Starbucks stance on gun control

[Sinton]

In Fox News this morning. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,587826,00.html

Starbucks Does Not Want to Be Center of Gun-Control Debate
Wednesday, March 03, 2010


Print ShareThisSEATTLE — Coffee chain Starbucks Inc. 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 statement stems from recent incidents when gun owners 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.

Starbucks' backing of its policy comes ahead of a press conference on Wednesday by The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence near Seattle's Pike Place Market, where the first Starbucks cafe opened.

The organization has circulated a petition that has more than 28,000 signatures demanding that Starbucks "offer espresso shots, not gunshots" and declare its coffeehouses "gun-free zones."

Businesses can choose to ban guns from their premises. Starbucks said Tuesday that it complies with local laws in the 43 states that have open-carry weapon laws. Not to do so, the chain said, would make the chain "require our partners to ask law abiding customers to leave our stores, putting our partners in an unfair and potentially unsafe position."

It said security measures are in place for any "threatening situation" that might occur in stores.

Starbucks asked both gun enthusiasts and gun-control advocates "to refrain from putting Starbucks or our partners into the middle of this divisive issue."


MODS: First time posting a link in a posting, if I violated anything please don't be too harsh on me. Thanks.

[Drewthetexan]

This came up some time last month, I think. This sounds similar to the response I recieved when I wrote them about it.

Thanks for the update.

[Rex B]

That is the first I've seen that wording.
The earlier information seemed to indicate they were trying hard to be neutral.
I'm good with that.

[cougartex]

Good for Starbucks.

[marksiwel]

They dont have to be "Pro-Gun" but I'm glad they decided to basically "Stay out of it" and follow local law.

[TDDude]

I guess Starbucks learned their lesson when they slammed Christians a few years ago. Of course I forget the details because I've slept since but it was extremely insulting. At the time, I was working full time at my own church in Northwest Houston and the $1000/week coffee business that we were doing directly with the local store stopped and the store manager was respectfully informed as to why. That combined with the few thousand members our church has that uses/used Starbucks on a casual daily basis also stopped. Multiply that by churches across the nation and Starbucks felt that particular sting fairly quickly and issued retractions.

Apparently, they have wisely decided to not take on gun owners or our detractors.

Now, if only "Movie Stars" & "Musicians" would take the hint and just simply stick to what they do best.

[C-dub]

Judge Napolitano was just on Fox News and he was saying that Starbucks, being a business that is open to and welcomes the public, CANNOT ban people from carrying their weapons. He may have meant open carry, but he didn't specifically say that. He went on to compare that to discriminating against someone based on race or religion. I'm not sure what Washington's laws are regarding one's personal property rights, but he said they could not keep people from carrying their weapons inside.

[TDDude]

Judge Napolitano was just on Fox News and he was saying that Starbucks, being a business that is open to and welcomes the public, CANNOT ban people from carrying their weapons. He may have meant open carry, but he didn't specifically say that. He went on to compare that to discriminating against someone based on race or religion. I'm not sure what Washington's laws are regarding one's personal property rights, but he said they could not keep people from carrying their weapons inside.

Well, that's food for concern since Starbucks can keep whomever they want out of their stores because it's PRIVATE PROPERTY!

As a judge he should know that.

But hey, what to I know? I'm just some dude.

[C-dub]

It may be the way the law is written in WA. He mentioned something about a "right to self-defense" and that no government could deny someone their right to self-defense. And he made it a point to say that a store like this was open to the public. There might be a slight difference here between my property I live on versus a business that depends on the public for survival.

[Dave01]

Businesses can choose to ban guns from their premises. Starbucks said Tuesday that it complies with local laws in the 43 states that have open-carry weapon laws. Not to do so, the chain said, would make the chain "require our partners to ask law abiding customers to leave our stores, putting our partners in an unfair and potentially unsafe position."

I have never been to a Starbucks, but I am happy that they recognize that law-abiding citizens are not a threat. I also understand their desire to stay out of the issue. Being portrayed as "pro-gun" could be as damaging to their business as being "anti-gun". They just want to sell coffee, and I'm fine with that.

I am somewhat troubled by the bold section of the quote though. Are they saying that it is potentially unsafe to ask someone to leave the store in general, or are they saying that it is unsafe to ask a person carrying a gun to leave the store? The former I can understand. You can never tell how someone is going to react. The latter would suggest they view armed citizens as more dangerous than unarmed citizens. I think we all would take exception to this.

Dave

[Oldgringo]

I can't afford $6/cup for coffee; however,I can certainly applaud this pro RKBA stand from any business HQ'd on the left coast.

[bayouhazard]

Posting from Starbucks. Carrying concealed. Paid $1.62 for my coffee, after tax.

[UpTheIrons]

I stopped in today for the first time. Paid $2.00 for a "Grande" and politely informed the folks on duty that they had gained two new customers because of their corporation's response (or lack thereof) to the Brady Bunch and was thanked by the surprised people.

[TDDude]

For all their "issues", Starbucks' Pikes Place is a mean good cuppajoe. And like every other place that sells beverages, it's a couple bucks for a medium.

Maybe I'll take one of my AR's the next time I go.