To the editor:

Last week, while shopping at a locally owned sports store in downtown Lawrence, I saw a mother and her preteen son ask a salesperson about locating a youth-sized football jersey of Ray Lewis, an outstanding linebacker with the Baltimore Ravens.

The salesperson found plenty of youth-sized jerseys of other athletes but none of the controversial Lewis. The salesperson even went so far as to ask the store’s owner for assistance.

When the owner advised the mother he did not carry youth-sized jerseys of Ray Lewis, she and her son left the store.

After she left, I heard the owner explain to his salesperson that he chooses not to carry youth-sized jerseys of professional athletes that he views as bad role models for children. He cited Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers as another example.

Last time I checked, we as consumers have the right to purchase youth-sized jerseys of any athlete we want — regardless of how bad a role model that athlete is for our children.

However, store owners choose what products to sell to their customers, and plenty of them choose to make a fast buck selling jerseys of athletes such as Lewis, Bryant and Ron Artest for young kids to parade around in.

I want to take a moment and say “thank you” to the store’s owner for choosing instead to have a good conscience!

Michael Rinke,

Lawrence