I was just in Cumberland Mall today and happened to go inside the Spencer\'s store for the first time since I was a kid. I couldn't believe the items they had on display! They had vibrators and anal toys right there at eye level. There were kids younger than 14 playing with them! Why does the press always give you a hard time about your stores and let kids play with vibrators in a mall?

      Andrew

      Citizen lawsuit against Johns Creek
      They are wasting HUGE $$$$
      January 11, 2008 | 03:26 PM

      I would like to see a citizen lawsuit against the council members and mayor of Johns Creek for wasting city money and time trying to shut down the Love Shack store. This is a stupid example of prudish government officials trying to violate the constitution and local laws to carry out their weird personal agenda. These people obviously have strange psychological hangups about sex, and they are spending huge amounts of taxpayer money trying to enforce their weird sexual problems on everyone else in the community.

      This should be stopped, and these unfortunate people should seek professional help for their sexual problems.

      Rick Bristol

      Subject: Unrelated

I love what you are doing in Johns Creek. I am a self-made business owner myself and have had to fight with the good ol boy bullshit in Georgia now and again. I have a lady I met in Birmingham coming in this week and we are making a special trip to come by the store to buy some goodies.

      Good Luck! -Tobias

      Subject: MARVIN

Hi John, I admired the way in which you handle matters of life and business. I understand your stand on adult business, because I have opened my own small business in the industry. I currently only work out of flea markets! No competition to you, but I have the same problems with people trying to stop this industry. I lost my job several years ago with UPS and started selling movies. This is how I make my living now. But people don’t understand that our industry is just like any other business. Everybody has had sex throughout their life, but want to stop this industry from moving forward. I don’t have the money yet to start a store front business, because of the fear of paying fees. I heard you speak on the news about how there should be an adult business on every corner just like Waffle House. I will in my areas of business continue with force of our 1st Amendment Speech. Also, sorry to hear about the fire in Johns Creek and again admired your interest in helping the city departments. Show them we are human and good people too.

Thanks,
      Marvin your friend!

     Subject: I am appaled!!

     To:  Dear Chief Few and Fulton County representatives,

I understand Chief Few has denied donations from Mr. and Mrs. Cornetta recently for a fallen Fulton County firefighter, Felix Roberts and John Callahan who lost their lives in a recent fire.
I am truely saddend by these losses, but I cannot condone your response to his generosity.
Shame on you Cheif for not acceptng monetary donations from Mr. and Mrs. Cornetta on behalf of these families. Mr. Cornetta has every right to his offerings and to contradict John's Creek in the manner in which they have ear marked so much money to fight his business and to build a City Hall without their own emergency service providers for the newly established community. I am afraid this effort by John's Creek against Cornetta's Love Shack business has many negative overtones, but the facts are, without ample emergency services in John's Creek more citizens may be negatively and unecessarily affected.
I don't live or vote in Fulton County so you probably don't care what I think, but it appears to me, you don't care what the people who pay taxes in your community think as well. Now, should you try to run in Cobb County, I will be ready to alert everyone here about this historic mistake.
For those who have read this, thank you for your time.

      Timothy Campione

      Subject: Mr. Cornetta,

      John Cornetta, you are a true hero in your battle against Johns Creek.I keep thinking at some point you will break but you keep fighting.There are alot of people in your corner who don\'t agree with moral policeing.
      I will support you and your fight by shopping at the Love Shack.

      Thanks

      Beau

      Subject: Hey All,

      John,

      I sure am glad you're continuing to take on the court system not only for our right to shop or buy adult products, but to put the southern baptist on the curbside. It is getting so bad as I remember the Starship owner who fought Fulton County on the southside many years ago to keep his store open as well. He did end up going to jail for other charges, but his store stayed open even with the county raiding his place on a regular basis. It seems like you have really upset some folks up north, but it should be fought that we shall have the right to come in and buy if one wishes as you seem to have met all the Fulton County rules.

      I know the new city is the issue, but it is just that they don't like you standing up for all our rights.

      I would sure like to know if you may like to open a store down here in Coweta County, city of Newnan. I think it would do well if it can get through the city council and county commissioners. I know they would fight it here as well, but I think you would do as well as you will up on the north side. I would be interested in running or opening the store myself, but without the backing it would be so much harder and I would manage it for you if you think I'm one who could do it for you or on my own? I haven't given it much of a look until your store has brought so much attention and that I would like to get an income due to an auto roll over accident back in 2000 which ended my 25 years as a paramedic firefighter without any type pension at all.

      I know you're getting so many hits right now, but I thought I would write and see if you would like to talk sometime.

