As dollar stores spread across the nation, crime and safety concerns follow
CBSSep 07, 2023
The Facts
Family members of three people killed in the Jacksonville Dollar General shooting have filed a lawsuit in Duval County, Florida, against the discount store on the grounds that its negligence in security measures enabled the crimes allegedly committed by 21-year-old Ryan Palmeter in August 2023.
On Aug. 26, Ryan Palmeter drove to the Dollar General, where he killed store employee Anolt Laguerre Jr., customer Jerrald Gallion, and rideshare driver Angela Carr, after reportedly being deterred from attacking a Family Dollar store and Edward Waters University by the presence of security personnel.
The Spin
Left narrative
Dollar General isn't alone in neglecting security measures, as single coverage and a lack of security guards at store entrances seem to be part of the low-cost operations of every dollar store chain, even while they make billion-dollar yearly revenues. With gun violence increasingly affecting such businesses, it's crucial that they put their hands in their pockets and do more to protect workers and customers.
Right narrative
While family members of the Jacksonville victims obviously have the right to seek damages in court from whoever they blame for this shooting, it would be outrageous if the anti-dollar store movement comes to co-opt this tragedy for its own goals. Such stores fill the need for low-income families in underserved neighborhoods, so attempts to change their operations would only come to hurt ordinary Americans. Focus should be redirected towards preventing those with mental health issues obtaining firearms.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that there will be at least 1.4 small firearms per capita in the US in 2029, according to the Metaculus prediction community.