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Appealing to NRA board member and 2nd Amend-
ment advocate Pete Brownell of Brownells, Inc. to
help convince Marriott International to remove "no
firearms" signs. Photo: S. Triana.
Charlotte Gun Rights Examiner Paul Valone will discuss Marriott boycott on Tom Gresham’s “Gun Talk” on Sunday, May 30.
For a listing of local stations carrying the nationally-syndicated show or for streaming audio, go to www.guntalk.com
Pete Brownell is president of Brownell’s, Inc., the world’s largest supplier of firearm parts, tools, equipment and accessories. For his service to the Second Amendment and the NRA, Mr. Brownell was elected to the NRA Board of Directors at the NRA’s annual meeting in Charlotte on the weekend of May 14. Said NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre: “On behalf of NRA’s four million members, I offer Pete my sincere congratulations and support. He has some very large shoes to fill, just as [Frank Brownell] filled the shoes of the generation before him. I’m confident the company will be in great hands for years to come.”
Below is my letter to Mr. Brownell, asking for his leadership in helping Marriott International see the error of its anti-gun ways.
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Dear Mr. Brownell:
As a longtime Brownell’s customer, let me first congratulate you on your recent election to the NRA Board of Directors. The NRA is indeed fortunate to have someone who has so consistently dedicated himself to the Second Amendment.
FELLOW NRA MEMBERS SUBJECTED TO PROSECUTION
Unfortunately, I must also let you know about an incident of which you are probably unaware. On the same weekend the NRA announced board election results at its "Celebration of American Values" in Charlotte, malicious actions by the Marriott International hotel chain subjected hundreds, if not thousands of lawful NRA conventioneers to criminal prosecution.
Having already taken gun-owners' money for convention hotel rooms and for the “Gala for Gun Rights” held by my organization, Grass Roots North Carolina, at the Charlotte Marriott City Center, the hotel posted “no firearms” signs on its entrances on Friday night, after events were already underway.
Doing so exposed lawful gun owners to criminal prosecution under Section 14-415.11(c) of the North Carolina General Statutes. When brought to the attention of Marriott executives, the company has made a variety of unsatisfactory responses, resulting in a massive and broadening Internet campaign for a boycott of Marriott hotels.
MARRIOTT’S VARIOUS DODGES
First, Marriott claimed that because restaurants within the hotel serve alcohol, the hotel was required to post. As confirmed by Doreen McVeigh of the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office, this is incorrect for two reasons: Although N.C.G.S. 14-269.3 does prohibit firearms “where alcohol is sold and consumed,” such prohibition would apply only to the restaurants themselves, not to lobbies, elevators, hotel rooms or conference rooms. Furthermore, nothing in North Carolina law requires restaurants to post against firearms, and the vast majority do not. In fact, posting creates an additional criminal liability which extends even to individual hotel rooms.
Next, Marriott responded to callers by claiming they were merely complying with North Carolina law, and that they regretted any “confusion” which may have resulted. Again, posting against firearms in hotels is in no way required, meaning the hotel chain took elective actions to restrict its guests from exercising their right to self-protection.
Most revealing was a corporate e-mail noting that Marriott has always prohibited guns in its hotels for guest “safety.” As I’m sure you’ll agree, the overwhelmingly law-abiding community of concealed handgun permit-holders and members of the NRA are quite “safe,” and safety against crime is enhanced by lawful gun ownership.
Finally, in an apparent disinformation campaign, Marriott spokesman Keith Thomas next told callers that Marriott would capitulate and remove “no firearms” signs, and that signs in the Charlotte hotel had already been removed. To this day, signs prohibiting firearms in Marriott hotels, including the Charlotte hotel, remain in place. Most recently, corporate executives have simply stonewalled and have stopped taking calls even from Marriott Rewards Platinum Elite members.
MARRIOTT CEO LINKED TO ANTI-GUN GROUPS
A disturbing March 10, 2010 press release by Marriott lists, among accomplishments of Chairman and CEO J.W. Marriott, Jr., his Board of Trustees participation in the National Urban League – an organization which not only advocates restrictive gun laws, but is a member of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, run by longtime anti-gun activists Michael Beard and Joshua Horwitz.
ASKING FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, MR. BROWNELL
In your run for the NRA board, you said:
“The true power of the NRA is the individual’s voice. With the advent of the internet, all of our voices can be heard. It is my hope the NRA will further assist 2nd Amendment advocates in leapfrogging the liberal media through web technology.”
Nothing could be truer, and that is exactly what thousands of gun owners have been doing in telling Marriott they will not patronize its hotels until posting signs are removed and apologies made to NRA conventioneers who were made unwitting criminals.
And that is why I’m asking for your leadership, Mr. Brownell. Several weeks ago, your company held the “Brownells 4th Annual Gunsmith Career Fair" in Des Moines, Iowa at the Downtown Marriott Hotel. Clearly, this was before Mariott’s anti-gun proclivities became known.
However, the same release indicates the career fair is scheduled again in 2011, on April 15 and 16, again at the Downtown Des Moines Marriott. I am asking for your leadership of the Internet voices seeking to change the corporate behavior of Marriott International; please move your career fair to a hotel which supports our rights, Mr. Brownell. And please tell Marriott why you are moving it.
I am certain we agree that lawful gun ownership reduces violent crime, that gun owners should not be feared or discriminated against by merchants like Marriott International, and that gun rights supporters should support businesses -- like yours – that support their rights.
Help us, Mr. Brownell. Help us guide Marriott International back into the ranks of responsible corporate citizenship by removing “no firearms” signs in its hotels and by apologizing to NRA conventioneers it harmed.
