Asked business to consider removing 30.06

[minytrker]

I sent a letter to a business who recently added 30.06 & 30.07 signs. I politely explained what the 30.06 sign was doing and they got back with me and asked for a few days to think about it. Here is there response.

Thank you, so much, for contacting us in regard to your disappointment regarding Aerofit’s decision to prohibit both open carry and concealed carry handguns in our buildings. We have undertaken much conversation about how to respond to the increased awareness of handguns in our community, as well as a likely increase in the actual number of handguns being carried. We understand and fully respect your perspective. Both of the Aerofit owners own handguns and support the Second Amendment Right for citizens to own and use guns responsibly.
It is precisely that heightened sense of responsibility which has guided our conversations and decision. Our primary concerns are that we cannot insure that every individual who is legally licensed to carry a handgun will, indeed use it responsibly. Though most, if not all, understand the serious potential tragedy of even one misjudgment or safety omission, just one such mistake is too many. People are all different and accept responsibility at all levels of concern from casual to meticulous. In contrast to the many members, such as yourself and your wife, who have carried handguns at Aerofit without incident, our Villa Maria facility has had a handgun left unsecured in one of the locker rooms (not locked up) while its owner was elsewhere in the club. Honest and innocent mistakes happen all the time. We can’t afford for them to happen with handguns.
As you know, the training undertaken to become licensed to carry a handgun in Texas is required to include information related to proper storage with an emphasis on “practices that eliminate the possibility of accidental injury to a child.” The legislation does not just mention minimizing this risk, but specifically states that accidental injury to children should be eliminated. We have hundreds of children in our facilities every day. We fear our lockers may be assumed adequate storage for guns while working out. They are not. Guns require an increased measure of safety in this public venue situation. We believe it requires a measure significantly higher than what may be adequate for clothing or other personal belongings. It is certainly better, and probably adequate if the user uses a gun safe or trigger lock in addition to leaving it in a locker, but this still does not preclude the handgun from being stolen and possibly used in a crime in our community at a later time. And, we have no way to insure this would be done without fail in every case.
Additionally, the training to be licensed has no component to demonstrate proficiency in a mock live situation with moving targets and innocent bystanders. All the proficiency exercises are with stationary targets with a stationary applicant shooting. With the increase in first time, inexperienced handgun owners who have practiced enough to pass the proficiency test, but are not proficient or experienced in a potential public shooter situation there is an increased likelihood of panic and increased chance of innocents being injured or killed. Not only will the gun carrier have to live with that mistake, we will have to live with it as well. And while there is always a risk these days that someone will wish to do harm to people in the building the conventional wisdom is first to run, then to hide and lastly to fight or confront an aggressor.
We again wish to emphasize our understanding of and respect for your opinion. Our goal in this letter is not to change your opinion, but to explain our thought process and priority structure in our specific environment so that you might understand our decision.
Thanks again for letting us know your perspective.
Kindest Regards,


Not sure how to respond. They have been very polite in emails and even thanked for me sending them such a professional email.

[Pariah3j]

I think I would probably respond with something along the lines of - thank you for your time and well thought out response. We will have to agree to disagree on what having a LTC means who who carries them, and how responsible they are. I intend to speak with my wallet and bring my purchasing power elsewhere, somewhere where I won't be undefended and a target.

[atx2a]

I would simply respond thanking them for the professionalism and thoughtfulness, and reemphasizing your respect for their stance. Then, if it is your choice to do so, explain that you'll respectfully take your business elsewhere.

Short, sweet, and to the point.

[FCH]

It actually sounds to me like the business may have a valid point. I don't use any gyms but I would lock my handgun in my car safe if I was going to be separated from it and did not have a place to secure it. I lock my handgun in my car at the doctor's office for this very reason. I don't want my clothes and gun laying on the other side of the room while I'm being examined/tested.

