Hello Everyone once again, Today as I always have, but maybe not be too much more am a customer every day at Panera in the Jacksonville Fl area. Now the one I go to is in a mall where there have been robberies, muggings, car jackings all at gun point. Flash mobs at the local moives last year. Its a skip from an area in jacksonville where the Police only respond to crime, no proactive stuff. Yes I am sure that is true, I am a retired LE officer. The sherrifs are told go to your calls don't get involved in proactive stuff no matter what unless you absolutely have too. If they have 5 or 6 shootings a night for weeks end..... they will move in a bunch of LE guys to a neighborhood and announce this area is now a gun free zone????Hey the bad guys just move over a block for they know all the cops are on the west side, on and on. So its up to us to defend ourself's legally. I have the FL CWP, also get qualified every year under HR218. Even the local sherrifs have to only shoot that same coarse every 2 years??? Now I am asked to disarm, leave my gun in my car or home if I want to go to Panera ? Nt in my car, I am sure there will be a rash of B&E's to cars in and around Panera now that this has ht the news outlets, leave it home? Well I drive about 6 miles to panera, through the seedy areas of Jacksonville, I have been accosted several times by local thugs asking or demanding money at red lights, even the parking lot of a church. One even tried to reach into my car when I was stopped, I already had my firearm in my hand lowered as he approached me and said, "Hey I don't mean you no harm" I just got out of Prison" But I need $15 from you now! He saw the gun on my lap as I ordered him to back away. He did nothing, no nothing happen to me or him, another few seconds or a move closer might of changed both our lives.... But what if it were someone who can not or choose not to be able to defend themself, shall we just throw money at these folks? I do not care, I do not get involved in anything unless Its me or them. I call 911. But in any case whom would Panera rather want in there store when say as in Ocala 2 months ago a guy burst through the back door with a shotgun, demanding the manger give him the safe money, and money from the seated customers as well? He left without hurting anyone. A few days later it was found that the manger was in on it, it was her boyfriend with a real shotgun who did the robbery. In this case would I have challenged him, no, not unless he was near me, endangering me directly, or in my opinion ready to kill someone and an rapid response would be neccesary to protect a life. Hard choice for anyone, but now that will not happen. The local stores have the signs in hand, they just have yet to post them. Once there are up I am gone, no longer a customer. Maybe I should start now? Hey $8 a day times 5, then all my family and friends that I think will see people of like interest and views, why yes spend our money somewhere else....Today I found that one of Bloomberg's groups moms about something met and agreed with the VP of Panera over the no gun stuff, I made a comment gee, now guns next will be all these sugery drinks, cakes, coffee rolls all gone for our own protection. I sure hope the folks around the north Florida area see who is behind this and why. I don't shop target, nor several other businesses who are manging my rights, no what you can't fix stupid, you can't outlaw crazy. One just has to avoid those folks till they are running from a movie, mall or a shooting demanding to know where the Police were to protect them...Well there is no calvery over the hill, your are the only first line defense in most incidents like that, its up to you to either lay down and hope the thug won't shoot ya, or think gee I sure hope there is a person here with a gun, trained to use it to end this threat before more folks get killed. Am I being too scary end of the world stuff like??? I sure hope not. Good luck panera folks, nice to of know ya, but good bye from this guy!!!!
