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Confirmed WH Smith have believed Animal Aid and implemented ban


oscarsdad
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Thank you for your support.

 

I wrote to WH Smith on Friday explianing that the basis of their policy was wrong, that they are mistaken about the law, that their till prompt will offend adult customers and deprive children who shoot, perfectly legally, from buying magazines that encourage responsibility, safety and self-discipline. I asked them to drop the policy. I know that at least one publisher of shooting magazines has also contacted them and made similar points.

 

We issued a press release explaining our position late on Friday afternoon.

 

If they do not drop the policy BASC will be launching a campaign to persuade them. I will post the correspondence here - including their reply - when I'm back in the office tomorrow.

 

Christopher

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If say 10,000 stopped buying from WHS and if they were evenly spead around the country etc I am not sure whether they would actually notice.

However, if 10,000 emailed or wrote telling them that they intend to boycott and encourage friends and family also, then there is a lot more chance they will take notice.

 

 

edit spelling because WHS probably don't want "fiends" shopping there anyway :lol:

Edited by HW682
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Do any of you have a contact to write to WHS, surely there is a few people on PW, if everybody starts to write a polite complaining letter, informing hem that we will not use their shop any longer....maybe they will drop this bull-pupu of policy

 

The E-mail address for the CEO of WH Smith

 

 

kate.swann@whsmith.co.uk

Edited by Highbird70
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Personally I'm not a big fan of 'stock' letters,having received many from politicians in the past.It gives the impression that you can't really be bothered in my opinion,but if it's your only option I still do think everyone should get in touch with WHS to let them know what they think.A simple 'due to your hypocritical policy regarding shooting mag's and children neither my family nor I will be shopping in any of your outlets at any time in the forseeable future'.

I too buy my shooting mag's from a small local vendor who has a good stock of shooting mag's as shooting is a major part of life around here,but my kids often ask me to buy many other mag's while in the 'big' town,so will be e-mailing WHS to let them know that the 15 to 20 quid I spend on mag's a month(plus the odd book and cards) wont be going in their coffers in future.

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Just sent this:

 

Dear Kate

 

I am saddened by your decision to restrict the sale of shooting magazines to under fourteens. I was embarrassed and offended when I had to have a purchase of Shooting Times authorised at a self service till recently , as if it was pornography or offensive material. Shooting is a safe, legal, rewarding outdoor activity and Olympic sport which thousands of youngsters participate in safely. There are over a million active shooters in UK and it is worth £1.6 billion to the economy. Legal shooting is a world away from criminal use of firearms and legal owners know it is a privilege and are demonstrably law abiding, otherwise they wouldn't be allowed a licence.

 

I understand your reason is that under fourteens cannot get a licence? This is wrong - there is no minimum age limit for a shotgun certificate and in many instances no licence is required. Youngsters under 14 shoot in scouts, cadets, schools, clay pigeon and target rifle clubs or on private land supervised by adults without a licence. Why shouldn't they read how to do it safely and learn more about a sport they love? I urge you to reconsider this policy as soon as possible. In the countryside where I live most people shoot, or are sympathetic to shooting and this has caused genuine offence, I am afraid I will not spend a penny in your stores, and urge friends and families to do the same until this policy is overturned

 

Regards

Edited by Blunderbuss
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Does anyone else have the right email adress for WHSmith?

 

And can everyone pass the news on so we can boycott them?

 

EDIT: Found the email, and she hasn't resigned yet. She's announced it, but she is very much in charge.

Edited by Reece
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My letter,

 

 

Dear Mrs Swann,

 

I have just seen that WHSmith has banned the sale of shooting magazines to children.

 

I must say, I am absolutely disgusted that WHSmith has chosen to pander to the small but vocal animal rights lobby.

 

There is no age limit for a shotgun certificate, contrary to what WHSmith erroneously believes, so there is no justification for WHSmith's decision. The decision is nothing more than political correctness gone mad, in order to please a small group of people who see it as their right to marginalise a law abiding section of society, and to impose their idea of morality on others.

 

Shooting is a perfectly legitimate and legal pastime, and there is nothing in shooting magazines that could do any harm at all to children. Personally, I would be banning car magazines instead. After all, there is an age restriction for driving, unlike shooting.

 

WHSmith should reverse it's completely unjustified decision and apply some common sense instead. If they do not, then I certainly will not be shopping there in the future.

 

 

Reece

Edited by Reece
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email sent:

 

Dear Mrs Swann

 

I have been shooting rifles and shotguns from a very early age and have yet to shoot any living thing.

 

Your reasoning for not selling shooting related magazines to under 14's is totally flawed and I would suggest that you reverse this politically correct left wing decision as soon as is possible as it does make the company W H Smith look totally ridiculous.

 

Until then, I, my friends and family will be actively boycotting your company and its products and urging others to do the same.

 

 

 

Yours

 

 

etc.

 

I note that Mrs Swann is a career senior manager using W H Smith as yet another rung on her personal ladder to fortune. As such, I seriously doubt that she'll listen to any complaints, especially as she's on her way onwards and upwards already. I also strongly suspect that she's a "champaign socialist" but that's only my opinion. I also doubt that she doesn't have another company already targetted but just call me cynical, I've met these people before.

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