If they won’t respect our rights, maybe they’ll pay more attention to our dollars. Or rather, the lack thereof – when we cease doing business with companies that don’t respect our rights.
For instance, the auto parts retail giant Autozone. The company recently fired one of its employees – a fellow named Devin McLean who worked at an Autozone in York County, Va. – for using his lawfully possessed handgun to thwart a robbery (and very possibly, thwart the murder of himself and his manager).
According to McLean, a thug burst into the store and “pulled a gun from his waistband and demanded me and my manager go back into the office.” While the gunman was distracted, McLean managed to slip out to the parking lot, where he retrieved his Glock 40 handgun from his truck. The 23-year-old Air Force veteran ran back into the store and confronted the armed thug, ordering him to freeze and drop his weapon. The gunman took off instead – without either money or lives lost.
But McLean has lost his job.
Apparently, Autozone has a “zero tolerance” policy for employees having weapons inside the store. McLean was fired because he violated this policy – even though he may have saved his life and the life of his manager. (York County police say the thug McLean chased off is suspected in at least 30 robberies. ) Instead, McLean should have been a good Clover – and done as told by an armed thug, supinely submitting and trusting to the thug’s humanity that he wouldn’t “pop a cap in his ass” to avoid any hassles with witnesses.
Or just for the sheer sick hell of it.
Autozone – like Virginia Tech and other bastions of Cloverdom – has decreed that guns are bad and so has denied good people the right to possess them. The problem is bad people still have guns. Only now the good people are at the mercy of the bad ones.
Autozone requires that its employees – and its customers – prostrate themselves before armed thugs. By having such a policy, Autozone has done the equivalent of ringing the dinner bell for violent criminals. Come on down! You’re assured of defenseless victims at our place.
York County Sheriff JD Diggs agrees, stating: “The company has now sent a message to every would-be robber out there – ‘Hey we’re open for business and unarmed. Come on in and take our money.” And, quite possibly – the lives of innocent people rendered helpless by Autozone.
Because when seconds count, the cops are only minutes away.
Of course, Autozone has every right to set its terms and conditions. But customers have every right to set theirs, too. If Autozone puts out the welcome mat for armed criminals, then potential victims ought to take their business elsewhere.
McLean, who was fired just before Thanksgiving, is reportedly about to become a father for the first time. He told news outlets he was thinking of his unborn child – that he might not live to see his unborn child – when he saw the thug pull his weapon: “We’re having a little boy… I remember when the guy came in with that gun. My initial thought was, ‘I want to make it home to my family. I want to have the opportunity to meet my son and for my son to meet his dad’ … And for someone to come in and shove a gun in your face?”
McLean did what any man would do. And more than that. He not only protected himself, he took the heroic (a much over-used appellation but absolutely accurate here) decision to protect others as well. “Never leave a man behind,” he said. “I’m not going to leave my brother in a room with a guy with a gun – that’s threatening his life.”
This is the kind of man Autozone fired.
What sort of men are we if we continue to patronize Autozone?
Indeed, any business that has a “zero tolerance” policy of respecting its customers’ (and its employees’) rights. And there is no right more elemental – more necessary to all the others – than the right to defend one’s life against those who would deprive one of it. Or threaten to. It is not up to us to divine the motives of thugs. Maybe he is only interested in the money. How are we to know? And more, what sort of topsy-turvy moral imbecility is it that gives armed thugs who point deadly weapons at innocent people the benefit of any doubt?
Devin McLean did the right thing.
And now, so should we.
Boycott Autozone (see here) until Autozone publicly repudiates its “zero tolerance” policy – and does right by Devin McLean. Take your business to NAPA or O’Reilly Auto Parts. Pep Boys. Anywhere.
Except “the zone.”
Similarly, the reverse: Patronize those establishments that do respect your rights. For example, Starbucks. I like their coffee. But I really like that they “get it” when it comes to guns. That good people with guns are not the problem. And that taking guns away from good people is.
Throw it in the Woods?
There is an turdszone down on the corner but O’Reilly auto parts just moved in a block away. I don’t shop at crapzone. I like to email stores I no longer do business with for whatever reason and tell them how fun it is to spend money in other stores. There were some smartass clerks at the dollar store who seemed to be upset I interrupted their break or standing around time so I emailed corporate and let them know I’ll be taking my $$$ elsewhere since my business is not welcome at the nearest store.
Autozone collapse!!!
Gaps down and opens $11 a share below previous close price!!
Trades at lowest price in a year!!
AZO common__Open High Low Close Volume
Jan 8, 2013 345.47 350.88 342.84 348.25 877,500
3 times the normal trading volume; the cowards Eat Lead!!!!
Investors who are holding Dicks(Sporting Goods Inc) have lost $210 million dollars, calls for boycott increase.
Dicks Sporting Goods Inc
NYSE: DKS – Dec 26 11:31am ET
44.58-0.85 (-1.87%)
Volume 218,109
Avg Vol 1,617,000
Mkt Cap 5.47B
Beautiful Tor!
What’s CheaperThanDirt doing? I’d like to see them plunge too, for ditching their gun sales after Newtown.
I think they’re backpedaling…but they need to feel the hurt for their lack of principle.
As of Sep 18, 2012:
CTD is the 6280th most popular site in the world.
CTD is the 986th most popular site in America.
CTD has 59,488 unique visitors each day.
Cheaper Than Dirt website popularity:
Cheaper Than Dirt has a worldwide Alexa traffic rating of 6,280 out of 30 million websites.
Cheaper Than Dirt has an American Alexa traffic rating of 986
Cheaper Than Dirt has a Google pagerank of four out of ten.
The Cheaper Than Dirt site receives around 59,488 unique visitors daily, which account for 481,851 daily page views.
About 95% of the visitors to the Cheaper Than Dirt site are American.
Sites similar to CTD, except, not a bunch of Pussies:
Natchez Shooters Supplies
Features optics, ammunition, reloading, and other supplies of interest to shooters.
http://www.natchezss.com/
CDNN Sports, Inc.
“cdnninvestments.com … Click Below To View Our NEW 2010-3 Catalog Now!
http://www.cdnninvestments.com/
AIMSurplus, your home for surplus ammunition, guns and firearms
http://www.aimsurplus.com/
Brownells – World’s Largest Supplier of Firearm Accessories, Gun Parts and Gunsmithing Tools
Brownells.com, the leading supplier of Firearm Accessories, Gun Parts and Gunsmithing Tools. … http://www.brownells.com/
MidwayUSA — Shooting Supplies, Reloading, Gunsmithing, Hunting, Ammunition, Gun Parts & Rifle Scopes
http://www.midwayusa.com/
J&G Sales
All types of Firearms, Ammunition, & Accessories on sale to the public at wholesale prices
http://www.jgsales.com/index.php
Selection of hunting, camping, military surplus grear and more.
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/
AMMOMAN.COM
To report any damaged shipments please contact [email protected].
http://www.ammoman.com/
gun-deals.com – Unbiased Gun Deals
this site indexes deals around the web,
http://www.gun-deals.com/
Thanks Tor!
I made an order through Brownell’s shortly after CTD’s faux-pas for a spare AR bolt carrier group. Of course, it will be a month or two before it comes–AR parts are practically unobtainable.
I ordered some ammo from AmmoToGo.com and they’re *excellent*! Very rapid shipping, nicely packed, and the Brazilian CBC ammo is some fine brass. Highly recommended.
