So we have a new letter from Starbucks founder and CEO Howard Shultz!
First off, you know where I stand on the second amendment, it’s a right! In the open carry debate, good folks intend well, but it’s the unintended consequences that often arise. I will tell you that I do not support open carry “EVENTS” whatsoever. I also support the right if legal in that state to walk into McDonalds, Starbucks or the local drug store, in full open carry, that is your right. I do not support the same action, staging media events, forcing confrontations and making sure that others to “TAKE NOTICE FOLKS, I CARRY A GUN”. It should be business as usual, this is the law and I choose to exercise my right, simple and done. By the way, the other folks around you, will notice, just don’t be an ass about it.
Every gun owner who carry’s openly or concealed is an ambassador to the 2nd amendment. And it’s how we are seen that tends to change the debate and minds as well. If you go out and look like a douche bag, you will become just that in the eyes of others. Go out and present yourself as just another Joe, going through life and you will become more approachable as someone that can change minds. Checking the news, they have the story wrong here in Reno. Looking at Facebook, its the same ol crap from gun owners. BAN EM! I’LL NEVER GO IN THERE AGAIN! When are gun owners going to wake up and think about the next step? I have my doubts if that will ever happen given the immediate, visceral response we have to those who attack any part of the 2nd amendment.
Now that I have stated what I think should be our approach to open carry, I want to look at another right in this country. It’s the right to have a business and do what you need to do for the business. Our country was founded by businessmen, entrepreneurship was and is another basic right, so where does the 2nd Amendment trump the right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness? In the open letter, Mr. Shultz is ASKING for no more open carry at the stores. He is not putting up signs, yet. He and his employees should NOT be the center of this debate, and this is the fault of the open carry movement. There are other venues, not a business. Why should he do anything for gun owners when this has brought nothing but a mess to HIS BUSINESS! What right does open carry have to do this, NONE! Every business owner has the right to serve or not serve their customers, he had decided to do both, by leaving it to the local laws in the state that store was in, pretty smart. But that was not good enough for the open carry pushers, yea I liken then to dope pushers. Forcing their product on those who need not be a part of this and a place they don’t own or have a right to be. What part of their actions is in keeping with the rights of all those affected, none!
Here is the letter, read it and think folks! I am a proud gun owner but we need to be smarter than this and read what he is asking. We need to give respect to his business as he has shown by trying to stay neutral and in keeping with the rule of law.
Dear Fellow Americans,
Few topics in America generate a more polarized and emotional debate than guns. In recent months, Starbucks stores and our partners (employees) who work in our stores have been thrust unwillingly into the middle of this debate. That’s why I am writing today with a respectful request that customers no longer bring firearms into our stores or outdoor seating areas.
From the beginning, our vision at Starbucks has been to create a “third place” between home and work where people can come together to enjoy the peace and pleasure of coffee and community. Our values have always centered on building community rather than dividing people, and our stores exist to give every customer a safe and comfortable respite from the concerns of daily life.
We appreciate that there is a highly sensitive balance of rights and responsibilities surrounding America’s gun laws, and we recognize the deep passion for and against the “open carry” laws adopted by many states. (In the United States, “open carry” is the term used for openly carrying a firearm in public.) For years we have listened carefully to input from our customers, partners, community leaders and voices on both sides of this complicated, highly charged issue.
Our company’s 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.
For these reasons, today we are respectfully requesting that customers no longer bring firearms into our stores or outdoor seating areas—even in states where “open carry” is permitted—unless they are authorized law enforcement personnel.
I would like to clarify two points. First, this is a request and not an outright 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. Second, we know we cannot satisfy everyone. For those who oppose “open carry,” we believe the legislative and policy-making process is the proper arena for this debate, not our stores. For those who champion “open carry,” please respect that Starbucks stores are places where everyone should feel relaxed and comfortable. The presence of a weapon in our stores is unsettling and upsetting for many of our customers.
I am proud of our country and our heritage of civil discourse and debate. It is in this spirit that we make today’s request. Whatever your view, I encourage you to be responsible and respectful of each other as citizens and neighbors.
Sincerely,
Howard Schultz
So where do you stand?
I agree with you 100%. Unfortunately, sometimes it seems like the biggest threat to our 2nd Ammendment rights comes from 2nd Ammendment “supporters” because of their belligerent and sometimes stupid actions.
If a person wants to carry a gun, fine, but do it in a way that doesn’t create a negative image of gun owners. Like, maybe get a CCW? That’s what I did (I live in Nevada). Sure, it cost $80 for the class and $100 for the background check. Well worth it to me. For one thing, now when I carry outside I haven’t advertised my gun to the whole world and made myself a target of anyone, including criminals who may see me.
Porcupine,
Thanks for the opinion, we seem to be on the same page. We often do the most damage by our actions to get recognition to our 2nd amendment rights. Carrying a tactical rifle into starbucks just makes all of us have an tough positon to defend besides looking like a bunch of idiots. I too am in Nevada and have a CCW, I carry everywhere I can and often where I should but not readily accepted but the downside when I do is as you may know, I just get asked to leave. I don’t have an issue with challenging boundaries to made a point but we need to be reasonable and weight the outcomes first. Stay Safe!!