Posted on 09/18/2013 6:18:11 AM PDT by Uncle Miltie
Starbucks says guns are no longer welcome in its cafes, though it is stopping short of an outright ban on firearms.
The fine line that the retailer is walking to address the concerns of both gun rights and gun control advocates reflects how heated the issue has become, particularly in light of recent mass shootings.
Most states allow people to openly carry licensed guns in some way and many companies do not have policies banning firearms in their stores. But Starbucks has become a target for gun control advocates, in part because of its liberal-leaning corporate image. In turn, gun rights advocates have been galvanized by the company's decision to defer to local laws.
In an interview with The Associated Press, CEO Howard Schultz said the decision to ask customers to stop bringing guns into stores came as a result of the growing frequency of "Starbucks Appreciation Days" in recent months, in which gun rights advocates turn up at Starbucks cafes with firearms.
Last month, for example, the company closed down a store in Newtown, Conn., for the day after learning that gun rights advocates planned to hold a "Starbucks Appreciation Day" at the location. The store was near the school where a gunman killed 20 children and six women.
Schultz said the events mischaracterized the company's stance on the issue and the demonstrations "have made our customers uncomfortable."
Schultz hopes people will honor the request not to bring in guns but says the company will nevertheless serve those who do.
"We will not ask you to leave," he said.
The Seattle-based company plans to buy ad space in major national newspapers including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and USA Today on Thursday to run an open letter from Schultz explaining the decision to not implement a ban.
"Why? Because we want to give responsible gun owners the chance to respect our request - and also because enforcing a ban would potentially require our partners to confront armed customers, and that is not a role I am comfortable asking Starbucks partners to take on," Schultz says in a copy of the letter provided to CBS News.
The letter points to recent activities by both gun rights and gun control advocates at its stores, saying that it has been "thrust unwillingly" into the middle of the national debate over firearms.
As for the "Starbucks Appreciation Days" being staged by gun rights advocates, it stresses: "To be clear: we do not want these events in our stores."
But the letter notes that Starbucks is standing by its position that the matter should ultimately be left to lawmakers.
The AP was provided a picture of a memo to Starbucks employees on Tuesday. Partners are instructed not to confront customers or ask them to leave solely for carrying a weapon.
Several companies do not allow firearms in their stores, however, apparently with little trouble. Representatives for Peet's Coffee & Tea and Whole Foods, for example, said there haven't been any problems with enforcing their gun bans.
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, which was formed the day after the Newtown shooting, has been organizing "Skip Starbucks Saturdays" to urge the coffee company to ban guns at its stores. Participants take photos of themselves at competitors such as Peet's that do not allow guns and post them online.
Shannon Watts, founder of the gun reform group, noted that Starbucks has taken strong stances on other issues. Earlier this year, for example, the company banned smoking within 25 feet of its stores, wherever its leases allowed. The idea was to extend its no-smoking policy to the outdoor seating areas.
"There's a big difference in the connotation of someone holding a gun and someone holding a cigarette," Schultz said.
In the meantime, Starbucks has become a symbol for advocates of gun rights. A website now even sells products bearing an altered version of the Starbucks logo, with the siren holding up a gun in each hand with the words "I Love Guns & Coffee."
Starbucks sucks. They over roast their beans. McDonalds has better coffee for less money. Let them be a gun free zone and give some nut job another target site.
This is all because libtard agitators create a big scene about being “scared” or “offended” if someone is open carrying. I have to cut Starbucks some slack here - they want to sell coffee to as many customers as possible, not be involved in a political battle.
There. Fixed up his analogy.
Cops are allowed in Starbucks with their guns with the new policy.
Howard should have urged those with knives to stay away, given what has gone on in his home town of Seattle the last few weeks — with mental cases stabbing and killing innocents who happen to be walking down the unsafe streets there.
White Castle coffee is better than McDonald’s in my opinion.
Neither one is nearly as good as Starbucks, but they are much less expensive.
Dunkin Donuts is probably 3rd best inexpensive behind WC & MCD.
No more "Full Body Lattes" for me.
I find it hard to believe anyone would even think a liberal yuppie place like Starbucks would allow anything to do with guns.
Those that thought the open carry gun day at Starbucks was a good idea started this.
That was a dumb idea.Want to carry, do it concealed and keep it to yourself.....
Thanks for the hint, although we don’t have WC around here. I will probably hit McD’s after I use up my SB’s rewards, leaving a $2 bill as a tip each time. Cheap investment to make my point, plus I’ve become good friends with my local baristas. This is such a shame.
The bottom line is that Starbucks does not want a horse in this race. Their policy is that they prefer customers to not bring guns to their store, but that their store managers and employees are to do nothing about it. They are not to complain to customers, withhold service, scowl, nothing.
And, if those with guns, *or* those who object to guns, become unruly, then they are to call the cops. But only then.
The bottom line is that if you want to take a gun into a Starbucks, fine. But they don’t want you to do so as a “statement”.
Truthfully, I don’t see much wrong in this policy, because it leans towards “no soliciting”. Their business is to sell coffee and coffee-like byproducts, not to be a platform for political arguments.
I roast my own, and I think my cup of coffee is better than Starbucks. Starbucks isn’t bad, though. Since the owner didn’t “ban” guns in Starbucks, simply discouraged them, I’d be willing to do a carry-out order, and definitely a drive-through.
White Castle is definitely a decent cup of coffee. I don’t know if you have Caribou in your area, but they make coffee on a par with Starbucks. Caribou closed their shops in our area recently in some kind of consolidation. I’m not sure if they have a host of off-putting social proclamations.
So police can’t go to Starbucks
Same here. I'm drinking DD now, brewed good and strong.
Starbucks coffee is burned. Plus, I have no patience with a coffee shop where they want me to use pretentious little names like "grande" instead of large.
I heard raves about McD's coffee, too. I tried it, and it's as weak as water. If you don't like strong coffee, it might be okay for you.
Caribou is SHARIA compliant in their public offerings, if I recall correctly. I don’t do business with people who respect my mortal enemies.
We have Caribou whole bean coffee available in grocery stores, but I’ve only seen it available by the cup in airports. Agreed, it’s very good coffee. To be honest, half the reason I go out of my way to stop in the neighborhood SB is because of my friends who are baristas - I always get simple black, bold coffee. It’s very good but not great IMHO. To be candid, I have never carried either open or concealed in SB - it’s just the principle of the thing. As another FReeper said, it’s their stores and their choice. I have a choice also.
Caffeine drops my slow fire 25 yd pistol scores under 96. A good reason to avoid coffee anywhere. Starbucks stuff upsets my stomach anyway. No problem staying away.
I don’t buy coffee every day I do when I am out shopping..It doesn’t cost a lot for a cup of coffee at DD..I think some people just want to be noticed with that paper cup with the Starbucks logo on it..LOL!
Sorry to hear about Sharia compliant Caribou. You think that’s cause the bucks have a whole herd of does or because they don’t eat pork? :>)
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