WAL-MART WRONG FOR RIGHT REASONS

WAL-MART IS WRONG FOR THE RIGHT REASONS

We all hear a lot about job losses in this economy. I have had many friends find themselves unemployed since the recession of 2008 set in. However, no one I know of has lost their job in what seems such an unfair way as four longtime employees of Wal-Mart in Utah recently.

Lori Poulsen was an “asset protection coordinator” who helps to curb shoplifting in Wal-Mart. Justin Richins and Shawn Ray were “asset protection associates” who apparently worked with Poulsen. According to the Salt Lake City's Deseret News, the fourth employee was actually an assistant manager named Gabriel Stewart who had been with Wal-Mart some 12 years.

Last month, some employees allegedly saw Trent Allen Longton take a net-book computer and hide under his shirt after removing the item from its package. He was confronted by Poulsen when he tired to leave the premises, and escorted him to a private office. At some point, the other three, Ray, Richins and Stewart, came in with them.

The suspect, Longton allegedly produced a handgun while inside the office, and ran toward the office door, which lead to the store area. He was blocked by Ray, Richins and Stewart, the suspect then allegedly grabbed Stewart and shoved the gun into his back. The workers all forcefully and disarmed Longton at this point. Later it was learned that Longton, is a convicted felon so it was illegal for him to even have a gun at all.

The heroic employees were praised by police who noted that the Wal-Mart employees acted in the "best interest and safety" of those around them.

Were these brave workers promoted? Were they given a month paid vacation? Were they given a key to the city for saving one another’s lives, and that of any customers nearby the office?

No. Not even close. They were all fired!

That Utah Wal-Mart store follows a policy that the national chain states on its website:

"Investigation and Detention of Shoplifters Policy: If during an approach or investigation, it becomes apparent that the suspect has a weapon or brandishes or threatens use of a weapon; all associates must disengage from the situation, withdraw to a safe position, and contact law enforcement," reads a copy of the policy available online. "If at any point the suspect or any other involved person becomes violent, disengage from the confrontation, withdraw to a safe position and contact law enforcement."

Oddly, the next paragraph instructs employees to "put people first," stating that protecting the physical well-being of "suspects, customers and Wal-Mart associates is your first priority."

Speaking with the Deseret News recently, the loyal employees said they had nowhere to go and were forced to subdue the suspect when he charged them. They also said they were not comfortable allowing an armed man into the store area where shoppers could be at risk.

Amen.

Stewart, told the newspaper he is still trying to understand the company's decision, and that, "I honestly felt worse than when I had the gun to my back," he said. "I honestly felt betrayed."

The betrayals continue. James Dallin, a 10-year assistant manager of Wal-Mart, was fired separating one of his co-employees from her allegedly abusive husband, also in Utah.

"Flung her, right away, verbally started abusing her," Dallin said in news reports. The man grabbed the woman hard by the arm and berated her as he escorted her down an aisle. Minutes later, the man still had a firm grip on his co-worker's arm and was continuing to verbally abuse her when Dallin said he pushed the man into a shelf and told him to leave, then escorted him out of the store. The man complained, and six weeks later, Dallin was fired for violating Wal-Mart's policy on "workplace violence."

Really. As a lawyer that deals with injuries, I understand why Wal-Mart does not want cowboy–like reactions by young employees who have watched too many superhero movies. They can make a bad situation a tragedy.

So, Wal-Mart likely needs this policy. However, it should be enforced on a case-by-case basis.

The first case occurred in a closed office, with nowhere to “withdraw” to. Besides, no one is faster than a bullet. And, if “people are put first” as they claim, the shoppers outside that office were certainly honored by not being drawn into a hostage crisis.

The second case reportedly went on for a while and did not escalate. Shoppers there were protected and the guy left the store. Should the angry husband have decided to kill her after brandishing a deadly weapon, the policy would seem to indicate Dallin should withdraw and let it happen.

Wal-Mart is wrong, for all the right reasons.

Finally, I suspect that the family of the slain 5-year-old little girl and the family of Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford might have wished a Safeway employee would have been able to be as heroic as these workers, and could have stopped that violence.

