Our company’s [Starbucks] longstanding approach to “open carry” has been to follow local laws: we permit it in states where allowed and we prohibit it in states where these laws don’t exist. We have chosen this approach because we believe our store partners should not be put in the uncomfortable position of requiring customers to disarm or leave our stores. We believe that gun policy should be addressed by government and law enforcement—not by Starbucks and our store partners.
Recently, however, we’ve seen the “open carry” debate become increasingly uncivil and, in some cases, even threatening. Pro-gun activists have used our stores as a political stage for media events misleadingly called “Starbucks Appreciation Days” that disingenuously portray Starbucks as a champion of “open carry.” To be clear: we do not want these events in our stores. Some anti-gun activists have also played a role in ratcheting up the rhetoric and friction, including soliciting and confronting our customers and partners.
– Howard Schultz
CEO, Starbucks Coffee Company
One internet poster said: “I never believed Starbucks was an ally anyway.”
I would say he may be right. They weren’t. They are an outfit that sells coffee. Period. They just had a policy that wasn’t restrictive, and followed local law. They were unwillingly and unwittingly co-opted by the “rabid gun movement” people, and literally thrust on the national stage in the midst of a highly charged debate without their consultation on the matter.
This is why we can’t have nice things.
http://practicaltacticalpodcast.com/starbucks/
Thanks, Idiots:
http://pistol-training.com/archives/8604
Tyrus Moulder
Oct 01, 2013 @ 21:13:25
The open carry debate came to a screeching halt in California (thankfully) at the beginning of this year. I consider myself a supporter of the law-abiding individual’s right to defend him/herself from the monsters who prey on the weak. Open carry of an empty gun is nothing more than an invitation to become a crime victim while arming one of the aforementioned criminals. Starbucks is being unfairly targeted by the wannabes who want to carry a gun, but can’t pass a basic physical fitness test.
LikeLike
John M. Buol Jr.
Oct 02, 2013 @ 08:25:30
>> I consider myself a supporter of the law-abiding individual’s right to defend him/herself from the monsters who prey on the weak.
Agreed. I think this works best with concealed carry. Most citizens are law abiding, therefore, any of them, or some of them, or all of them, could be trained and carrying. Which one(s)? Exactly…
LikeLike