CDNN is out of Abilene, TX IIRC. They’re nice people to deal with and hint, hint–they have a few Evil Black Rifles still in stock, notably the excellent, highly accurate, bulletproof HK91 clone PTR91. They’re a little more than AR’s (before the rush for AR’s drove up prices)–but it’s hard to argue with $1300 for a 7.62×51 or .308 winchester (chambered for both) battle rifle. Much as I like the lightness and agility of the AR15, 7.62 is just a much beefier round.
Stockholders lose another 1/2 billion holding on to the rapidly sinking Autozone(AZO)
AutoZone, Inc. (AZO) -NYSE
347.74 -7.46 (-2.10%) 11:11AM EST – Nasdaq Real Time Price
12-6
Oppenheimer published a research report on AutoZone (NYSE: AZO) and downgraded the company from Outperform to Perform with a $61 lowered price target of…
12-18
Autozone is retail laggard of the day.
12-20
Insiders report, 58 insiders are selling, none are buying.
For anyone who didn’t feel compelled to boycott Autozone, I invite you to boycott Dick’s Sporting Goods instead:
The Dick’s Sporting Goods chain said Tuesday that it is suspending sales of some rifles nationwide because of the the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings.
Dick’s also said it’s removing all guns from display at its store closest to Newtown, Conn., where the shootings place.
Earlier Tuesday, Wall Street private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management said it will sell its stake in firearms maker Freedom Group, which makes one of the guns used in Friday’s mass shooting that killed 26 people, including 20 children.
A statement on Dick’s corporate website expresses sympathy for the victims’ families. It says sales of “modern sporting rifles” will be suspended during “this time of national mourning.”
It’s not clear how long the suspension will last. A spokesman for Dick’s did not immediately return a call for comment on Tuesday.
Pittsburgh-based Dick’s Sporting Goods has more than 500 stores in 44 states.
In its statement Tuesday morning, Cerberus also expressed sadness for the horrific events, saying it was “deeply saddened” and that it could not “comprehend the losses suffered by the families and friends of those killed by the unthinkable crime committed.”
The decision to sell Freedom Group, in which Cerberus has had an investment in since 2006, was made to avoid being “drawn into the national debate” about gun control, the firm said. Freedom controls Bushmaster Firearms International, which makes the rifle used in the Newtown, Conn., shootings.
On Monday, the California State Teachers Retirement System said it was reviewing its investment in Cerberus due to the tragedy in Newtown.
Private equity firms typically buy companies, take them private, then improve their operations and profitability with the hope of reselling the company at a higher price.
In its press release, Cerberus said, Freedom Group sells only to gun dealers and “We do not believe that Freedom Group or any single company or individual can prevent senseless violence or the illegal use or procurement of firearms and ammunition….. There are, however, actions that we as a firm can take.”
This kind of Comrade Khrushev Circle Jerk thinking from Pre-1992 Soviet Russia can collapse our entire economy when it spreads beyond guns, to ammunition for guns, cars that drive killers, gas that powers killer’s cars, unsafe windows that allow access to buildings, buildings where killings can occur, parking lots that enable cars to park near buildings…
http://www.kansascity.com/2012/12/18/3971482/dicks-sporting-goods-suspends.html
Dicks Sporting Goods Inc
NYSE: DKS – Dec 18 11:49am ET
46.29+0.71 (1.56%)
Market Capitalization
5.68 Billion
Video of protesters from Virginia Civil Defense League outside Hampton Highway Autozone store on Thursday, December 13th.
http://www.dailypress.com/videogallery/73687898/VIDEO-Pro-gun-supporter-protest-AutoZone
AZO fell another $4 a share today. Dropping from $382 to only $355 a share. Market capitalization is now only 12.95 Billion. Their debt is rated BBB even though they have 3.6 Billion in liabilities and only 2.2 Billion in assets.
Why you would hold a stock with a -$42 book value per share that sells at $355 per share is beyond me.
Auto parts entail 1.6 million jobs in the USA. While we dither about social issues China just builds parts. They are up 900% in the last 10 years. Even Mexico is up 30% in market share.
There is 233 trillion in household wealth in the world. $32k per person. USA is barely above average now at $57k in median net worth.
Acccording to Credit Suisse we have fallen 40% to levels of wealth we had in 1969. A bunch of broke ass hos hindering the world economy.
Here’s the median net worth breakdown: Australia 230k. Italy 205k, Japan 160k, UK 140k, Switzerland 100k, Ireland 100k, France 90k, Canada 90k, Finland 80k. Spain 70k, Dutch 70k, Israel 60k, Taiwan 60k, Germany 60k, USA 57k.
Autozone should step back, revoke these policies, and concentrate on providing parts in a profitable manner. USA should step down and get back to producing goods and services in a profitable manner. The time to act is running short
Hi Tor. Those are some sobering facts. Unfortunately, I believe that if by, “The time to act is running short”, you mean the time for government to get real and fix things, you are being far too optimistic. Our current situation was set in stone by the end of the 1930s. There was arguably a chance to turn it around in the late 1940s, but the PTB chose empire, debt, and an all powerful central government. Inertia and pent up economic power kept things going for quite a while, but the downfall of the nation was inevitable from at least that time. With somewhere between $100 and $200 trillion of future promises, the government in DC can’t possibly last. Come to think of it, there’s a lot of optimism in that assessment, isn’t there? 😉
If you mean “The time to act is running short” for us to take action to prepare ourselves for the meltdown, I gotta agree.
Wonder how Italy could be that high? And notice that 3 of the 5 PIIGS are wealthier than the USSA? Now that is sobering. Guess I should be thankful that we’re better off than Greece and Portugal…so far.
I want to raise awareness and encourage timely action. Autozone capitulation would set a great precedent.Every individual should act as they see fit.
My goal is to amass $1 million in offline media in case SHTF.
Having books, music, movies, images, games, and other files is about to get a lot harder.Especially things earlier than WWII. Anything 1940s and later is collectivist and chock full of tips of the hat to our masters and owners, as you rightly point out.
The trends are worrisome. Possibly shale oil and gas or other breakthroughs will bail us out, much like computers did recently. I prefer to hope for better and plan for worse.
Acccording to Credit Suisse we have fallen 40% to levels of wealth we had in 1969
Tor, this jives well with my seat of the pants calculations by looking at products and their affordability. I would say a little less than half the wealth of that time give or take.
I think what is most aggravating about this bankster run system is how it has wiped out so much work by engineers to make life better for everyone.
I am aggravated as well BrentP. We are the only fools who wake up to alarm clocks. Move for work every 5 years. Work an average of 46 hours a week. Still meekly we ask for Massa’s permission to do anything.
CPI calculator says $100 in 1969 is worth $630 today. So $57k has to be divided by 6.3 as well?
It’s a rare occurence when human race loses something so crucial as know-how represented by money.
Govt, internet, socialism, paleolibertarianism, none of these are a substitute for money. There’s no predicting how much knowledge has already been lost nor how much more we will lose.all this surveillance and countless goons are denying us the means to provide for ourselves. Its a much more lasting and permanent destruction than any war or holocaust could ever be.
I went to Autozone earlier this year for a fuel line hose to fix the lawnmower. Besides that I haven’t been in one for close to five years.
Remember, MoT, bubula, that everytime you enter an Autozone, the defenseless daughters of Zion all shed virgin tears!
Read this story of Jew Without a Gun. One man’s experience of the 1992 LA Riots where he found himself without a means to protect himself and his loved ones and ended up trapped for several hours.
Part One – Hollywood is Burning
Hollywood is on fire.
Karen and I lock every door in the house, shut tight the windows. We move through the house switching off all the lights.