      I wish you the best of luck and will be watching how things work out for you. I know they will be there tomorrow to lock you up if you're not given the ruling by the courts. If I need to I would get you out on bond if need be. I don't have the cash, but I do have a home that is paid off which I could use for your property bond if you need me to as well.

      I wish you all the best and hope to hear from you sometime.

      Best wishes always,

      Ken

      Subject: In support of your move to John's Creek

      John,

      I'm writing this letter to you in support of your decision to fight "City Hall" as it were for your legitimate right to use your property as you see fit. My family has lived in the area that is now John's Creek for about 5 years (I now live in Athens) and I am all for your attempts to open your place of business in our district. How quick the excitement wore off of our recent move to incorporate into a new city once I realized the agenda that our leaders had set forth for us included tormenting small business owners. It troubles me that a person's insecurities and rage run so rampant that instead of learning to live with your store as a peaceful and free citizen ought to do, they instead choose to burn to the ground any and everything they find offensive. What is it about some people having an incessant desire to impose their will on others. Is it that they themselves are too weak to live in a world where others choose to live just a little differently than themselves? Or maybe they have a sense of moral superiority over their fellow man and have no problem using the force of government to subjugate the masses? Who knows? I guess it's been a question free societies have struggled for some time. A question that has intrigued my limited intellect for some time is, What are the limits within a free society? Do people have a right, as they claim in your case, to enforce their will as to the use of your property? If property rights mean anything than I certainly do not see where they have a leg to stand on. I have heard the lame argument that "property values" will be affected and thus "we" as a neighborhood have the moral right to stop this "monstrous abomination to enter our neighborhoods." What gets me about this argument is that where in the hell do they get the idea that the value of their house is inherent in the physical structure of their house. Value is subjective and is in the minds of each and everyone of us. Their house is not valuable because of the physical structure itself, its value arises in the fact that so many people believe it to be valuable. If we begin allowing property owners to claim value as a right than property rights in general begin to erode. What we do with our land then becomes subject to the whims of the collective, which is a scenario we all would hope to want to avoid.

      It saddens me that we live in times where ones rights can be so easily usurped as in your case. You are a true patriot and I wish you the best of luck in fighting of the yoke of tyranny. I hope in this email you find just some encouragement to keep struggling and know that you do have allies out there. Please let me know of any way in which I can be of service to your battle.

      Your ally,

      Matt

      Subject: Re: … thank you for being on my side of this huge fight I am engaged in.'

      Never have been anywhere else.

      When growing up I once heard the phrase: “Your rights end where mine begin”. I don’t recall where nor who. But, it’s been with me ever since. Extremists for any issue get too wrapped up in the issue to understand how anyone could have a contrary opinion. Certainly in those instances, any sense of patience and tolerance are out of the question.

      Sexual practices and beliefs happen to be personal to and an underlying link common to all mankind. It therefore is sensitive to and crosses all regional bounds of human morality and manor of life.

      Many of our contemporaries forget what brought our forefathers here! They want to think the practice of religion brought us here. They forget the history books that clearly tell us the Church of England pervaded all manor of life, especially the government. There were no other choices possible. Even the King of England had to concoct extravagant ruses to legitimatize 8 wives.

      Yes, coming here was a matter of ‘freedom of religion’… but, that also means ‘from religion’… your rights end where mine begin.

      Al

      Subject: No Subject

      Ya know I think it's real stupid the way the people are acting over an adult store, I personally LOVE IT!!! I think it's great.

      The way I look at it is the people whom say it is trash are the real trash because they are probably the ones who look at porn or even go to swingers bars on the net. Ignorance is a bitch... YOu only live once & you mine as well have fun doing what makes you happy if you don't like it don't go!

      Just letting you know you totally got my support!! XoXo

      Christy

      Subject: Mr. Cornetta,

      My name is Jeff. I'm a resident of Fulton County and have been following this Love Shack story on the news and I just wanted to email you and tell you what an inspiration it has been to see you stand up for what is right. My girlfriend and I are customers of your store and we love it. Apparently to some of your neighbors, that makes me a menace to the kids at the dance studio...ridiculous! Anyway, I am in complete agreement and support of you and I have never been prouder than seeing this all unfold yesterday on the news. Had I been able to get off work in time, I would have come down to the store to see it unfold for myself. We can't get enough of your never-say-die attitude and both want to wish you a Merry Christmas and good luck with your business.

      Jeff

      Subject: Dear Jeff:

      Sorry it has taken me so long to respond to your kind and thoughtful letter. It is people like you who keep me and my team going. Yes we all make a living at this, however each person I work with, including my vendors and attorneys are passionate about peoples rights to property, freedom of speech, and less, not more, government interference.

