Gun-Control Debate Brews at Starbucks

by Jennifer Lawinski, Posted Mar 5th 2010 @ 3:00PM

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Gun owners and gun-control advocates are duking it out in an unlikely place these days -- Starbucks.

Bearers-of-arms have begun gathering at Starbucks in Northern California after Peet's Coffee & Tea and California Pizza Kitchen put policies in place to ban firearms on the premises, CNNMoney.com reported.

Several gun rights groups have been holding monthly meetings at San Francisco-area Starbucks, but gun-control groups want the coffee chain to ban guns in its stores, ABC News reported in January.

"While we deeply respect the views of all our customers, Starbucks long-standing approach to this issue remains unchanged. We comply with local laws and statutes in all the communities we serve," a Starbucks company spokesperson told Slashfood in a statement.

"In this case, 43 of the 50 U.S. states have open carry weapon laws. Where these laws don't exist, we comply with laws that prohibit the open carrying of weapons."

Both pro- and anti-gun groups have lobbied Starbucks. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence has written to Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz and has created an online petition to get the coffee chain to offer "espresso shots, not gunshots," CNNMoney.com reported.

On the other side, members of OpenCarry.org say they will buy Starbucks coffee to support the company.

Groups on both sides of the issue are using the Starbucks situation to make their point, but Starbucks would rather they didn't.

"As the public debate continues, we are asking all interested parties to refrain from putting Starbucks or our partners into the middle of this divisive issue," the spokesperson told Slashfood.

"As a company, we are extremely sensitive to the issue of gun violence in our society. Our Starbucks family knows all too well the dangers that exist when guns are used irresponsibly and illegally. Without minimizing this unfortunate reality, we believe that supporting local laws is the right way for us to ensure a safe environment for both partners and customers."

Filed Under: Business, News
Tags: starbucks, starbucks gun control, starbucks gun wars

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-06-2010 @9:11AM everet said... we support you starbucks. you are the man(COFFEE) !! keep up your rights the radicals aka crazies are loony. it is a right and we are not giving them up ever!!! love your coffee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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3-06-2010 @7:24PM gobo said... I think Starbucks has smartly handled this issue on this by simply refusing to take a side. They're obeying the laws without approving or disapproving of them, not commenting or being swayed by any lobby. They're doing what the law says they should do, and I applaud them.
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3-07-2010 @9:52AM Red Icculus said... If you go through the application, cost and training to carry a gun, you are making the effort to keep people safe, not to go on a shooting rampage. I applaud Starbucks for standing up for the law and the safety of their communities.
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3-08-2010 @9:19AM LinC said... As far as I can tell, no one has ever been shot at a Starbucks. So their policy to follow local laws seems to be working. A robber might think twice about hitting a Starbucks when the OpenCarry guys are there.
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3-09-2010 @1:39AM Gabi Patel said... As a former Starbucks Partner, the thought of ANYONE with a handgun entering this establishment is NUTS! i would definitely NOT work for this company if guns were permitted. All it takes is the WRONG person to go on a shooting spree & trouble is the irreversible result.

***Partners' and customers' safety NEEDS TO BE #1. BOTTOM LINE! **
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3-09-2010 @8:48AM gobo said... Gabi: guns have been permitted in Starbucks for nearly 20 years. This isn't a new policy. Guns were permitted in Starbucks when you were a Partner, just as they are now.

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