Gazing from our bedroom window we watch orange flames lick at the darkness, pillars of black smoke climb into the sky. We can actually smell the acrid odor of burning rubber.
“Look how close they are,” says Karen.
“Just past La Cienega. Maybe eight blocks away.”
Karen gives me a long penetrating gaze:
“What do we do if they come here?”
My mind is racing away. The truth is we are defenseless. Unless I get crazy inventive like Dustin Hoffman in Straw Dogs.
“After this is all over,” I vow, “I’m going to buy a pistol.”
The Story of Jew Without a Gun
http://www.seraphicpress.com/jew-without-a-gun/
Eric,
No where in my statement did I state that “Declining to do business with someone (or a company) you disapprove of” violates “Libertarian principles”.
I was just pointing out that people who encourage boycotts are attmepting to nonviolenting force a property owner to adhere to their “acceptable” use of their own proeprty. I just happen to find the use force (both violent and nonviolent) on anyone who has done me no harm distasteful… and it cracks me up that people who oppose violent force are still perfectly okay using nonviolent force to make others use their own proeprty in an “acceptable” manner.
“Nonviolent force” …?
That’s a contradiction in terms.
You’re either free to act – or you’re not.
Denouncing the stupid, arguably evil policies of a private business is entirely legitimate. The fact that it is privately owned does not confer immunity from criticism – or shunning.
Let me put it another way.
If I decide to hold KKK rallies on my land, it’s certainly my right to do so. And no one has the right to pass a law telling me I cannot – and send men with guns onto my land if I do anyway.
But you have every right to regard me as wrong and even loathsome – which I would be – and to decline to deal with me – and also discourage other people from dealing with me – until I cease being a cretin.
Being a Libertarian shouldn’t mean one must refrain from judging the actions (or views) of others. Nor choosing not to support those whose actions or views you find loathsome.
Yes, one applies social (and economic) pressure in that event. But it is not law… it’s not men with guns threatening you… do this… or else.
Right?
I have to agree with Chad that there is some irony in the whole exercise. Wouldn’t it be interesting to have a master list of companies that push for “no weapons”? There in a snapshot for all to see would be all the “safe” places to transact your business. Especially if that business involves emptying the cash registers.
Both good points, but I agree with Eric on this one. I have no problem with boycotts, whether you call it “non-violent force” or not. If they push ridiculous policies such as this and fire someone for that violation, that too is “non-violent force”. They forced him out of a job, despite the fact that he saved a person’s life. If a company does something stupid like that, or has policies that many would agree with, why is it wrong for him to INFORM what has happened, give his view on the situation and encourage others to be disturbed enough not to do business with said company? Let people decide for themselves, he’s not using any force at all…just his voice. ie: i was in FULL boycott of Canadian Tire after they screwed me over on car repairs I didn’t need. I made sure everyone I knew heard about it too, to keep them from getting screwed over too. Now, obviously that didn’t put that franchise OUT of business, but it was a personal choice not to reward their ridiculous policies by giving them my money. Or the money of those who agreed with me, and I’m sure many others. He’s telling you why you should boycott, but of course the choice is up to the individual. However, how are the public going to know about their policies UNLESS he informs as many people as he can of the events and why he feels that way? Feels he can take a good chunk out of their business since many would agree with him? Now you may say, “it’s not going to put them out of business”…and you’re probably right. If enough people make that decision, it can put a good dent in dropped sales they might have had otherwise. And, like I said, at least they’re not being supported by people who because of Eric’s call to boycott agree and chose not to give them their business as well.
Chad, cutting off (part of) the flow of money to a business because you disagree with their policies and actions in no way “forces” them to act one way or the other. It may persuade them to change their policies or atone for their actions (in this case issuing an apology and compensating the wrongfully terminated employee), but it does not “force” them to do so. If they wish to continue with their “zero tolerance” policy they remain free to do so even if it’s at a lower income level. Go back and reread Aesop’s fable on the wind and the sun; persuasion is always better than force.
In cases of this type reduced cash flow along with written criticism can be very persuasive to upper management, but it does not constitute force. I agree with Eric; there is no such thing as “nonviolent force.” It’s merely degrees of violence with respect to the use of force; coercion and threats at the bottom of the scale going all the way up to mass democide at the top. The use of force involves *acts* of violence (no matter to what degree). The boycotting or shunning involves *inaction* (other than encouraging others to participate in that inaction). With coercion we are doing a thing; with shunning we are not doing a thing. That’s a major difference, wouldn’t you agree?
Dear Chad,
There is no such thing as “non-violent force.”
If it’s non-violent, then by definition it isn’t force. If it’s force, then by definition it’s violent.
The term “force,” when discussing natural rights theory, refers to physical force, i.e., bodily harm, including the threat of bodily harm.
Social ostracism and economic boycotts do not involve bodily harm or the threat of bodily harm. They are not a violation of another individual’s rights.
Well said, Bevin. Even college professors need to be schooled. George Washington University Professor Amitai Etzioni called on homeowners nationwide to put out “GUN FREE ZONE” signs in their front yards??!!
http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2012/12/professor-urges-homeowners-to-put-out.html
Dear Tor,
Professor Urges Homeowners to Put Out “Gun Free” Signs
I was about to figure out the wording for my response to this obvious idiocy.
But the subtitle/explanatory title said it all.
What exactly is the difference between this and a sign that reads “Rob Me I Am Unarmed”?
What difference indeed?
Talk about being “educated beyond one’s intelligence.”
You know what’s scary? His ilk are “governing the nation.”
I have no issue with what Auto Zone has done. This is a simple private property rights issue. Auto Zone has every right to prohibit employees and any person coming onto their proeprty from having any type of weapons. The employee completely disregared the property owners wishes and had to face the consequences for that action. I would have probably made the same decesion as the employee… the only difference is I wouldn’t have wanted my firing to evolve into a national bitch scene for those who don’t approve of how Auto Zone wants to use their own property.
On the flip side, it is true that everyone else has the right to not shop at Auto Zone based on how Auto Zone wishes to use their own property. I am most confounded by those who claim they are for liberty and private property rights, but the moment the owner doesn’t use their own property in an “acceptable” manner, they are calling for a boycott.
Chad,
Declining to do business with someone (or a company) you disapprove of in no way violates Libertarian principles. People are free to do business with a place like Autozone if they wish. But those who find the company’s policies reprehensible have every right to shun them – and to encourage (note, not force) others to do the same.
Eric et al,
Autozone has really crappy parts to go along with their really crappy attitude towards individual rights. I have switched totally to NAPA because the parts, prices and quality is superior to all the other parts places around. I’d also suggest that people contact Autozone directly and let them know why they are boycotting the company. Eric, keep em coming….
Amen, Giuseppe – and, thanks!
See today’s latest….
Another long-time reader.. posting 1st time;
Upon moving to Arizona in the 80’s, It was then legal to wear your shootin’ iron on your hip.
Hi Betsy,
Welcome!
Isn’t open carry still legal in AZ?
I’m in VA – another open carry state… technically. But doing it risks hassles from the Gestapo. I prefer CC anyhow. It gives you an advantage, if the situation gets ugly.
Another long-time reader posting 1st time;
Upon moving to Arizona in the 80’s, It was then legal to wear your shootin’ iron on your hip.
Boycotting AZ sounds great, but as we see with the O’Reilly post above, you can assume that every single competitor has a similar policy. So do many, many other businesses of all types. Every so often you’ll see a news story in which a 7-Eleven or other such fires an employee who stood up to a robber in some way.
