business will rescind a posting policy in response to a protracted education effort by Grassroots and permit holders.
     
  3. One third of posted business will refuse to rescind a posting policy no matter what information is presented them.


We've learned to write off the last third; it's the first two-thirds we'd like to concern ourselves with. 

"Just Do It"

Many merchants continue to post because they haven't been approached by anyone willing to take the time to educate them on why permit holders aren't a problem. If your response to encountering a posted merchant is to turn around and walk away never to return then you shouldn't expect the merchant to stop posting.

Be An Information-Gatherer and Diplomat for the CWP Cause

Your first responsibility when making merchant contacts should be to gather information that it may be sent to Grassroots for entry into our databases. The second task is to present information to the merchant so that a favorable outcome may be reached. Commit this to memory...it will be explained in further detail.

When engaging in merchant contact activities never forget that you are a diplomat for the CWP cause and that first impressions are lasting ones. Rude behavior, being confrontational and other unacceptable behaviors, no matter how rudely one is treated by a merchant, is counterproductive to our mission. We're the good guys, remember?

What's In A Name?

In a word, everything!

As was mentioned earlier, your primary responsibility when making merchant contacts is to gather information.

BURN THE FOLLOWING INTO YOUR MEMORY:

The most important piece of information grassroots needs is the name of owner of record or corporate CEO or president because they are the ones who have decision-making abilities. It should be your primary goal to get this name above all else.

We've learned a little about merchant contact over the years... it's best to deal with the person at the top. It eliminates the temptation by a lower-level employee to "pass the buck", and a communication to a merchant with the owner's name on the letter of contact sends a much stronger message than a letter addressed to "Dear Business Owner". Admit it, did you ever really pay that much attention to a letter you've received addressed to "Occupant"? The business' name is obvious, and getting the address is as simple as opening a telephone book. It's the owner's name we need, and it's recommended that you get it FIRST before even mentioning the "NO CWP" issue. That way, if things go south, as they sometimes do, Grassroots has all the information necessary to forward an official communication. Case in point: a permit holder approached a retailer and immediately launched into the posting issue. The retailer took offense (it happens, they'll get over it) and told the permit holder to leave the store. When the permit holder asked the retailer for his name, the retailer refused to provide it. Had the permit holder gotten the owner's name first it would have made things easier in regard to sending a letter to the individual in question.

Despite the fact that we're the good guys, many people regard the CWP issue as extremely controversial. Don't be surprised if a retailer immediately "tightens up" if the subject is brought forward. It's a natural response and it's not worth getting confrontational over it. It's also for this reason that one need not even bring up the subject to a store's rank and file employees when obtaining information; many of these folks have little concept of firearms, self defense, or CWP. Resist the urge to deliver a lecture to the pimply kid at your local Shop-and-Rob... he has no decision-making authority.

For whatever reason, if you cannot get the name of the owner of record or company CEO there are alternative methods of obtaining it:


A merchant who refuses to provide you with his or her name in the belief that withholding such information will prevent their business from being listed on Grassroots database is doing so blindly. Merchants cannot operate in the public eye under total immunity from public record or scrutiny.

Up Close and Personal: The Physical Visit

There are as many ways to conduct a merchant visit, as there are permit holders to conduct them, so a hard-and-fast formula cannot be provided you. You will simply have to do what works best for you. Some people simply hand the merchant a copy of the newsletter and an alternate sign and make a follow up visit at a later date. Others make more formal presentations. Here is a list of Dos and Don'ts for your consideration:

Do...

  1. Familiarize yourself with the Law Abiding Citizens Self Defense Act of 1996, our state's concealed weapons law. You don't need to commit the entire law to memory, but you should familiarize yourself with the law as it pertains to liability issues, absolution of negligence for not posting, and the employer's right to supersede an employee's right to carry while on company property or vehicles.
     
  2. Conduct yourself as a professional. Dress appropriately-you don't need to wear a suit and tie but hunting attire/BDUs/cammies, dirty clothing, clothing in disrepair, or T-shirts with slogans which could be construed as controversial should be avoided. Present yourself as an ordinary guy or gal. Brush your teeth. Don't wear sunglasses (they make you appear cold and secretive) and leave the cologne or perfume at home. You are trying to the get the business unposted, not a date.
     
  3. Determine if the merchant or business is an individually owned proprietorship, a locally owned franchise, or part of a larger chain of stores.
     
  4. Recognize if and when you get "the run-around". This is where "Do" rule #1 comes into play. "We are required to post by law", "Our insurance company made us do this", and "It's corporate policy" are common brush-off phrases we've heard. Learn to anticipate and deal with such claims appropriately. Oftentimes a chain store has been posted per store manager's discretion.
     
  5. Do have with you samples of Grassroots alternative signs. They are a major selling point.
     
  6. Remind the merchant that their present postings bear no legal or practical notice on criminals. Remind the merchant that they are discriminating against customers with proven clean records.
     
  7. Ask the specific reason why the merchant is posting.
     
  8. Recognize that educating merchants about CWP and reluctance to patronize posted businesses is not "harassment".

    Don't...

  9. Break the law by going armed into a posted store. This is common sense. If you are caught carrying a firearm into a posted merchant, you could face arrest, fines up to $200, spend a month in jail, and possible loss of your permit. If going unarmed unnerves you that much, ask a legally armed friend, relative or spouse to accompany you and have them escort you to and from your vehicle.
     
  10. Make threats or get confrontational with a merchant. We are in the business of presenting ourselves as GOOD CITIZENS, not creating grudge matches. If a merchant visit "goes south", thank the retailer for his or her time and leave without further comment.
     
  11. Remove any postings without express permission. You can, however, offer to replace the present signs with alternative decals.
     
  12. Forget to thank the merchant for taking time out of his or her schedule to meet with you.


Getting Past and Over the Word "No"

It is the firm belief of Grassroots South Carolina that posting issues should be handled by local permit holders working in their own communities to solve posting issues.

If a merchant is unreceptive to a contact you may wish to engage in further contacts by having other permit holders in your area contact the merchant, the idea being if a merchant hears a steady stream of complaints from former customers they'll unpost ("When they feel the heat, they'll see the light). Contact other permit holders in your area. Conduct a 'phone blitz' or 'postcard blitz' informing the merchant that you will return your business when your safety concerns are met to your satisfaction (Grassroots can supply you with postcards...you supply the signatures and stamps).

And finally, learn to recognize when a merchant or business simply wants no part of CWP issues. They will continue to be listed on our database as long as they are posted. If a posted merchant in your area is the scene of a violent crime notify Grassroots immediately.

Verifying Merchants and Businesses as being No Longer Posted

If you volunteer to verify that a merchant or business is no longer posted recognize the fact that the signs may have simply be moved elsewhere on the premises. You need to do a physical walk-through. Check every entrance inside and out... THOROUGHLY. Ask the owner or management if necessary and don't forget to thank them. If unposted, return your patronage and let them know why.

NOTE: There have been some changes made to the Welcome Back! List. Merchants removing all prohibiting signs (old "pre-H3010" or new standardized per state law) shall be listed in the newsletter for two consecutive issues. Grassroots South Carolina reserves the right to verify any merchant or business claiming to have removed signs prohibiting CWP. Send reports concerning merchants that have removed signs to: merchants@scfirearms.org

Report a Posted or Unposted Merchant

Posted Merchants List | Welcome Back! List

Guide to Merchant Contact

GrassRoots South Carolina
P.O. Box 2446
Lexington, SC 29071
 http://www.scfirearms.org

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