Starbucks sticks to gun rights policy at stores!
SEATTLE, Washington - March 3, 2010 - Coffee chain Starbucks Corp. is sticking to its policy of letting customers carry guns where it's legal and said it does not want to be put in the middle of a larger gun-control debate.
The company's statement, issued Wednesday, stems from a recent campaign by some gun owners, who have walked into Starbucks and other businesses to test state laws that allow gun owners to carry weapons openly in public places. Gun control advocates have protested.
The fight began heating up in January in Northern Kalifornia and has since spread to other states and other companies, bolstered by the pro-gun group OpenCarry.org.
Some of the events were spontaneous, with just one or two gun owners walking into a store. Others were organized parades of dozens of gun owners walking into restaurants with their firearms proudly at their sides.
Now, gun control advocates are protesting the policy. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence launched a petition drive demanding that the company "offer espresso shots, not gunshots" and declare its coffee houses "gun-free zones." On Wednesday, that group planned to deliver 28,000 signatures to the coffee giant's headquarters in Seattle.
The group also held a press conference near Seattle's Pike Place Market, just a few yards away from where the first Starbucks cafe opened. Gun rights advocates showed up as well, some carrying handguns in holsters around their waists.
Brian Malte of the Brady Campaign said carrying guns intimidates and frightens people, and said the group thinks Starbucks will "do the right thing" and change its policy.
"They're putting their workers in harm's way by allowing people to carry guns into their stores, especially open carry," Malte said.
Ed. Note: Excuse me? Does Starbucks allow armed police officers to enter their stores? If so, then they are allowing dangerous people to carry guns on their premises, putting people in harm’s way. How about we disarm the police? That should take care of 95% of the gun violence in our country!
The company's statement, issued Wednesday, stems from a recent campaign by some gun owners, who have walked into Starbucks and other businesses to test state laws that allow gun owners to carry weapons openly in public places. Gun control advocates have protested.
The fight began heating up in January in Northern Kalifornia and has since spread to other states and other companies, bolstered by the pro-gun group OpenCarry.org.
Some of the events were spontaneous, with just one or two gun owners walking into a store. Others were organized parades of dozens of gun owners walking into restaurants with their firearms proudly at their sides.
Now, gun control advocates are protesting the policy. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence launched a petition drive demanding that the company "offer espresso shots, not gunshots" and declare its coffee houses "gun-free zones." On Wednesday, that group planned to deliver 28,000 signatures to the coffee giant's headquarters in Seattle.
The group also held a press conference near Seattle's Pike Place Market, just a few yards away from where the first Starbucks cafe opened. Gun rights advocates showed up as well, some carrying handguns in holsters around their waists.
Brian Malte of the Brady Campaign said carrying guns intimidates and frightens people, and said the group thinks Starbucks will "do the right thing" and change its policy.
"They're putting their workers in harm's way by allowing people to carry guns into their stores, especially open carry," Malte said.
Ed. Note: Excuse me? Does Starbucks allow armed police officers to enter their stores? If so, then they are allowing dangerous people to carry guns on their premises, putting people in harm’s way. How about we disarm the police? That should take care of 95% of the gun violence in our country!