Right – but it’s a start. Large-scale refusal to do business with these joints will have an effect. Just as it would have an effect on TSA if enough people refused to fly until they could do so without being Gate Raped.
This is a viable solution – one that does not require violence. Just shun the bastards!
The fact is the vast majority of self-identified libertarians would argue that AutoZone has the right to prohibit its employees from storing weapons in their cars or otherwise possessing them while at work.
I am not part of that vast majority. The right of the business owner to operate her enterprise does not, in my view, extend to the point where she can prohibit her employees from being able to protect themselves. If the business owner wants to project an image of having a cloveristic, gun free work environment, that’s fine; she should take care to only hire supine statist serfs and serfettes. Otherwise, if she hires an employee like Devin McClean, her right to insist upon a gun free work zone must give way to the paramount right of the employee to protect himself.
Hi Mike,
This is one of those “hard cases make bad law” situations. I sympathize with your position, but can’t see how – from a Libertarian point of view – we can justify telling (forcing) the owner of a private business that he must allow employees or customers to carry (or store) weapons in or on his property. We have the freedom to not become employees – and to not do business with such a person (or company). We aren’t forced to be there. And that’s the key thing.
So, no one’s rights are violated that I can see.
It’s exactly like me telling you – as an example – what you may (and may not) do on my land, or in my house. If you don’t like it, you’re free to leave.
Right?
You are right that it would be wrong to force an employer to tolerate his employees packing or storing firearms while at work on company real estate.
However, it would also be wrong to force me to finance the employer calling 911, the SWAT response et al so that the employer’s right to prevent his employees from exercising their rights to protect themselves is vindicated.
Employment does not mean that an individual employee relinquishes his natural, god given rights to his employer, particularly his right of self-defense. Ownership / tenancy of the real estate should not be the exclusive factor in determining which rights are to trump others. After all, do you or I “own” the concourses at the airports? Do you or I “own” the courthouses, the city halls, the federal office buildings, etc?
BTW, I do not advocate the use of force, at all, unless the same is exercised in self-defense.
Thus, I do not think that the employee is entitled to use force in order to make his employer provide a gun friendly workplace; conversely, the employer is not entitled to use force in order to impose a gun free workplace.
True, as a practical matter, this issue would rarely present itself. I raise it because I have always been unsatisfied with the blindness, in my view, of how libertarian orthodoxy to fails to see matter kaleidoscopically.
Dang… every time I try to look through a kaleidoscope , I get terribly dizzy after only a short time. 🙂
I think that private property, whether a business or otherwise, and any sort of “public property” represent two very different situations where “rights” are concerned.
The owner of private property has and always must have the right to determine who may enter or remain there. He can make that decision based on anything, or nothing… he should not have to justify it in any way. Of course, he may well lose friends, business, wealth or other things as a result, but that is his choice.
Each of us must have equal rights to determine the use of our own property. If we infringe on the right of association (and by the same token, the right NOT to associate), we leave ourselves open to the violation of every right.
“Public property” is an oxymoron and there should be no such thing. But that’s a topic for another time. 🙂
Hi Mike,
You raise some interesting questions. Here’s how I see it:
You mention courthouses (and so on). If you’re forced to transact business at a place (or any place) then it seems to me they have no standing to tell you “no guns.” In fact, it could be argued they’re violating your rights by forcing you to deal with them at all.
If it’s privately property – and you aren’t forced to go there – then the owner(s) can set terms and conditions – which you’re free to decline.
Rubbish. All private owners would have to abide by respecting others’ rights, period. To say otherwise would suppose a private owner could commit outright crimes on his property without repercussions.
Dear Gil,
Your position on rights is superficially logical, but ultimately illogical.
Why? Because you failed to filter out the contradictions contained within the muddled public/private status quo.
A consistently libertarian society would be totally privatized. Anyone contemplating entering another person’s private property would be fully apprised of what the rules were on that property, in advance.
After all, libertarians accept the idea that a private property own can post a sign saying “Trespassers will be shot!”
If we can accept a private property owner doing that, we can surely accept the imposition of far less extreme conditions on anyone entering his property.
Speculating about bizarre extremes may be entertaining.
But the reality is that crazies who established perverse rules for entering their property would be marginalized by reasonable and sane members of a libertarian society.
This marginalization would not violate the crazy guy’s rights. He would simply be shunned, and relegated to the fringes of society, like some hermit in a cave.
I would agree that private owners have no right to deprive others of their rights by playing on the “my place, my rules”.
No, you would be violating their property rights by forcing your interpretation of your rights on them. You would be no better than the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Or do you think that government action was a “good” thing?
Uh huh. And if a private owner wants to beat someone up on their own private property? I doubt a person loses their right to be not be harmed via peacefully entering someone else private property. If a private property owner has the right to disarm someone on private property in Libertopia then they should face one hell of lawsuit should something go wrong.
Are you really that stupid?
Your body is your property…Got that?
How old are you?
Also, Autozone may ban employees, but Oreilly bans customers too:
O’Reilly Auto Parts forbids the carry or possession of a firearm in our
stores and in compliance with Minnesota state law request customers refrain
from bringing firearms in when doing business. We hope our store manager
approached and advised you of this policy in a polite and courteous manner
and apologize if this was not the case. You are certainly welcome in our
stores we just request you do not bring your gun in with you. We truly
appreciate your business and it is our sincere hope you will continue to
choose O’Reilly Auto Parts for your future automotive needs. If we may be
of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact us. Your
comments and suggestions are always welcome.
Sincere Regards,
Randy DeRossett
Customer Satisfaction Department
O’Reilly Auto Parts
[email protected]
(417) 862-2674 ext. 5202
Interesting… I was in the local O’Reilly’s in line behind a cop, in uniform, with gun in plain view a couple-three months ago.
Come on now. You know the rules only apply to us mundanes.
No doubt that fat, GED educated, cretin is more trustworthy with a gun than a family man with a college degree and a professional job. Duh.
Yea that whole monopoly on crime thing the govt has just kinda continues to slap you in the face doesn’t it?
Well, so much for O’Reilly.
Throw them in the woods, too.
Yet, convenience stores will offer cops free coffee and donuts to get them to hang around with their guns. What a great idea -for what it’s worth to have a fat pig who can’t shoot straight.
Why wouldn’t EVERY business encourage their employees and customers to be armed? Do they not trust their employees? Then why did they hire them?
” What a great idea -for what it’s worth to have a fat pig who can’t shoot straight.”
Hopped up on caffeine and sugar too.
After that ’empire state shooter’ fiasco a few months back, where the cops injured eight or nine innocent by-standers, the last thing I want is a cop anywhere near me.
Shame. An autoparts store should no better than to think one size fits all, be it rules or parts.
Also shame because one of these is located less than 100 feet away from my garage.
I sent a letter to their contact department. I think I will find a close autoparts store and send them one as well, encouraging them to hire Mr McClean, and then brag about it. Were I where he is and in business, I would be hiring him and bragging.
Rock Auto Parts is the online supplier I use. rockauto.com is the url base.
I have not stepped foot into an autozone after shopping at one and finding that not one employee would help me as it was half hour to closing. And then finding that not one employee new what an RV was. If they had spoken english maybe I could have explained…
I’m cool with the boycott, but we don’t have one around here. Just a NAPA and Bob’s Bob and his wife are friends of ours so they get most of our business.
I get most autoparts online these days. It’s just a question of quality. The chain autoparts stores largely don’t carry the quality parts, don’t carry motorcraft parts either. Online retailers do.
