Starbucks?

[Bigcarlover]

So it is with deep regret that Starbucks is added to the list.

Although it's written as a request, not a ban, it's clearly against open carry rights.

He calls it a balancing act. Well it's not balanced, once one person's rights are trampled to appease someone's feelings.

Also, who were the real trouble makers here? People simply walking around with holstered firearms drinking coffee? Or anti-2nd Amendment activists confronting customers and employees? There wouldn't even be "Appreciation Days" were it not for all the anti's having boycotts.

Yet, who is being asked to do what? And read the comments, clearly the anti's feel a victory here.

An Open Letter from Howard Schultz, ceo of Starbucks Coffee Company | Starbucks Coffee Company

 

[croute]

I've been pondering the whole open carry argument for a long time. Honestly, I think the whole problem is the fact that the general public isn't used to people carrying guns anymore. Especially with all the shootings going on. So, although we have a right to practice it, there are way more people that don't understand it. That's why I don't open carry. I think it just freaks people out, and you're not going to ease their minds until it becomes so common that they don't think about it anymore. Until that time, I can't disagree with a business person just trying to conduct business without problems. The goal of any business is to make money. If something is getting in the way of that, or causing a major disruption during the course of conducting business, it's in their best interest to alleviate the problem. I can't disagree with that thought process.

 

[Jay]

Starbucks is private property. I too, control access to my private property. As it should be. Taking a dump on a public sidewalk isn't the way to lobby for more public restrooms.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Deviousness of Starbucks new policy

A lot of people are missing the deviousness of Starbucks statement. Starbucks has pretty much disavowed any chance of being portrayed as "the bad guy" on this. Let's say someone brings a firearm into Starbucks... who's the bad guy? Is it Starbucks? No, not Starbucks....why? Because Starbucks didn't PROHIBIT firearms in their stores. Starbucks would never do that. They just politely asked the customer not to bring his gun into their store. But that guy with the gun - look at how inconsiderate he is! Starbucks was so nice just to politely ask him not to bring his gun into the store, but he won't listen to polite a polite request not to.

What is the anti-gun crowd going to do with that? "SEE! LOOK! We told you all about those pro-gun guys! They won't listen to polite requests! See how dangerous they are?!? It's not enough to just ask them to leave their guns outside, we must have laws to make them leave their guns outside! Poor, poor Starbucks! Those gun guys just won't respect their polite requests!"

I would rather Starbucks "manned up" and just posted their stores and prohibited firearms instead of taking the easy way out and pushing any and all bad publicity onto the pro-gun side.

 

[dad45acp]

A lot of people are missing the deviousness of Starbucks statement. Starbucks has pretty much disavowed any chance of being portrayed as "the bad guy" on this. Let's say someone brings a firearm into Starbucks... who's the bad guy? Is it Starbucks? No, not Starbucks....why? Because Starbucks didn't PROHIBIT firearms in their stores. Starbucks would never do that. They just politely asked the customer not to bring his gun into their store. But that guy with the gun - look at how inconsiderate he is! Starbucks was so nice just to politely ask him not to bring his gun into the store, but he won't listen to polite a polite request not to.

What is the anti-gun crowd going to do with that? "SEE! LOOK! We told you all about those pro-gun guys! They won't listen to polite requests! See how dangerous they are?!? It's not enough to just ask them to leave their guns outside, we must have laws to make them leave their guns outside! Poor, poor Starbucks! Those gun guys just won't respect their polite requests!"

I would rather Starbucks "manned up" and just posted their stores and prohibited firearms instead of taking the easy way out and pushing any and all bad publicity onto the pro-gun side.

I just read this today and thought the same thing. VERY carefully worded. But for Starbucks there is 2 issues for them to look at and really, they're a business that needs to profit. At the end of the day as you said, if someone continues to openly carry and go grab a coffee, the negative attitude immediately goes to the law abiding citizen. But that much negative plublicity for standing up for gun owners from the gun control groups that they had to release a statement like this? They are a multi gazillion dollar company...I suppose if we continue to have these mass shootings, the pendulum is only going to swing in the favor of more gun control and we all know how THAT's been SOOO effective. :wacko:

 

[NavyLCDR]

they're a business that needs to profit.

