Jeferson Federal Bank now posted

[Tim Nunan]

I went to the main office of the Jefferson Federal Bank in Morristown yesterday, 27 October 2011, and noticed a "gun buster" decal on the front door. I don't know when they posted but it was within the last 2-3 months (been that long since I'd been to the front of the building).

I discussed the posting with bank manager Mrs. Porter and she wasn't aware of it and couldn't explain why it had been done. She opined that it was a federal law and I informed her it was not and neither was it a Tennessee law. She assured me that Mr. Doug Roush (the one in charge of security decisions) would contact me about my concerns.

Mr. Roush called me about 9:15 AM this morning and stated that a handgun carry permittee and customer had open carried in the bank to conduct business. There were no problems but apparently the mere sight of the handgun made the bank employees nervous and the decision to ban legal carry was made based on this event. Mr. Roush assured me that he valued my business understood my position on my carry rights but they don't want guns in their bank. He agreed that anti-gun decal won't stop a criminal or a disgruntled customer from bringing a firearms in the bank.

I told him that the new policy was an insult to their law abiding customers and he tried to convince me that I was wrong and they still want our business. I informed Mr. Roush that I would end my 21 year relationship with their bank and take my business where management wasn't afraid of me.

I strongly urge everyone to terminate any business with Jefferson Federal Bank and tell them why.