There was local Motorcraft/ACDelco/Mopar distributor that sold over the counter and even had satellite stores. It was like having dealer OEM parts at parts store prices. Their main location got destroyed by the McCormick place expansion. This seemed to set into a motion a chain of events that ended with them being bought out by another distributor and closed down. The company that bought them doesn’t do counter sales as far as I can tell and their location is out of my way.
I was thinking about posting the same thing. I get most of my parts online too.
Right on, I do the same fairly often. My buddies up in Alaska turned me on to it. For them it’s trying to find parts for their older Bronco’s and Toyota 4×4’s.
Yeah, every part I’ve put on my cars in the past few years has come from the net. I completely rebuilt my Harley from net parts with the exception of some gas tank grommet needed for the tank.
I’ll still use stores when they have the same part or at least a high quality part for close enough money when I am pressed for time. The parts stores are still good for that.
Last thing I did I ended up getting it from OReilly just a couple weeks ago. I didn’t get the car apart far enough to be absolutely sure what I needed until I no longer had the time to wait for it to arrive. Cost me a little, but less than half what overnight shipping or ordering the wrong thing would have.
I just ordered a bunch of stuff online from Z1 Enterprises for my Kz900… almost all my old stuff comes from the Net. But I do buy routine maintenance stuff and so on from local places. Mostly Advance and O’Reilly.
The concept – using our buying power to shun businesses that have such polices – needs to be applied generally, not just to Autzone. And also, the reverse. I mentioned Starbucks in the article. They have a very respectful corporate policy toward firearms – CC inside their joint is cool with them – so I frequently stop in for cup.
The recent Chick-Fil-A brouhaha was a case in point. I guess the surge of support they got was enough to make their detractors back down.
I always liked Advanced Auto Parts better anyway. We have the choice between AAP and Autozone here, and I’ve always preffered Advanced. They help you install some of the things you buy there, offer a veteran’s discount, have nicer stores… I really like their business model. I’ll gladly boycott the zone.
If I was in an Autozone, and was in possession of a leagel licenced handgun. The person had better hope I do not get the chance to take him out, Even if it ment killing them right there on the floor. I will not surrender my life without defending it against someone or something. So I surmise I will no longer be doing any buissness with them. And you should be giving the guy a medal, and a reward. There goes your bottom line dollars for the end of year sales. What a bunch of morons to do this now. Will help gun lobby very much, We thank you.
I’ll have to check out the local Autozone here to see if they have a “no guns on the premises” sign, or something to that effect. Here in Arizona, a huge number of us carry in public, so the inconvenience of having to ditch the sidearm just to enter their store to buy shome shitty, cut-rate part wouldn’t seem to be worth the time or effort. That alone would seem to work against them from a customer satisfaction standpoint.
Screw them. They’re not the law. The most they can do is ask you to leave.
The government media complex has conditioned the clovers to equate protecting yourself with vigilante activities or worse, homegrown terrorism.
This summer the clovers on Huffnpuff were orgasmic over the various mass shootings and especially happy about the death of Trevon Martin. They absolutely loved everything about those stories. For them it proved that they have been right all along. They honestly believe that only cops have the authority to use deadly force.
“They honestly believe that only cops have the authority to use deadly force.”
And the cops use it so well… so judiciously… with such restraint….
Somewhat off topic but I have been following this Bob Costas-is-an-obvious-imbecile story. I hear all these pro gun rights men calling into the radio shows and – rightly – denouncing Costas’ idiocy. Yet I will bet you that most of these same guys will continue to watch their religion of the National Felon League fuuuuuuttttball come Sunday afternoon even if Bob Costas is calling the game. Because, “you know, MY team is playing and I just can’t miss it.”
Boycott ALL idiocy…
Yet I will bet you that most of these same guys will continue to watch their religion of the National Felon League fuuuuuuttttball come Sunday afternoon even if Bob Costas is calling the game.
You could bet a year’s salary that this is EXACTLY what would happen. “Moral consistency” isn’t a characteristic of most of the moron majority.
Moral inconsistency is no more obvious than in the “god-fearing libertarians”. Isn’t that a moral inconsistency?
He’ll quote you Jefferson: “When the people fear the government, there is tyranny” while admitting his fear of god and his need to adhere to god’s commandments (mandates) for fear of punishment. Is that not a tyrannical god?
His fear of god will compel him to go to church and give his money while asking others: if what the govt does is really so valuable to people, why must the govt use fear to coerce us to pay for it
He’ll cry about the govt’s fear-mongering and monopoly on crime while worhsiping a god who monopolizes fear and threat of eternal damnation to control people.
Logic and reason when it comes to the govt, and complete illogic and irrationality when it comes to religion. I believe that anyone, Libertarian or not, who can be conditioned to believe in an invisible being up in the sky and his evil little brother down below and all the fantastic parables is a person that can be convinced of anything and hence controlled.
“I believe that anyone, Libertarian or not, who can be conditioned to believe in an invisible being up in the sky…is a person that can be convinced of anything and hence controlled.”
You gotta love bigots who post self-refuting arguments.
Hi Zorg,
I’m not sure what you meant by that.. can you elaborate?
My position (I don’t want to speak for Don or anyone else) is that none of us can know anything with regard to such questions as: Does god exist? What is his (her? its?) nature? What does god – if such a being exists – want from us? Is there such a thing as a soul?
About such things we can have opinions and feelings and inclinations and suspicions. But no more. Not without making claims that are not verifiable – and so, cannot be asserted as factual.
Christianity, Islam – all the others – are belief systems, nothing more. Maybe one is right. Maybe all are wrong. Who knows? No one!
Which is why I am creeped out by anyone who insists they do know with regard to these questions.
I try to keep an open mind. There is so much we don’t know. So much we probably never can know. How many human beings currently alive can even say they understand quantum physics? Or even Newtonian mechanics?
The smartest people I have ever known are the first to admit they don’t know – but want to learn as much as they possibly can.
Mugger walks into AutoZone with a gun:
Mugger: Gimme the money in the til, see…Or I will kill you, see.
McLean: I’m sorry but I can’t…see…We have a zero tolerance gun policy here…Sorry…But the store down the street doesn’t so you can rob them instead.
Mugger: Ohhh, Rats!…OK…Thanks!
McLean: OK…Buh-Bye, now.
I doubt it even occurs to the rote-learned/indoctrinated MBA Twits(TM) that run AutoZone that McLean was actually defending their own zero tolerance policy. HeHe.
Exactly. Didn’t he keep the weapon in the car?
@liberranter – no kidding. How many times have we heard of a home envasion so the home owner calls the trolls and next thing you know the home owner is tazed, beaten, in jail or dead?
But the govt and cops are here to protect us. If they didn’t who would? I’ve heard that so many times from grown adults, family and friends alike.
Like you said: mind-fucking-boggling.
Don, Will Grigg said it best–
BTW Don, do you plan on doing a show in Houston any time soon?
The closest I’ll come to Houston will be when I’m driving through on my way to Phoenix. 🙂 But I’ll let you know if my schedule changes.
Hey Don, there’s MONEY in them here hills!
Houston has dodged the worst of it; we’ve got oil, and we’re in Texas, one of the least cloverish of states.
I sent them a message saying they will not have my business. Its sick that he was fired for that.
As others have pointed out this largely politically correct corporate drone behavior at work. But where does this stem from?
Sometimes it’s just because the corporation is run by people with an agenda. Sometimes it’s just because it’s run by products of the government school system (based on the Prussian model to create fungible human resources). But then there are other factors like government and insurance. Remember, this is not the old USA where if a criminal got shot in the act, what he got is what he deserved. This is the new USA where if criminal’s workplace isn’t ‘safe’ and he is hurt in the commission of a crime, a real crime, he can sue and will likely win a large sum of money.