      Please wish your family a belated holiday and if you really believe in this fight do something about it. Your letter to me is an inspiring and great start. If you find the passion for it, energize neighbors and friends, and others that have been emailing me and start an organization. Call it something like " Political Georgia Watch Dogs" Lets never take government at their word, lets watch them and make sure that the vocal minority doesn't rule our life.

      In any event, I thank you for your support and would help if any of the many people started some type of group.

      Many regards,
      John J. Cornetta

      “Restriction on free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us.” William O. Douglas, U.S. Supreme Court Justice 1939-1975

      Subject: John,

      Way to go! We hope you WIN in Johns Creek. We are a Johns Creek resident and we support you and your stores. Glad you are in our neighborhood. What is wrong with these people? Your stores are the best! Good luck!

      Paul

      Subject: Dear Paul:

      Thank you very much for your comments. They mean so much to me and my wife. Sometimes we feel we are all alone and then we get a message like yours. I am not sure if we know each other but if more people like you would speak out a change would truly take place. Most people have no idea the amount of time and money my wife and I donate to charity, the people we feed and the children we help during the holidays. They just see the cigar and money and say " Oh those two perverts". I assure you that I could never work another day in my life and be just fine. It is not about money for me at all, it is about standing up for what is right. And to do that I need the moral support of people like you. Again we thank you.

      Below is a letter I just wrote for our website. You are the first to see it, it is from my heart..

      Thank you
      John & Irina Cornetta
      www.loveshackonline.com

      December 11, 2006

      Today as most have heard, we won a small victory in a much larger battle. I do not gloat in it, I truly want what's best and right. I wanted all to know that.

      1) I own a home les then 2500 feet from this store. I am not worried about property value.
      2) I followed the law people. What does that say? If the law at the time said, and it did, that if less then 25% of your stock in trade was of an adult nature, you do not need an adult license and can operate in any retail area. I did not write this law, I simply complied with it. You know against all advise, I wanted to do this one right. I told the land lord what I was going to do, I told the county up front. I even hand wrote on my business license application, where it asks if you will be an adult business, YES, however I will carry less then the 25% as allowed by code section ( intentionally left out ) Does that not even count. Advisors told me, John they will lie and cheat and still not give it to you. I said hey man, if they do that where are we at as a society? Isn’t that like denying a man of color the right to protest in the 60’s? And they said yes, it is just the new form of discrimination. That is when I said, we will do it the right way anyway. And if that is so, and they do this to me then we need to shake the trees of government.

      My point is if government can abuse power when they are wrong, what will they do when they are right or when the facts and laws are on their side? As much as I feel for those who have these concerns I feel more obligated to not allow elected officials to abuse the very power we have given them. Yes the Fulton study ( done by the Fulton Government by the way) shows no adverse secondary effects. However that is not even the point here. The point is, what if there was a law that said in order to get a dance studio license, you needed to do blank and blank. Then you do blank and blank only to find out you still don’t get your license. Why? Because it is a rallying cry for a new city? A rallying cry for a mayor making a name for himself? Or is it because un known to you, someone on the board of commissioners has an investment and his sister in law owns the other dance studio down the street? I don’t know, all I do know is that absolute power equals absolute corruption.

      Lets not forget people, that this great land was built by people who were called traitors. Rebels who stood up and said no, you will not abuse your power. When did this all change? Again I do understand your concerns, I hope you understand mine. This isn’t about the money, it is about being right, it is about being able to give people choices to read and see speech that they choose, not government.

      Does it not bother you that at any time of the night you can see blood and guts and solders killed on TV, but my store is evil.

      Lastly, I extend an offer as I have time and time again to work with the people of this community in a meaningful way. A way that doesn’t start and end with ” Just close your doors”. I am open to suggestions from fencing, to security, to donating part of our proceeds to educate on home and sexual issues, to paying for more police, to taking part of my rented space and making it a Johns Creek police substation with an officer there at all times. I am willing to work with people. I want to co-exist.

      I am sickened by children being prey to perverts, women being raped or anything of the nature. Yet I assure you, all that I know about this business leads me to believe there is no connection between the two and I will do everything in my power to see that those things never happen in our neighborhood. I ask you one last question and then leave you with one of my favorite quotes.

      When the mayor says he is doing what his constituents want. How does he know that? Has he taken a vote or has the vocal minority simply gotten what they wanted?

      “Restriction on free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us.” William O. Douglas, U.S. Supreme Court Justice 1939-1975

      I truly wish you all the best, and for those that still are against this I encourage you to use your rights under the First Amendment to voice your concerns and even to picket. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Lets just not ever say ”The US Bill of Rights. Only applied when necessary."

      Regards,
      John J. Cornetta