Champaign, IL (Guns Save Life) – Hey Mike Hosier, how’s that “NO GUNS” signage that you put up recently workin’ out for ya?
Mike Hosier put up “NO GUNS” signs on every entrance to his Champaign Telephone Company business location at 1300 S. Neil Street in Champaign even before the Illinois State Police began mailing out concealed carry licenses. He apparently believed that card-carrying good guys were a serious and credible threat to the health and safety of his employees and customers, so he wanted to make sure that productive members of society didn’t shop at his store.
The signs did little to deter a 6′ 1″ black male weighing about 250 pounds from robbing the place Sunday afternoon.
It is worth noting that there are only about three or four businesses on the Neil Street corridor properly posted with signs banning concealed carry out of a couple of hundred commercial shops.
It would seem the sign might have been more of an attractant to the armed robber than a deterrent.
CHAMPAIGN, IL (News-Gazette) — Police are investigating an armed robbery Sunday afternoon in Champaign.
According to police, a masked man entered the Verizon Wireless store at 1300 S. Neil St. about 3:05 p.m., displayed a gun, took some money and ran out.
The armed robber was described as a black male about 6 feet, 1 inch tall and weighing about 250 pounds. He was wearing a black ski mask, a Chicago Bulls cap, a black coat, blue jeans and white tennis shoes.
Now, Mike Hosier might say, “that wasn’t my company that was robbed!”
Well, if you parse it carefully, he would be correct. He sold the Verizon cellular franchise at Champaign Telephone Company to Russel Cellular, who are a tenant of Hosier’s at his S. Neil Street building.
In addition to providing an attractive locations for armed robbers wishing to avoid lawfully armed good guys, CTC doesn’t have a good reputation among its customers, judging by what we found when we Googled the store.
AT&T has better service anyway.
Incidentally, Ryan’s and Hometown Buffet used to have “no guns” signs up and they’ve taken them down. (I’d written to the company about it but didn’t get a reply, other than that the signs came down)
I dumped Verizon three or four years ago. I use Straight Talk now. My grandkids even got me a “smart” phone last year for my birthday. I hated it at first, but now am fond of it.
As for Hosier’s business… And any others posted no guns… they don’t have to worry about my shadow darkening their doorway. It’s just common sense not to be where bad guys might be.
Sam
I too am a straight talk subscriber.
Even if I wasn’t, I wouldn’t go to Champaign Telephone Company if they were the only phone vendor in town. Not as long as they are posted “NO GUNS”.
I have no desire to meet any armed robbers while perusing cell phones. Or any of my other day-to-day activities.
John
I visited AT&T on Prospect twice last week for cell phones. Fast, friendly service was the rule.
No problem with criminal protection signs there. And son of a gun, no problem with armed robbery either.
It’s the business’ choice, but like many others around here, I vote with my wallet.