Autozone, the corporation, company, however it is set up loses a few hundred in each instance by having employees stand down to criminals. One instance where an employee fights back and hurts the criminal can cost millions. And that I think is the root cause. Yes the employees could be hurt or killed by criminals and if they are the company will not likely have to pay out. Why? Again we look to the courts, government, and “conventional wisdom” that says ‘just let them do it’ is the correct way to handle a violent criminal. Just like the 9-11 tale…. box cutter? Oh my… ‘just let them do it’. We are conditioned into this. Nobody is getting fired for this policy. Nobody is losing a multi-million dollar lawsuit for this policy.
It starts in the government schools. Who gets punished when a fight erupts? The one who started it? Maybe. Both usually, sometimes only the victim. I went through that myself. The system is set up not to punish the criminal but the person for whom rule breaking can be applied to, the victim. Bully beats on some kid in the government school? Bully usually goes unpunished or if punished to no effect. The bully isn’t exactly on a college track. Victim defends himself? Well he’s punished. It becomes part of his record. It’s meaningful punishment. And thus we have this system.
And if Autozone bucks it? Well maybe they start having zoning problems. Insurance problems. All sorts of permission slip problems. All that or one good employee?
So here we are… well conditioned to let criminals do as they please. It’s almost as if it were by design… eh?
Yep, we’ve been conditioned from a young age not to resist but to call the cops! lol.
Women are told to try and vomit. That, that is their best defense. I’d say a .45 is a better defense.
People kill me.
Ah, heck, Don, I’m just gonna go with the flow and take our smarter, elite masters’ advice. They know what’s good for me.
So, in the case of self-defense, I’ll also do the vomiting thing. Oh, except, instead of stomach acid and half-digested chili and taco salad, I might vomit-up a 90 grain piece of .38 inch diameter copper-jacketed lead, and instead of from my mouth, it’ll come from a small tube in my hand.
I hope that’s still OK with my enlightened masters in Washington, FS and New York City.
Unfortunately, Don, this old lady can’t really control a .45 very well anymore, so I had to stop carrying it and go with a 9mm. I shoot a 4 inch group, CBM, with either hand alone or with both of them… mostly point and shoot from the hip. I think that should do the job. 🙂
As for AutoZone, I’d love to join the boycott except that we don’t have one of them here. Napa does a pretty good job of selling auto parts, and nobody there has objected to my sidearm yet.
Of course, I live in rural Wyoming. Might have something to do with it. 🙂
Hi Mama,
I carry a .45 (Sig) but… in defense of the 9 mm: The individual bullets may not pack the punch of a .45 on a bullet-for-bullet basis… but a double stack 9 (vs. a single stack .45) can send a lot more bullets in the right direction. There’s a good reason John Browning’s masterpiece was called Hi-Power…
Carry the largest caliber you can RELIABLY control, with either or both hands. If it is on your body when you need it, you have a good chance of prevailing, no matter what the size of the bullet is.
So, a solid hit or four from the .38 – or even lowly .22lr – a woman might carry and actually train with is far, far more effective than the .45 she leaves in a drawer because she can’t safely control it. Or just as bad, carries it and can’t hit anything with it!
Only hits count. 🙂 And that goes for the gentlemen as well, of course.
Brent,
You reminded me of my grade-school experience. A bully who Would. Not. Leave. Me. Alone. He finally pushed me over the edge one day and I gave him a nice bloody nose.
He’d tripped me on the playground and I had the scraped hands to prove it.
He got one hour’s detention.
I got two.
Because I hit him–AND “failed” to tell the teacher.
Statism 101.
My dad congratulated me and took me out for ice cream; a year later I was in private school…one where the headmaster often said things like “boys will be boys” and “well he sure had it coming”.
BTW that teacher wanted me put in “special education” classes.
I invited her to my med school graduation 🙂
I had several such events. The most absurd being when I was nearly being suspended for taking a punch and then looking at the kid who did not hurt me in the least (despite using every bit of strength he had in a single punch) trying to decide if I should beat the snot out of him knowing what would happen if I did. Those few seconds of computational time meant that the teachers got there before I arrived at a conclusion. And thus I never even started to throw a punch I just stood there with my arms to my sides.
This and other things taught me who my real enemy in life was and it wasn’t criminals or bullies or anything like that.
“I invited her to my med school graduation :)” Meth, that slayed me…I’m still giggling. Perfect.
Dammit I like my zone here in town, but I’m in.
I like this column. This time, instead of simply ranting and venting, you proposed a specific course of action. I will gladly join an Autozone boycott. And it looks like a lot of your other readers will too.
Let’s hope millions do! We might just get something started….
Vato Zone shareholders lost over $1 Billion since this happened. Down 2% today on a rally day for market. Seems they hire welfare recipient oxygen thieves and pay them minimum wage so the FSA soldier keeps his gibs-me’s & the Vatozone shitbirds get a tax break on our backs.
They’re a good source for VW bug radiator caps and ’83 Corvettestuff, but that’s it.
I joined the boycott against AZ, I always knew I hated the company though. So I think they’ll not lose anymore on me anyway.
You’re doing a great service Eric not because I think it will give him his crappy job back. Quite to the contrary, but he can see that the rest of the nation of reasonable is on his side not his old employers. He did the right thing and your article confirms this.
My wife always told me that “Nobody and also no group of people can keep a good man down”. That goes ditto for women too. The journey and adventure of life is to do the right thing even when threatened with your life, possessions, or employment. I believe what some people call Karma is really nothing other than a buoyancy law of natures spiritual laws. Take on enough air (good things and good qualities) in your ballast and no matter how many people try to grab your feet to hold you down your direction of motion will be upward. Most people get discouraged when they are punished for doing good things so they live in fear paralyzed to keep going, but if we shrug off these occurrences and continue to embrace our inner ethics the outcome of success will be inevitable. Again his biggest asset will be when he realizes that there are tons of ways to make money not answering to reptiles and instead following his inner conscience. God or the greater creator will not let a good man fall, if he follows his heart, works hard, and believes that there is something much greater in the works for himself. Before a man can raise himself up to be self actualized we have to first cut the strings that bind us down. In my opinion these employers just helped him by cutting those strings and only good things are in future for him if he can see it that way and act accordingly. I know a lot of veterans will be more than happy to hire him after hearing his bravery which will be fine if that is what he wants. Though I want even more for this fine human.
Was it Doug Casey that said it was a couple trillion dollar market out there and a man is bound to get some of it if he only tries even if the market is in a depression like now? Opportunity abounds for good people, just don’t look to be employed. Look to solve problems and look to use the internet to reach them. This is the only real future for God’s righteous. I pray for this brave and good man that lost his shitty job. I hope he thinks out of the AutoZone box and gets what he really deserves his freedom, happiness, and actualization.
Long time reader, first time posting. I agree with your response to Autozone Eric…very good Libertarian response. But as I was sitting here thinking about your article, I was wondering how do we know which companies have this “zero tolerance” policy of forcing the individual to give up the most basic NATURAL RIGHT – keeping yourself & others safe & secure. Then the company I work for came to mind. I work at one of the big box home improvement stores, whose name begins with an “L”. During our training (indoctrination really) one of the modules was about shoplifters. In short, we are to do NOTHING if we should encounter a shoplifter. That is right NOTHING. Oh they suggest using a non-confrontational approach of, “Hello, my I assist you?” so they know you know they are up to something. Even the “Loss Prevention & Safety” specialist is to let the “Thief” just walk away. Now this activity (Shoplifting and the response thereof) goes against sales, which impacts the hours they can give you to work. I have had my hours drastically cut in the flooring section as we have had some high value tiling (yes tiling) shoplifted, and THEN RETURNED, no questions asked and NO RECEIPT. You know I grew up in NYC and then did 30 years in the Corps, and stealing was not tolerated in either locale…you got your *ss whooped or worse if you were caught.