Mr. Peel, a local Injury Attorney, may be available to speak at no cost to your club or church event. More articles maybe accessed at www.PeelLawFirm.com, or the “Christian Injury Attorney” blog at DavidBPeel.blogspot.com

"Amish Grace- A story of Forgiveness"

A typical Amish one-room schoolhouse,

I photographed traveling through Amish country in Ohio.

“Amish Grace”

Forgiveness in the Face of Utter Evil

Our family was greatly challenged by the video version of the Lifetime movie “Amish Grace.” It depicts the unexpected reaction of the Amish people to an incident that seems to me to be the very personification of evil itself.

On October 2, 2006, a gunman carried out a well-planned shooting at the one-room West Nickel Mines Schoolhouse, in an Amish community of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Charles Carl Roberts IV set the boys free and barricaded the door. He kept young girls hostage, bound them and lined them up. One set of sisters volunteered to be shot first, to help save the others and buy time. He shot ten girls execution style, in the back of the head. He then took his own life. Five of the youngsters died.

The disturbed shooter had left suicide notes for each child and for his wife. The one to his spouse laments the loss of a premature daughter years earlier:

"I don't know how you put up with me all those years. I am not worthy of you; you are the perfect wife you deserve so much better. We had so many good memories together as well as the tragedy with Elise. It changed my life forever I haven't been the same since it affected me in a way I never felt possible. I am filled with so much hate, hate toward myself hate towards God and unimaginable emptiness it seems like every time we do something fun I think about how Elise wasn't here to share it with us and I go right back to anger."

The response of the Amish community differed greatly from the reaction of most communities scarred by school shootings. The movie, through some fictional composite characters, tells the story.

On the very day of the shooting, a grandfather of one of the murdered Amish girls was heard saying, "We must not think evil of this man." It is said one Amish father explained that, “[the gunman] had a mother and a wife and a soul and now he's standing before a just God." Amish neighbors reportedly comforted the Roberts family and extended forgiveness to them just hours after the mass murder.

In time, the Amish visited Roberts' widow, parents and even his extended family. It is reported that the gunman’s own father cried on the shoulder of an Amish man for an hour. The Amish even raised money in charitable fund for the family of the Roberts. Astonishingly, dozens of Amish community attended the gunman’s funeral. The widow of the shooter, Marie Roberts, attended a funeral of one of the victims as well.

Following the tragedy, Marie Roberts wrote an open letter to the Amish stating:

“Your love for our family has helped to provide the healing we so desperately need. Gifts you've given have touched our hearts in a way no words can describe. Your compassion has reached beyond our family, beyond our community, and is changing our world, and for this we sincerely thank you."

The week following the shooting, the one-room schoolhouse was torn down, leaving only a pasture. Six months later, The New Hope School, intentionally built as "different" as possible from the original, was opened nearby.

The extreme forgiveness the Amish so promptly and completely gave has been, at best, difficult to comprehend. For others, it has actually been offensive. They have argued that forgiveness should only occur when remorse has been expressed. Some critics allege they are denying the evilness of the act with their forgiveness.

However, a story told to the children in the movie, prior to the shootings, may provide more Amish context for their forgiving actions. The story was about Dirk Willems. In 1569, he was able to make his escape from those who sought to take his life for teaching Anabaptist doctrines in violation of Roman Catholic orders. When a pursuer fell through the ice, however, he was recaptured upon turning back to save the life of his pursuer. They burned him at the stake. Today, he is one of the most celebrated martyrs among the Mennonites, the Brethren, and the Amish, all offshoots of the original Anabaptists.

What about us? Are there limits to our forgiveness? If you are like me, there truly are limits—clearly exceeded by these actions.

However, Scripture teaches us that Jesus’ forgiveness has no limitations. “Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Luke 7:47(NIV).

The Lord’s forgiveness shocked the people of Jesus’ day, much like the forgiveness of he Amish might surprise us today. Indeed, I fear our natural lack of forgiveness stems from a lack of love. That shows just how far we have fallen from being made in the image of the One True God, Who is—after all--Love.

*Mr. Peel, a Christian Injury Lawyer, may be available to speak to your church or community group. He may be reached through www.PeelLawFirm.com. Other articles maybe found on his blog at www.DavidBPeel.blogspot.com

.