Starbucks issued a statement on Wednesday that it would not make a policy about customers carrying guns in its stores. The coffee shop empire is responding to pressure from the Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence to make a policy against customers carrying firearms in their stores.
Gun owners have been wearing their guns in groups in public places in what is called the “open carry” movement.
Responding to incidents of ‘open carry,’ Peets Tea & Coffee as well California Pizza Kitchen issued policies not permitting customers to openly carry firearms unless they are uniformed police officers, according to the Brady Campaign.
Starbucks said it complies with local laws in their communities and would leave the issue up to legislatures and courts to decide.
At the Web site OpenCarry.org, the organization says it believes that “a right unexercised, is a right lost,” and that gun owners agree, “it’s time gun carry comes out of the closet in America!”
In the statement Starbucks said they did not want to put their employees in the position of asking gun-carrying customers to leave stores when the customers are complying with local gun laws.
The statement said employees “are trained to call law enforcement as situations arise,” and that Starbucks will review policies “to ensure the highest safety guidelines are in place.”
Starbucks and the Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence could not be reached before press deadline.
Gun owners have been wearing their guns in groups in public places in what is called the “open carry” movement.
Responding to incidents of ‘open carry,’ Peets Tea & Coffee as well California Pizza Kitchen issued policies not permitting customers to openly carry firearms unless they are uniformed police officers, according to the Brady Campaign.
Starbucks said it complies with local laws in their communities and would leave the issue up to legislatures and courts to decide.
At the Web site OpenCarry.org, the organization says it believes that “a right unexercised, is a right lost,” and that gun owners agree, “it’s time gun carry comes out of the closet in America!”
In the statement Starbucks said they did not want to put their employees in the position of asking gun-carrying customers to leave stores when the customers are complying with local gun laws.
The statement said employees “are trained to call law enforcement as situations arise,” and that Starbucks will review policies “to ensure the highest safety guidelines are in place.”
Starbucks and the Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence could not be reached before press deadline.
