I will let the letter explain:
"To Whom It May
Concern:
Last
week, I heard a story that in New Hampshire on Monday November 14, a Shell gas
station employee showed a firearm to deter a knife wielding man trying to do
him harm. He was subsequently fired because company policy prohibited him from
carrying a firearm. This story was reported by the Nashua Telegraph, in an
article at a URL I included in the post script of this inquiry. Was this the
policy of the owner of this station, Nouria Energy, or the policy of Shell?
Also, in general, does Shell and/or its station owners prohibit otherwise law
abiding customers from carrying a firearm, concealed or otherwise, in
compliance with state laws?
Based
on unscientific, anecdotal personal experience, I believe Shell gasoline gets
me a little better fuel efficiency, maybe a half mile per gallon higher than
when I use other fuel. And I love the car wash my local Shell station has. It
has got to be the most thorough $15 car wash out there! But if Shell takes a
position that its employees or its customers should not be armed, I will gladly
vote with my dollar for another company that respects individual Americans
enough that they allow them to avoid the danger of gun free zones while filling
up. I might add that there are many Americans who like better gasoline and
better car washes; but there are an even greater number of Americans who believe
in not being sheep and being able to defend themselves against thugs.
And
I would suggest that if it is currently up to each station owner, that Shell
truly reconsider this option. Either Shell should look into requiring owners,
as part of the Shell brand, to allow law abiding citizens to protect themselves
and their fellow man or to provide armed security at each facility for the
protection of their customers. How can a private company both not provide
security and prohibit their customers from protecting themselves? And isn’t it
better that this former employee is alive rather than dead?
I
look forward to receiving your response.
Sincerely,
Marc Tancer
PS The news
article describing the event can be found here: http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/1018674-469/nashua-gas-station-clerk-halts-robbery-with.html"
I do sincerely look forward to their response. And if I receive it I'll pass it along on the blog.
