An increasingly aggressive grassroots campaign, which culminated with customers mailing the Kroger Co. receipts showing thousands upon thousands of dollars in sales lost to competitors such as Super WalMart, Meijer and local mom-and-pop groceries (who do NOT post discriminatory signs), has met with resounding success.

OFCC announced last week that members and supporters from the Cincinnati-Dayton area (under the control of Bob Hodge, President of Kroger's Cincinnati Division) had begun to report that a large number of signs were being removed.

Customers who have contacted Kroger about their discriminatory signs barring concealed handgun license-holders are being notified that an official decision has been made to remove the signs.

Dear Mr. Smith

Thank you for contacting the Kroger Co.

After taking time to review and evaluate the Ohio Concealed Carry Law, Kroger has decided to remove the signs that had been posted.

Sincerely,

Ginger M Rawe
Consumer Response Representative
Ref # XXXXXXXX

As was stated in OFCC's June 9 press release, it is not known if this action is in any way related to the assault and robbery of a 70-year old Kroger customer outside a posted store on May 23, or to the kidnapping and aggravated robbery of a woman in a Toledo Kroger parking on June 1. Whatever the reasons, the move is a welcome one.

"We hope that Mr. Hodge's office gets word of the decision out to their stores quickly," said Business Education Task Force Coordinator Joe Eaton. "Just this week, on Wednesday, June 16, a security guard in a Dayton Kroger was assaulted by a robber as he fled the scene. Clearly, neither Kroger's signs, nor their guards, can ever guarantee the safety of their customers. Self-defense is a personal responsibility."

Collin Rink, the OFCC Team Leader who initially organized the campaign to educate Kroger, agreed.

"Kroger has been doing business in concealed carry states for many years. We have no idea why this one division president decided that what had been safe for millions of Kroger shoppers in the past was not safe for his Ohio stores, and we were horrified to see even the slightest evidence that the signs were seen as invitations to these criminals."

"We applaud the Kroger Co.'s decision, and look forward to seeing this law work to deter criminals across the state," added Rink. "From now on, criminals will not be able to contemplate victimizing a Kroger customer without wondering if their intended target, or a witness, might be armed."

Click here to thank this company for weighing the facts, considering their extensive good experience with CHL-holders in other states, and making the safest, most-responsible decision. Kroger's national customer service number is 800-576-4377 or 866-221-4141.

Click here for a complete list of retailers which have removed signs since April 8.

June 17, 2004
WHIOtv.com

Man Robs Kroger Store, Assaults Guard

DAYTON, Ohio -- Dayton police are searching for a man who allegedly shoplifted from a local grocery store and then assaulted a security officer. The incident happened at the Kroger store on Wayne Avenue on Wednesday.

Officers said the man was caught stealing a lighter and then assaulted the guard as he fled the scene.

Medics took the guard to a local hospital for minor injuries.

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June 15, 2004
Akron Beacon Journal

Akron BP robbed, clerk repeatedly pistol-whipped

AKRON - A 36-year-old Akron man has been charged with robbing an East Avenue store Sunday.

Lorenzo Grayson is being held in the Summit County Jail on one count of aggravated robbery and two counts of assault. No bond has been set.

Police said a man entered the Duke and Duchess in the 2200 block of East Avenue about 3:40 a.m. Sunday and asked for water for his car. When the clerk opened a backroom door, the robber grabbed her, showed a gun and demanded money, police said.

The woman struggled with the gunman. A second woman who worked at the store came to the aid of the clerk, and the robber struck her repeatedly on the head with his gun, police said. The woman was not seriously injured.

Police said the robber fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of money from the cash register.

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June 16, 2004
Portsmouth Daily Times

Broad daylight robbery at Fifth-Third Bank

A Portsmouth man is wanted in connection with a broad daylight robbery of a
bank in downtown Portsmouth on Tuesday.
Around 10:15 a.m., the Portsmouth Police Department received a call about a
robbery at the Fifth Third Bank Drive-Thru in the 800 block of Seventh
Street.

Detectives and patrol officers have identified the suspect as Quinten L.
Hamrick, 24, of Portsmouth. A felony aggravated robbery arrest warrant has
been issued for him. Police say Hamrick has a past history of robbery and
using firearms.

“We believe he is still in the Portsmouth area,” Lt. Lynn Brewer said,
adding Hamrick should be considered armed and dangerous.

According to a police report, bank employees told officers a black male
entered the lobby and waited until all the other customers left.