[TexasSully]

I would simply respond thanking them for the professionalism and thoughtfulness, and reemphasizing your respect for their stance. Then, if it is your choice to do so, explain that you'll respectfully take your business elsewhere.

Short, sweet, and to the point.

[Jusme]

I would reply and thank them for their honesty and professionalism, although somewhat misinformed, but then I would ask them for a copy of their plan of action should an active shooter situation occur, where the armed security personell will be stationed and who is responsible for ensuring that everyone gets out safely, since we untrained LTC holders are obviously just going to start shooting randomly if it happens.

[Lynyrd]

It actually sounds to me like the business may have a valid point. I don't use any gyms but I would lock my handgun in my car safe if I was going to be separated from it and did not have a place to secure it. I lock my handgun in my car at the doctor's office for this very reason. I don't want my clothes and gun laying on the other side of the room while I'm being examined/tested.

In any environment where you will be separated from your gun, I would have definite worries if I was the business owner. This is a hard question. I'm not sure what I would do, either as a customer, or as the business owner. I certainly wouldn't want to leave my gun behind unsecured while taking part in some activity where I couldn't keep it on me.

[jerry_r60]

I would simply respond thanking them for the professionalism and thoughtfulness, and reemphasizing your respect for their stance. Then, if it is your choice to do so, explain that you'll respectfully take your business elsewhere.

Short, sweet, and to the point.

In the situation of going to a gym, I would feel about my handgun similar to how I feel about my wallet. I would never leave it in a locker without a lock or, I would have some sort of a bag (fanny pack) that I carried with me around the gym. Of course carrying the bag, one must make sure to not leave it on the floor and walk away (same as with a wallet).

A difference with the wallet analogy is I would not feel the need to carry my wallet around with me in the gym for protection however, I may want my handgun in a bag and with me for that reason.

[Redneck_Buddha]

I would simply respond thanking them for the professionalism and thoughtfulness, and reemphasizing your respect for their stance. Then, if it is your choice to do so, explain that you'll respectfully take your business elsewhere.

Short, sweet, and to the point.

In the situation of going to a gym, I would feel about my handgun similar to how I feel about my wallet. I would never leave it in a locker without a lock or, I would have some sort of a bag (fanny pack) that I carried with me around the gym. Of course carrying the bag, one must make sure to not leave it on the floor and walk away (same as with a wallet).

A difference with the wallet analogy is I would not feel the need to carry my wallet around with me in the gym for protection however, I may want my handgun in a bag and with me for that reason.

This. I always carry at the gym in a fanny pack. If there ever was a target rich environment, it's the gym. Don't have time to search for the link but I can think of two intended mass shootings at fitness facilities that both involved insane exes (one of an instructor).

[minytrker]

Part of original email stated leaving guns in the unsecure, unguarded parking lot wasnt safe either. I asked if they were going to provide security in the parking lot and for patrons leaving since they want them to disarm to enter the building. Its pretty clear they have there mind set on leaving the .06 & .07 signs up. I asked them to just consider removing just the .06 signs in my email. At this gym there are other offices in there and an indoor pool where my kids take swimming lessons. So for my wife and I to take our kids to swimming we have to disarm just to walk through the facility to the indoor pool. I am still working on my response.

[RoyGBiv]

#1 target around here for car break-ins are the fitness places.
I lock up my gun going into my kids school and don't fret about it much, but going to the gym I would never lock it up in the car. If I couldn't take it into the building with me I'd leave it home. I'm not much less secure leaving it home than I am walking from and back to my car unarmed because I had to lock it up in the car.

YMMV.

[Abraham]

As RoyGBiv noted: "#1 target around for car break-ins are the fitness places."

Bring that bit of information to their attention, with the polite addition of words to the affect you'll find a gym that doesn't restrict your right to protect yourself.

That is, if there is such a thing...?

Personally, I'd never go to a gym as I've always worked out at home.

Far more convenient, no gun restrictions, and frankly less costly after the initial expense of a good weight set and bench.