Respectfully yours,
F. Paul Valone
Charlotte Gun Rights Examiner
President, Grass Roots North Carolina
KEEP THE PRESSURE ON
Gun rights supporters should keep calls and e-mails flowing into Marriott International executives. For contact info, CLICK HERE.
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Other recent articles on the mounting boycott of Marriott International:
Copyright © F. Paul Valone All rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, scanning, digitizing or any information storage and referral system, without written permission from the publisher. For reprint permission, contact: fpv@fpaulvalone.com
For legislative information, go to:
www.GRNC.org
Comments
One thing that I've not seen made clear: What is the actual corporate policy on armed guests? If they actually do have a policy that forbids our guns, just taking down the signs will not be helpful. I would hold out for a complete change of policy if, indeed, they actually have one.
I'm sure they are not prepared to guarantee our safety while we are unarmed.
I just call the Cornhusker Marriott In Lincoln, NE and they told me that it was corporate policy not to allow any guns on the property I ask they do have security but they are not armed I called at 9:10AM on 5/28/10
Note to MamaLiberty:
I received an email from Marriott in which they said,
"It has been the hotel's long-standing policy to not allow firearms by the public on the premises. In accordance with applicable law, this policy is posted in several locations around the hotel. The permanent notice at the hotel's entrance had been removed during a recent renovation and was replaced with temporary signage. This temporary posting was removed for a brief period of time, which may have led to guest uncertainty."
I travel a lot for business and split my hotel stays between Marriott and Hilton. As of now, I will no longer stay at Marriott and have informed them of the reasons why. Frankly, I don't think they care, but they won't get my (company's) money anymore.
Mama Liberty: Bear in mind that although a *policy* forbidding firearms is objectionable, it does not subject gun owners to criminal prosecution any more than would a no-smoking policy. By posting signs, however, in many states (as in North Carolina) they make you guilty of a crime.
The marriott chain is not going to bend on this issue until the bottom line starts shrinking for profits. Gun owners will put a dent in profits but we need general support and more importantly corporate support with employees voicing displeasure if Marriott stays are arranged for them. Request other accommadations but don't cite the reason other than you are morally opposed to staying in a Marriott hotel. Get your friends to boycott as well and coax their companies to go elsewhere. It is one thing for someone to say I won't stay at your hotel becuase you deny me the right to have my gun with me but it is something else altogether when cancellations start coming in and guns are not mentioned. Break the addiction to that chain and stay elsewhere and it does not even have to be a hotel that proclaims you can keep a gun there. The objective is to hurt the Marriott by denying it money for empty rooms. Once the night is over they cannot regain those lost profits.
One more thing. Marriott is desperate to sweep this under the rug so keep this as public and out in the open as you can. It is the continued public glare that is going to hurt them and take it to Wall street or anyplace that will push this into the public media. Do not let them weather this in the hopes it will burn itself out becuase if you don't let it die until you say it caN every other corporation in the country will be much more conscious of your rights.
Agreed on keeping this alive. That is precisely why people need to continue contacting Marriott until they get a satisfactory answer (and apparently until the signs are actually down, since lying seems to be a favored tactic of theirs).
The policy is repugnant to individuals, who will not do business with Marriot.
But having a policy repugnant to the Constitution puts them outside the law of the United States. Why are the clerks and managers and management of Marriot not jailed?
Puttig up a sign saying negroes are not welcome is no different than saying gun owners are not welcome. The Constitution speaks to both, or it speaks to neither.
The lack of prosecution is yet another problem to be corrected.
What Marriott Hotel did to NRA members was distasteful at best. I say boycott they into oblivion.
As far as mr Brownell I don’t know how Hard core pro-gun he really is.
Does he support a repeal of the 68 GCA?
How about the NICS?
Illinois FOID card law?
Brownells is a leader in 2A gunsmith tooling and I applaud them for that after all I do business with them and appreciate their service.
But when it comes to the NRA I want a new stance on gun issues I want to repeal law and restore the lost rights and privileges that gun controls have stripped from us and nothing less
Paul:
Might it be that asking Brownell's to be involved in this is a bridge too far? Then, what happens if they refuse to be involved? Are we then going to rally gun owners to boycott Brownell's? I suspect there are better fish to fry over this Marriott thing than asking NRA and Brownell's to be involved. Because asking can turn in to demanding, and demands are necessarily divisive.
I just received the following response from Hilton Customer Service when I asked them about their gun policy:
Dear Mr. Zeisler,
Thank you for your message to Hilton Reservations and Customer Care. It is my pleasure to assist you today with with regards to our Hand Gun policy.
To further clarify your concerns; it is our policy that we do not allow anyone (including off duty law enforcement officers) to possess firearms in any of our hotels. The only exceptions are:
A. Sworn federal, state or local law enforcement officers while on official business and, when off duty, when required to carry weapons in the jurisdiction by statute, ordinance or rule, or an exception otherwise made by a Regional Senior Vice President.
B. Insured and/or bonded armored car service employees under contract to the hotel, hotel guests, tenants or concessionaires, when required by law or for insurance.
C. Airline flight crew members authorized by federal law who have current and valid credentials issued by the Department of Homeland Security/TSA as Federal Flight Deck Officers ("FFDOs").
I appreciate this opportunity to assist you and thank you for your continued loyalty! If you have any further questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to let us know. For immediate assistance, please click on the link below for the contact number of the HHonors Service Center nearest you:
http://hhonors1.hilton.com/en_US/hh/customersupport.do?it=Not,HeadCustomer.
Best regards,
Cameron Smith
Supervisor
Customer Care Email Department
Hilton Reservations & Customer Care
www.hiltonworldwide.com
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