It was a bad business decision as well... many Starbucks stores reported doing record business on the days that the anti-gun groups advertised their boycotts, because of the pro-gun groups' support during those days.

 

[dad45acp]

It was a bad business decision as well... many Starbucks stores reported doing record business on the days that the anti-gun groups advertised their boycotts, because of the pro-gun groups' support during those days.

SMH....

Sent from my hand-held mind distractor

 

[tattedupboy]

I don't see any deviousness or cleverness at all. The company claims to support people exercising 2A, but not on Starbucks property. NIMBYism at its best.

 

[Nightmare45]

It's a request, ignore it or if you wish to honor it, shop at another store.

 

[rayporsche]

Yes ignore it and while you are at it just make sure to contact them

 

[nogods]

they apparently made a calculation that concludes they make more money without all the open carry. If they are right they won't miss you.

 

[Dev2nd]

I'll carry when and where I please. Concealed or open. If that's not OK with them I won't have a problem not buying their over priced drinks.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using USA Carry mobile app

 

[NavyLCDR]

I think it is important that if we are going to choose to take our business elsewhere, that we take a few minutes to email them and tell them why.

 

[Bikenut]

I've been pondering the whole open carry argument for a long time. Honestly, I think the whole problem is the fact that the general public isn't used to people carrying guns anymore. Especially with all the shootings going on. So, although we have a right to practice it, there are way more people that don't understand it. That's why I don't open carry. I think it just freaks people out, and you're not going to ease their minds until it becomes so common that they don't think about it anymore. Until that time, I can't disagree with a business person just trying to conduct business without problems. The goal of any business is to make money. If something is getting in the way of that, or causing a major disruption during the course of conducting business, it's in their best interest to alleviate the problem. I can't disagree with that thought process.

You, and everyone, is entitled to their opinion concerning open carry (or anything really) and I respect that. Now, I have a question that might be food for thought ....

How would people become used to seeing guns be "commonplace" again if people don't open carry because of being afraid it might freak people out?

 

[ezkl2230]

Guys, I support the right to open carry, even though I choose to CC. Still, pictures like this one from a Starbucks don't help us (posted on bearingarms.com):

 

[Firefighterchen]

Guys, I support the right to open carry, even though I choose to CC. Still, pictures like this one from a Starbucks don't help us (posted on bearingarms.com):

I'd like to know if these people open carry regularly? It looks like they are non carrying gun owners, New gun owners, or concealed carriers with a terribly irresponsible misconception of open carry

Sent from my HTCONE using USA Carry mobile app

 

[Spartan]

On the one hand - I wish they hadn't come down negative against OC.

On the other hand - At least they have not posted it so I can legally CC there.

In reality - I rarely go to a Starbucks anyway so it is basically no change to me.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Guys, I support the right to open carry, even though I choose to CC. Still, pictures like this one from a Starbucks don't help us (posted on bearingarms.com):

I'd like to know if these people open carry regularly? It looks like they are non carrying gun owners, New gun owners, or concealed carriers with a terribly irresponsible misconception of open carry

Allow me to introduce you to the gentleman in the photo (since he was a Sailor serving his country in Kuwait at the time, I would say the caption is entirely wrong. I would say the caption should read, "This is one of the reasons why we CAN have nice things in America!"):

"That pic is of me [not me, NavyLCDR, but the guy in the photo], on an Army base in Kuwait. It was the closest Starbucks to the base the Navy had us on back in 2005. In order to leave base, you needed four things:
1) Signed permission from your Commanding Officer
2) A Cell Phone
3) At least one buddy
and lastly
4) Weapons

We could not leave base without weapons of our own, or an armed escort!

So we drove from Camp Patriot to the inland Army base for things like Starbucks and pizza! It was a little taste of home!

It became a mantra.."Grab your guns, were going to Starbucks!"

We took those pictures at the Starbucks on base where we all were carrying, to send home to friends and show them how "bad" we had it! My comment at the time was "And you think the line at your starbucks is bad!"

Some of the comments regarding your story bothered me, until I sat back and realized that people will believe what they want, regardless of the facts.....especially if they don't have them!"

 

[Bikenut]

NavyLCDR... do you have a link to that explanation that I can post on other websites that are using that picture as the poster boy of everything that is wrong with OC?

 

[dad45acp]

This Is Why We Cant Have Nice Things ? Starbucks