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Who's Packing Heat At The Mall? (Merged)

3K views 27 replies 21 participants last post by  Sticks 
#1 ·
found this article on mcrgo.(grand rapids,mich.)
when doug vanderwoude dose his christmas shopping, hes packing
more than money.not far from his wallet is is gun.
it is his way of protecting himself and others from the kind of
violence that happened in an omaha mall last week,when a
gunman opened fire on employees and shoppers. the 19 yr.old
man killed eight people before turning the gun on himself.

the way i look at a firearm,its my safety device. i wear a safety
belt when i drive because you never know if an accident will happen.
i wear a gun in case a crime happens, said the co-owner of a wyoming gun shop.

last weeks tragedy prompted michigan native ted nugent-known as
much for his gun-rights stance as his rock music-to write an essay
that appeared in a detroit news paper this week. he called on the
goverment to get rid of gun-free zones and for law-abiding citizens
to get a gun, learn to use it and do the right thing.

the mall shooting galvanized thomas antor,a former police officer
,who plans to obtain a ccw and take his gun when he shops.

ive grown older.i see more of a need. the world is becoming more
dangerous.i dont want to be a victim. (story cut a little short).

there are now 4,500 people in kent county with cpls and 2,400
in ottawa county, according to state records.

:hand10::hand10::hand10:
 
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#3 ·
Article: Shopping checklist: Cash, coupons ... gun?

GRAND RAPIDS -- When Doug VanderWoude does his Christmas shopping, he's packing more than money. Not far from his wallet is his gun.

It is his way of protecting himself and others from the kind of violence that happened in an Omaha mall last week, when a gunman opened fire on employees and shoppers. The 19-year-old man killed eight people before turning the gun on himself.

"The way I look at a firearm, it's my safety device. I wear a safety belt when I drive because you never know if an accident will happen. I wear a gun in case a crime happens," said VanderWoude, 42, co-owner of a Wyoming gun shop.

Last week's tragedy prompted Michigan native Ted Nugent -- known as much for his gun-rights stance as his rock music -- to write an essay that appeared in a Detroit paper this week. He called on the government to get rid of "gun-free zones" and for law-abiding citizens to "get a gun, learn to use it and to do the right thing."

Closer to home, the incident has prompted a similar reaction.

The mall shooting galvanized Thomas Antor, a Sparta resident and former police officer, who says he plans to obtain a concealed weapons permit and take his gun when he shops.

"I've grown older. I see more of a need. This world is becoming more dangerous. I don't want to be a victim," said Antor, whose letter to The Press' Public Pulse appeared Tuesday.

VanderWoude has been taking his .45 or 38 special with him shopping since July 2001, when a state law took effect making it easier to get a concealed weapons permit. He and his employees at the Silver Bullet Firearms Indoor Range & Training Center, 5121 S. Division Ave., wear their guns at work.

There now are 4,500 people in Kent County with permits to carry concealed weapons and 2,400 in Ottawa County, according to state records.

Permit-holders are banned from carrying their concealed weapons into certain public areas, including schools, day care centers, churches, hospitals, casinos, colleges, sports arenas and stadiums, and bars where liquor sales are the primary source of income.

But access to malls and stores depends on the policy of individual operators.

For example, Woodland Mall in Kentwood and Centerpointe Mall in Grand Rapids prohibit weapons except for those carried by law enforcement or authorized security. Mall security guards don't carry guns, either.

"We are a shopping environment and want people to feel comfortable, and we don't think that makes people feel comfortable to see people with weapons," said Cheryl Dougherty, vice president of marketing for Woodland Mall's parent company, Pennsylvania Retail Estate Investment Trust.

"We are staffed with rigorously-trained security teams and work with law enforcement. Our malls have advanced security camera systems in place. Our highest priority is to provide our shoppers and mall employees with a safe shopping environment."

RiverTown Crossings in Grandville doesn't ban permit holders from carrying their weapons, but if a gun is spotted, the person will be asked to leave the premises.

"Typically, we involve the police at this point," said Randy Zimmerman, general manager of the area's largest mall.

Grandville Police Chief Vern Snyder said weapons carried by shoppers with permits haven't been an issue at the mall.

"As soon as (the gun) becomes visible, then we end up with the public being concerned, and technically we may have a violation of the law," Snyder said, "because the law doesn't allow people to display weapons where they are creating panic."

Snyder declined to say how he feels about people with permits carrying guns into the mall.

Rivertown Crossings is owned by General Growth Properties Inc., which owns more than 200 malls nationwide, including the Westroads Mall in Omaha, the location of last week's shooting.

