Levi Strauss Stores To Ban Guns

FOLSOM (CBS13) - People are fired up over a letter written by the CEO of a jeans company, asking concealed weapon holders to come unarmed when they shop at his stores.

The CEO of Levi-Strauss published an open letter earlier this week asking his clients to leave their legal weapons at home. This comes after an incident at one of his stores, where someone's concealed weapon went off.

Critics say it's their second amendment right to carry a weapon, and some are considering taking their business elsewhere.

"We have a right to carry concealed weapons and if you take that right away, those people will become victims and that's a travesty," said Sam Paredes.

Paredes has been exercising his second amendment right to carry a concealed weapon for years. He says no letter is going to strip him of his rights.

"When a good guy can't stop a bad guy, there is going to be a lot of carnage," Paredes added.

In an open letter written to Levi's customers this week, the CEO requests for people to "not bring firearms into our stores, offices or facilities, even in states where it's permitted by law."

He cited a recent gun mishap at one of his stores, and the recent attacks in Orlando, Florida and France.

Collin Melahn likes his Levi jeans. He's also working to get his concealed weapons permit and feels the CEO's request isn't fair.

"He's kinda stripping me of my rights to feel secure," Melahn said.

So can the CEO request for his customers to leave their legal weapons at home when they shop at a Levi's store?

"He's not law enforcement, he's not the FBI, he's an ordinary citizen who has property rights," said Sacramento-based attorney David Mastagni

He says citizens also have a right to their privacy, and the second amendment.

"This could invite people who are illegally carrying a weapon to come into the stores and commit violence," Mastagni added.

Paredes says he will no longer give his business to Levi's.

"Tomorrow when I'm burning brush, I will take all the Levi jeans I've ever had and add them to the burn pile," he said.

One woman supports the CEO's decision.

"Let him burn them. Great! This is America. I don't like guns," she said.

There are still questions about how the weapon ban will be enforced; Mastagni says it's almost impossible to do unless the weapon holder gets caught.

According to the letter, the CEO states law enforcement is the only exception to the new weapon policy.