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Columns

Publix, I Cast My Vote Against Guns with My Pen and My Purse

May 25, 2018 - 7:15pm

In the mid-fifties, my father-in-law, Harry Rich, a floor-covering retailer, made a pact with George Jenkins, the founder and CEO of Publix. The men decided to join forces to oppose a nascent trend in the retail industry: remaining open for business on Sunday. Their reason was simple; they believed their employees deserved to spend more time with their families, and they were happy to forgo profits for principle.

They even used this moral stand as a selling point to customers.Their advertising was often boldly emblazoned with “Closed on Sunday.” Each man fought this uphill battle for several years, to the detriment of their companies' bottom lines. To these men, ethics and values were valuable forms of currency, too.

Fast forward to the present day. The decisions coming out of Lakeland stand in stark contrast to those of the past. Over the last three years, Publix has given $670,000 to a Florida gubernatorial candidate who has aggressively pushed to increase the number of guns on college campuses and believes open-carry of firearms in public places is a fantastic idea. In fact, by his own admission, he is a “proud NRA sellout.”

Publix is predictably claiming it is merely supporting a “hometown” candidate and not the NRA as an entity. The two are one and the same when the candidate’s stances on guns are examined.

Good corporate governance involves balancing the interests of a company's shareholders with those of the larger community it seeks to serve. By eagerly backing a candidate who gleefully supports the agenda of the NRA, this balance comes into question.

The practices by which a corporation is directed and controlled must play a part in our decision, as customers, to patronize it. I’ve been a loyal Publix shopper for over 50 years, but they’ve turned a blind eye to the threat gun violence poses to our children, families, and communities. I can no longer shop at an establishment that purports to be a responsible community steward, while at the same time advancing the agenda of the NRA.

As Americans, we are lucky enough to be able to cast votes with both our pens and our wallets. Going forward, I plan to use the power of my purse to show Publix my disapproval of their political contributions.

Considering the loss of life our country suffers daily from gun violence, staunch opposition to even the most reasonable of gun restrictions is plainly a bad ethical practice. Publix may learn the hard way that it’s also a bad business practice.

In response to protests by consumers, students, and employees, Publix has already announced a suspension of political contributions. I hope this is the first step in reevaluating their contribution policies.

Publix should look at the example set by the courageous students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who understand that we need sensible gun laws and responsible adults in office to enact them.

Nan Rich is a Broward County Commissioner. She served as a Democratic member of the Florida Senate from 2004 to 2012. She was Senate minority leader from 2010 to 2012, until she was term-limited in 2012.

Comments

Yeah, a procurer, a pimp, who caters to the vulgar passions of others in order to make money. [Is that about right?]

Nan who?

Exactly!

Thank you Nancy Rich. I agree with your stand and I am also boycotting Publix. It is important for each person to stand for the values they profess. I am a gun owner who wants comprehensive gun laws:. No war type, (assault), weapons; a ban on high capacity magazines; a ban on bump stocks and any device that could convert a semi-automatic weapon to automatic; universal background checks, with a waiting period, after approval, of 10 business days; an integration of the background check database with voluntary and involuntary mental evaluations. Before all that happens, I will spend my grocery dollars at stores that do not say Publix.

Gun owner my a$$

You're no gun owner 'Patti-cake'.

Hey Nan, your support of anti-Constitutional and anti-American efforts gave us Barry Soetoro and the 'PROMISE' program which the Parkland shooter was enrolled in. These liberal, communist programs forgive young criminals and coddle them as they commit more serious offenses. Publix is following the same path they took with being closed on Sunday. They are supporting American tradition and refusing the communist (aetheist) doctrine. Democrats (read communists) created a cesspool in Broward County, you reap what you sow!

The "cesspool" is actually the Florida legislature and the truly corrupt Florida governor who should have been a felon for one of the biggest ripoffs of Medicare/Medicaid in history while he was CEO of Columbia Healthcare. His primary corporate lieutenants went to prison ... but he got away with it ... making him a wealthy multi-millionaire in the process! (Of course, in terms of garden variety corruption, not a lot of difference between Scott's medicare fraud and Herr Drumpf's 'Trump University' fraud!)

Well Nan, no one cares what your liberal speak says! Irrelevant! As for me, I’ll keep my bible and my guns! Now if politicians would put metal detectors and security guards st schools, then there would be no more shootings! That “gun- free” sign doesn’t seem to be working!

Your opinion is Anti-American and anti-constitutional. Not that the Constitution means anything to liberals like yourself.

You have the same demented mentality as this spoiled child, David Hogg. As stated above, guns don’t kill, people do!!

Well Nan my kids just moved from Broward because it is totally corrupt. They both own guns and wanted their conservative votes to count! Thanks a lot. Publix is in the dog house with everyone, I support Ron DeSantis! Nevertheless, they have the right to do as they think best. I will not boycott them. Not happy though!! More unhappy with you and corrupt Broward!!!

Isabella, you do realize that Publix supports ron DeSantis, don't you???

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and the the supermarket of their own choice. I will continue to be a proud Publix shopper. Hey Nan, that old, trite expression . . . .guns don't kill people, people do. Is very true. I love the stance Pulbix is taking.

Nan! Why don't you write about all the mistakes the corrupt government workers made to allow the horrific school shooting to happen in the first place. Another bad kid left to prey on a group of kids that you should have protected in the first place. Elected officials once again are not held accountable for their actions. They sat on money that should have been spent for security a long time ago. By the way, I will support Publix unless they cave to the violent liberals that I see making threats and bullying people all the time. To bad young people are being used for an agenda to disarm all Common Americans that want to protect themselves while you have security around you or live behind a wall with a secure gate. Law enforcement is there to draw the chalk line after the murder has already happen because they were not seconds away when needed. I respect Law Enforcement but I myself understand the limits that they have and that is why the Second Amendment is so important to people who believe in the Constitution.

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