Since returning from an extended overseas tour and retiring from the Corps in 2009, I keep asking myself what the hell happened to the country I was supposedly protecting. I feel so like a “Stranger In A Strange Land” I really do.
Keep up the outstanding writing Eric. You hit the nail on the head every time. Thank you.
AJ “Tony” Ramos
MGySgt USMC (ret)
I lived overseas for 10 years Tony and when I came back I felt, and still feel, the same way. I’m a stranger in a strange land.
I watched it change from abroad and got the viewpoint that others around the world get of Americans and I was ashamed; still am.
So he was fired because he used a gun to save everyone. Does that mean if he just grabbed a piece of wood and beat the robber down, he’d still have his job? Or his fists?
I notice the ROBBER didn’t seem to have a problem violating the “no guns” policy. and the cops were typically useless in this case. Now autozone tells people they aren’t even allowed to protect themselves in the face of an obvious threat? He didn’t have his gun regularly, he got it once he saw the robber had a gun! Not sure why they consider this a violation of policy, since the policy obviously wasn’t written to accomodate robbery but general routine operation of the store!
OK clovers, let’s hear how YOU would have handled this…enjoy getting shot and robbed? Police are nowhere to be found. Oh what does a poor unthinking clover do when there’s no cop to tell him how to act? The robber isn’t following the rules, maybe you should tell him louder to follow them? seems to work for you when the cop does it after all…LOL
Your last paragraph reminds me of the dumbest thing I’ve ever read on the internet:
Just after the Colorado movie theater “massacre”, I was reading some comments on a “news” website (don’t remember which site). Someone mentioned that the theater was a “gun-free zone” and therefore the patrons and employees were prevented from protecting themselves against the crazed gunman. A reply to that comment was along the lines of, “Well, if they had just done their job and enforced the “gun-free” rule, then no one would have gotten hurt.” I just about punched a hole in my monitor I was so agitated after reading that one! I wonder if that commenter would volunteer to approach the AR-15 wielding psychopath and politely remind him that he’s made a mistake, and he’s currently in a “gun-free zone” so therefore he needs to stop murdering innocent people?
So don’t laugh, clovers really DO think that if you just tell THE MURDERER to follow the rules a little louder, everything will be fine!
Some people just amaze me; they look just like you and me, but they’re really just empty shells of muscle and bone. Not much going on upstairs. The scary thing is that you can’t outwardly tell who is who!
Pod people, man, we’re surrounded!
I fully expect the next Clover I see to raise his arm, open his mouth wide, and start screaming that weird alert sound they made in “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”
Autozone is rated the 4th worst retail employer in the US. The managers are all dirt bag criminals. A common practice here in the SW is to take used parts, parts from other stores, along with a receipt and get a refund or credit; or so I’ve heard. If the company was sold today, there would be a 1.2 billion deficit to repay, AZO has negative book value.
Avoid long lines and zero know how. I took a battery in for them to test. The clerk merely looked at it and proclaimed it to be dead. I tried not laughing and asked him to grab me a new one then. He said he didn’t have anything and started to give a different adddress.
Uncloversmacked, I walked over to the rack of 30 types and picked one that would work. He scanned the old battery, asked for my cel# and bizarrly proclaimed it to be within warranty[sic] and thus $40 even instead of posted $100+. I gave him 2 20s for the battery and got the hell out the “zone.”
The stock was at $382 before this firing, now it’s $367 and predicted to drop further and miss more promised performance targets; sell now, cut your losses.
Go to Advance, Carquest, Checker, Craigslist, Ebay, Pickapart, anyplace but this jack shack chickenshit clip joint; that’s my recommendation.
Autozone is based in Memphis, TN
I rest my case.
The only good thing to ever come out of that shithole was Elvis, and you don’t even see him around so much anymore. (He won’t go to the Wal-Marts in Shelby county anymore; you might see him in Olive Branch, Mississippi on a good day)
There was a recent ELVIS siting in Orlando and I remember seeing him in Key West about a year ago – of course I was drinking at the time and my vision and memory might not be so good 🙂
The real king survives… it was an impersonator who died back in ’77. Elvis – the real Elvis – swapped places with him in order to get his life back.
Bubba Ho Tep lays it all out….
Friends of mine, who I trust, told me that Elvis worked at a Super Trak (A bigger version of Trak Auto) in Markham Illinois in the 1990s. Now Trak went out of business many years ago, but Elvis worked there… or at least some guy who looked like Elvis and wore an Elvis name tag 😉
Some say, “remember The King.”
I never forgot him!
@Tor:
jack shack chickenshit clip joint
Priceless! Another phrase for my 20-round magazine of snappy stuff to say 🙂
Wow, this is sickening! I do ALL the work on our 5 cars, 2 motorcycles, tractor, yard equipment, etc. myself. I live near a small town and I have don’t have many choices for parts. AutoZone is one of the 2 choices I have. But, unless they reverse this, they’ve lost me forever!
I am so sick of so-called ‘zero tolerance policies’ I could vomit. Public schools are full of this kind of mindless crap. I call it ‘zero judgment policy.’
Screw you AutoZone!! PROMOTE McLean or I’m never shopping there again and I’ll tell everyone I meet about this B.S.
With zero tolerance there’s no need to actually think anymore. Just read the policy and execute it. That’s what cops do. That’s what soldiers do. It’s what teachers do. It’s what customer service reps do. Now it’s what private businesses do as well.
We live in a society of bots where everyone is given a script that effectively lobotamizes them. And technology makes it worse since computer systems are programmed to make decisions based on the policies or business rules as they are called with no human intervention whatsoever.
Only after the fact can you call and hope to speak to a human being and discuss the situation even though it’s against policy and if you’re lucky get satisfaction. But the human-bot is only slightly more capable of critical thought than the computer so don’t hold your breath.
Exactly! What Don said.
Zero Tolerance rules out Common Sense. Every time I see that putridly arrogant “zero tolerance” I want to put my entire muscular 260 pounds behind driving my fist into the originator’s face. I’ve had a tetanus shot so the worst I could suffer is broken teeth in my knuckles.
MeLean has excellent standing for a lawsuit.
Tinsley Grey Sammons
Put together a list of 10 common items that you use in your vehicle maintenance and ask both parts suppliers for their best pricing bid with the condition that they will then get your business for all parts that you will ever need.
When you get the bids back – write Autozone a letter rejecting their bid due to “corporate policies” and send it out to their corporate offices.
Hey, at least you might ruin a corporate A-holes day and you will feel better 🙂
“McLean did what any man would do. And more than that. He not only protected himself, he took the heroic (a much over-used appellation but absolutely accurate here) decision to protect others as well. “Never leave a man behind,” he said. “I’m not going to leave my brother in a room with a guy with a gun – that’s threatening his life.”
This is the kind of man Autozone fired”
Yep! Isn’t it sadly amazing how “following the rules”, “the law is the law” and “just doing my job” is more revered in this country than someone who thinks critically and uses common sense?
We see it with the military don’t we? If a soldier is sent to fight, he does not question the order, he kills innocent people and he’s a hero. A man like Devin, does the right thing in protecting himself and his colleague and he is persecuted.