While its security personnel aren't armed, the company does hire armed off-duty police for some locations, or has police substations in some spots.

"As far as security, it's the No. 1 priority in our minds, not just when a tragedy happens like in Omaha," said David Keating, director of corporate communication for the Chicago-based company.

Zimmerman says that while he works closely with Grandville police, no armed off-duty officers are employed as part of mall's security.

He can remember only one time in which a weapon was an issue at RiverTown Crossings. A woman, who was a personal security guard, was trying on clothes at the Marshall Field's store -- now Macy's -- to make sure they concealed her weapon.

"She actually apologized for the incident," said Zimmerman, adding the police weren't called.

Send e-mail to the author: smartinez@grpress.com
 
#4 ·
:puke:

"We are a shopping environment and want people to feel comfortable, and we don't think that makes people feel comfortable to see people with weapons," said Cheryl Dougherty, vice president of marketing for Woodland Mall's parent company, Pennsylvania Retail Estate Investment Trust.
Well we see how well this is working, NEWS FLASH the illusion of safety is simply that, an illusion. And guess what, concealed is concealed, YOU CAN'T SEE IT!


We are staffed with rigorously-trained security teams and work with law enforcement. Our malls have advanced security camera systems in place. Our highest priority is to provide our shoppers and mall employees with a safe shopping environment."
Oh yeah, the cameras are going to deture a mad man with a firearm, we see how well that works too! :rolleyes: Great, now he can smile at the camera as he's plugging unarmed shoppers.

As for "highly" trained security personnel at a mall....Riiiiiight.

If the mall security isn't armed, what good are they? IE.

Stop shooting those people! You're not allowed to have a gun here!

OH CRAP HE'S TURNING THIS WAY!!!!
:mad:
 
#5 ·
at least the security cameras will be able to capture the carnage and aftermath of the shooting...and with unarmed security guards...maybe they will be easy targets..or maybe they will be fighting patrons for the good hiding spots...
that is a ridiculous stance by a company
 
#13 ·
at least the security cameras will be able to capture the carnage and aftermath of the shooting...
[sarcasm ON]
You don't like the cameras?....After it's all over CNN has to have something to show!
[sarcasm off]

Cameras won't deter a BG with a gun!
 
#6 ·
see how their stance changes if something would ever happen there relating to a gun... probably nothing but we will see... one good thing i like about KY, not alot of signs posted...
 
#15 ·
"As soon as (the gun) becomes visible, then we end up with the public being concerned, and technically we may have a violation of the law," Snyder said, "because the law doesn't allow people to display weapons where they are creating panic."

May have a violation of the law? Is it not legal to open carry in that state? So if I were to open carry there I would be creating panic??? What a bunch of crap.

Let's see how their un armed security guards and hi-tech cameras can stop a BG when he knows no one with a gun will be there.
 
#26 ·
Agree!!!



My problem is that if they had SWAT on every corner of the mall I still would not feel safe. Maybe a mad gunmen would think twice but If the LE can carry and there is nothing stopping the BG from breaking the law then I now have two parties armed and potentially dangerous.

I have seen far too much to trust LE with my life. I know many here might be LE or support LE as I do for the most part but LE should not be supported blindly. To ignore the facts and a history of members in LE being as unstable as a crazed gunman.

Go to youtube.com and search Officer-Involved Fatalities and you will see that anyone can lose it. Even Law Enforcement.

Both extremes are dangerous. A police state or unarmed sitting ducks. Luckly we are all smarter than that and are aware that we are responsible for our own safety and life.

Be safe...
eL
 
#19 ·
In highly trained security staff...does she mean those 1. overweight retired guys sleeping in the central kiosk??? or 2. those young guys...just out of school texting their friends as they walk through the mall in the shiny new uniform??The same one that worked in the food court last week...
Now don't get me wrong, I know some malls have trained, armed staff that are undercover....but most do not.
 
#24 ·
just for info. purposes,as of 12-14-07 mich. cpl permit holders is 155.200
and growing.(M.C.R.G.O.) good website,i visit it everyday.very good articles.
i just thought i would pass it along.
 
#25 ·
i do and always will. just like everyone has been sayin whn i get dress in the morning puttin on my gun is like puttin my wallet in my pocket. sometime i have to check if i put on my gun bacuse it is so natural to me.
 
#28 ·
It's called being bored and reading back a bit in the archives (page 2+). I do the same thing.

On topic,

It would be interesting to see what happens overall to general crime (shoplifting, purse snatching, pickpocket) if at every entrance to a mall had a nice large sign that read (Concealed Carry Permit Holders Welcome!)
 
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