Indecency at the checkout? A friendly reminder to your local grocery and convenience store(s)

By: Chris Johnson

Personal note:

Earlier this month we perused local grocery stores and convenience stores in our community. We have done this over the years. On occasion, we have also spoken to particular managers and/or owners.
Sometimes it has gone well. At other times, not so well – in terms of effecting change.

At any rate, here’s a letter we recently sent. Our hope is that it will serve as a fresh reminder to store managers/clerks and owners that people care and are attentive to what is displayed and sold.

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A letter to a core number of local stores in our community —
May 12, 2009

Dear … :

This organization has been in existence for over 20 years. We began when a former pilot with Gerber Products became troubled by the fact that a number of stores in Newaygo County, including Fremont, sold magazines and rented videos that were at the least indecent and at the most pornographic.

One highly regarded store in this town once carried 100 X-rated videos (in the late 1980s). Our organization spoke to various store owners/managers urging them not to carry such magazines, videos, or DVDs.

I’m writing today on behalf of families and individuals that don’t want to be assaulted by lewd images and titles, particularly at the checkout counter but also at the magazine rack, of magazines such as Cosmopolitan with its sleazy headlines and Vanity Fair with its often racy cover photo.

Please accept this letter as a friendly encouragement and reminder that there are numbers of people that shop in this community who want their shopping environment to be friendly to the eyes for themselves and their families. And so I urge you to exercise greater care in the merchandise you stock and the material you display at your checkout counters.

If you would ever like to discuss this concern or any other issue, I hope you won’t hesitate to give me a call.

Sincerely,

Bill Johnson

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American Decency Association
Bill Johnson, President
P.O. Box 202
Fremont, MI 49412
ph: 231-924-4050
https://americandecency.org

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