That such a large and well known company like Autozone would do something like this demonstrates the magnitude and scope of the problem. Large companies posses the resources to fight these sorts of issues and yet they are part of the problem, not the solution.
Yup –
Not only has Autozone lost me as a customer I will do everything in my power, personally and professionally, to discourage others from being Autozone customers, too.
Spread the word!
Devin is a textbook well-regulated militian. He kept his firearm in his vehicle, in compliance with his employer’s ridiculous policy. Had no one else been in the store, he should have fled the scene, but his manager was still inside.
Devin returned armed and told the “fake-beard bandit” to raise hs hands and drop his weapon. The crook raised his hands but kept hold of the gun with it pointed upward. Devin allowed the assailant to flee, and made no effort to pursue. Property and lives were protected. No violence or overzealous escalation took place.
Libertarian voluntaryism gets the best results of any philosophy. No free lunch for the FSA. No police state kill squads on our dime making a bad situation ten times worse.
Can you imagine what would have happened had they called the cops?
The cops are a bunch of little-dicked, insecure little pansies that hide their shortcomings behind their weapons and their numbers and purposefully look to make a mountain out of a molehill.
They create dangerous situations where none exist. Then they’ll accuse you of disturbing the peace or interfering or something else. They are the low of the low in this society and have to go.
Exactly right, Don. There’s no situation that so bad it can’t be made worse by the addition of a cop.
It just boggles my mind that anyone in Amerika today who has an IQ north of the “zero” mark would even think about calling in the donut-munchers, no matter how desperate their situation. They might as well be putting a gun to their own heads.
To make it clear to the corporate fools that implement this policy, take the time to email scans of your receipts from other suppliers to Autozone HQ with an explanation as to why you now buy elsewhere.
Now there is a form of “Gorilla Marketing” with a nice reverse twist! Kudo’s Me2
Don, in response to your last sentence: I am familiar with large organizations, both government and big business. It was bad enough even in the old days, but current policy is – for the most minor infraction or out-of-the-ordinary behavior by an employee*, you can’t go wrong as a manager by blowing things up completely out of proportion and turning it into a federal case. You’ll never get fired for that, as that is the “zero-tolerance” solution.
Freak out, escalate the situation to 3-layers higher management
and get a bunch of memos started to ensure that nothing egregious like this will ever happen again (oh, and to get yourself in the radar of the big managers, as you probably haven’t done any actual work that means anything to anyone). Common sense, a quick talk with an employee, or a laugh at a politically-incorrect joke are not appropriate behavior for a manager at any level – completely unacceptable!
Hey, this is how they think, I’m just channeling a typical HR manager that could be any of a few million people in large corporations or in a gov’t agency.
So, anyway, Don, corporate America won’t fight for a damn thing that is right. In this Autozone case, upper management couldn’t give a crap if the next guy robbed gets paralyzed from the neck down. They just need to fire this guy to show their total commitment to zero tolerance, and to get those memos fired off: “As our top-notch employees all know, Autozone will NOT TOLERATE blah, blah, bullshit, blah, blah, blah …” Situation taken care of, now where’s that Christmas(oh shit, I mean Holiday) bonus check for all of my no-nonsense decision-making this year.
* Of course, in this case, I believe Mr. McLean did the right thing absolutely.
Yep, there’s got to be a paper trail and a case made to discipline anyone or fire them for fear of being sued for PC discrimination. Everyone’s just worried about covering their own ass, even if it violates the rights or harms others.
Which, given the PC environment in which we work, is the smart thing to do, otherwise, you’re just a martyr. This has also led to fewer and fewer full-time jobs and more and more contract positions where an employer can fire someone w/o cause anytime he wants.
Amazing how perverted things have become in just my lifetime.
I wonder what would have happened to McLean had he stood by outside and the gunman had shot/killed the manager?
Would the Gestapo and Autozone have been proud of him then?
It’s too late for me, Eric. I haven’t stepped foot in an Auto Zone since they sold me a crappy alternator back in 1999; I returned it and got one from Advance (I like them better). So, it’ll be awfully hard for me to participate. But you all, knock yourself out. ;-}
Of course, it’s not just Autozone. Any business with a similar attitude needs to be shunned. And, the reverse. I am a frequent patron of Starbucks. Because in addition to the coffee, I like that they “get” that disarming good people is a bad idea.
That would be nearly all businesses, then. Unfortunately, the reality is that, if something goes wrong- innocent bystander hurt, for example, the store could- and probably would- be sued if they do anything other than cooperate with the robber. Most businesses, especially corporations, have policies like this because of the potential for lawsuits. Tough spot for a business to be in, but I blame trial lawyers and the greedy lawsuit culture so prevalent in our society for this more than I do Autozone. Although, perhaps with enough pressure and negative publicity, the guy could get his job back.
I’d also say, that while of course I respect every persons right to keep and bear arms, and to defend themselves, I also respect a business owner’s right to decide what sorts of activities to allow on their business’s property.
Nicely put! We’re not even allowed to have anything over a 2.5 inch blade pocket knife at my job. If there are any weapons/guns in the car we can’t park it in the lot.
That sucks.
I am pretty sure that here in Florida, State Law allows us to keep guns in our cars in the parking lots and the “company” cannot prevent it.
It helps however, when the VP of HR and Ops is ex military and about half the staff has CC permits.
Don’t ask, don’t tell is a good standard in this case…
all anyone with a gun is allowed to leave it in th
Hi Harrison,
“I also respect a business owner’s right to decide what sorts of activities to allow on their business’s property.”
Indeed. I do , also. But by the same token, any business that has policies such as this deserves to be shunned. Don’t work there – don’t do business there.
This one of the few really effective avenues of protest/resistance to tyranny still open to us.
Let’s use it!
True, but I think the real problem is the lawsuit culture. Anyone who owns a business is, at all times, at very real risk of losing everything if someone gets hurt or offended, even if the business itself was in no way responsible. As I said, most businesses, especially corporate ones, have similar policies to protect themselves from being sued. We can boycott anyone, but it won’t change much so long as people think having something bad happen to them means they’re entitled to grab a bunch of money from whoever the “deepest pockets” were in the vicinity, whether or not they were actually responsible.
This story illustrates how corporations are bureaucracies like governments. The hierarchies within corporations tend to promote those most willing to behave as collectivists and that tendency results in the least sensible members becoming the ones with the most authority.
The culture of absolute adherence to arbitrary rules is the standard in corporations, insuring that some truly incompetent weenie (having unwarranted authority due to his own rule-following) will react to anything that happens by issuing a “one size fits none” rule that is supposed to control future events.
It’s that control freak mindset that makes corporate leaders resemble politicians. They’re incompetent at business and so need help from government to limit competition from upstarts who are competent.
You know Ed, I think though that corporations are like that BECAUSE of govt.
Obviously, all businesses are heavily regulated and taxed by the govt and this PC culture we live in has companies more worried about being sued for one of a thousand possible things rather than the well being of their employees.
And if the corporation is large enough, they don’t even have to worry about their customers because they can just get their buddies on DC to bail them out.
I believe in the absence of govt businesses would be completely different or go out of business.
True. As Thomas Sowell put it, “you will never understand bureaucracy until you understand that for bureaucrats, process is everything; outcomes are NOTHING.”
Or, as I like to put it, if corporate sends down a memo declaring that 2+2=purple, the managers will not only go around telling employees that 2+2=purple, they will ACTUALLY EXPECT US TO PUT 2 AND 2 TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH PURPLE, and then BLAME US WHEN WE FAIL.