He then approached the teller and handed her a note saying it was a robbery
and not to do anything “dumb,” according to police.

The report said that the man had his hand in his pocket to indicate to the
teller that he had a gun.

The teller gave the man the money in the drawer and he fled the bank,
heading west on Sixth Street.

Commentary:
Not all southwest Ohio Krogers have removed their signs. The store at 1555 Wayne Ave. is still disarming customers at the door, and advertising this fact to would-be criminals looking for an easy score.

Duke and Duchess BP convenience stores have been reported to OFCC as posted throughout northeast Ohio. Reports began coming in last week that some have taken down their signs. It is not known if a sign was up at this store when the robbery occurred, but this much IS known - it would not have made any difference.

Fifth Third Banks have posted throughout the state of Ohio, but customer service reps in Michigan have told callers that they are unaware of any signs in that state.

Meanwhile, in a Toledo store which allows customers and employees to exercise their human right of self-protection by bearing arms, a different outcome resulted when a robber demanded cash from an armed clerk (click "Read More...)

June 17, 2004
Sidney Daily News

Prosecutor to probe release of information
Miami County official to investigate why addresses for CCW permit holders issued

A special prosecutor will investigate allegations against Shelby County Sheriff Kevin O'Leary regarding information on people issued permits in Shelby County to carry concealed weapons.

Shelby County Prosecuting Attorney Jim Stevenson announced the move Wednesday afternoon.

Stevenson said Judge John D. Schmitt of Shelby County Common Pleas Court has signed an order entry designating Miami County Prosecuting Attorney Gary Nasal, or an assistant of his choosing, "to investigate any possible allegation against Sheriff Kevin O'Leary."

The matter involves the release of names and addresses of people issued permits to carry concealed weapons in Shelby County. The list, with addresses, was subsequently published in the Sidney Daily News.

O'Leary maintained that wording of the new Ohio law was open to interpretation and that he interpreted it to mean that release of addresses was permissible.

Click on the "Read More..." link below for more.

June 17, 2004
WHIOtv.com

Deputies Arrest Alleged Concealed Carry Law Violator

DAYTON, Ohio -- A Dayton man reportedly becomes Montgomery County's first person to violate the concealed carry law after deputies said he took a gun into a court building.

Investigators said Douglas Lyons walked into the Common Pleas Courts building in downtown Dayton on Tuesday with the gun.

Law enforcement officials say permit owners need to be careful about where they carry concealed weapons. They said gun owners are aware of what the law is and that there will be no warnings, but arrests.

If convicted, Lyons faces six months to a year in jail.

UPDATE! Dayton Daily News coverage

Commentary:
Statistics from across the nation confirm that CHL-holders are convicted of crimes at far less than the national average. When they ARE convicted, it is usually for non-violent crimes, often related to entering a restricted location or other minor non-CCW-related infractions.

No information was provided in this story as to whether or not this courthouse voluntarily provides the ability for CHL-holders to secure their firearms, as described in R.C. 2923.123 (B)(6), nor where those services might have been located in relation to the metal detectors.

What is most interesting about this story is the fact that the Montgomery Co. sheriff's office is warning CHL-holders that they will not give warnings, but will arrest, anyone caught mistakenly carrying in a restricted area.

In neighboring Shelby County, it appears that Sheriff Kevin O'Leary may have been the first person in the county to violate the concealed carry law, by releasing confidential information about concealed handgun license-holders to the media. O'Leary says the release was an accident, caused by his misunderstanding the words "county of residence" to mean "street address".

Under 2923.123 (D)(1), illegal conveyance of a firearm in a courthouse is a fifth degree felony - just as is the release or dissemination of confidential records by sheriffs.

In a press release announcing the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate the Shelby Co. sheriff, OFCC President Jeff Garvas was quoted as saying that "although our organization considers what O'Leary did to be a serious crime, we feel it is one of numerous instances where Ohio's concealed carry law has made a felony out of something that simply doesn't warrant felony charges."

With the limited information that is currently available, Mr. Douglas' arrest appears to be another example of the types of accidental felonies Mr. Garvas was referring to.

The Montgomery Co. sheriff's office appears ready to enforce ANY breach of this law by a CHL-holder, regardless of circumstances. Will the Special Prosecutor Gary Nasal treat Sheriff Kevin O'Leary as such, or will a double-standard be enforced?

Click on the "Read More..." link below for another story which raises questions about double-standards when law enforcement officials are accused of breaking the law.