Posted on 01/24/2012 10:21:28 AM PST by marktwain
An anti-gun group is attempting to organize a nationwide Valentine's Day boycott of Starbucks over the coffee chain's gun policy.
Starbucks does not ban guns in its stores; rather, it defers to local laws. The National Gun Victim's Action Council (NGAC) says that amounts to a pro-gun policy that endangers customers.
"Starbucks allowing guns to be carried in thousands of their stores significantly increases everyone's risk of being a victim of gun violence," NGAC CEO Elliot Fineman said in a news release. "Open and conceal and carry are among the reasons there are 12,000 gun homicides each year in the U.S. If we had England's gun laws we would expect 375 gun homicides each year—97% less than we have. England's gun laws are based on protecting public safety, ours on maximizing sales for the gun industry."
The Starbucks policy hit the headlines in 2010 when gun owners decided to exercise their rights at national chains. Many responded by banning guns, but Starbucks refused. At the time Starbucks explained:
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. That means we abide by the laws that permit open carry in 43 U.S. states. Where these laws don’t exist, openly carrying weapons in our stores is prohibited. The political, policy and legal debates around these issues belong in the legislatures and courts, not in our stores.
But NGAC's Fineman said it is just a bad policy, and hopes its boycott can change it.
"Starbucks steadfast support of the NRA's lethal pro-gun agenda damages its 'socially conscious company' brand," he said.
I think Starbucks is generally overpriced, but I’ll be going there on Valentines Day.
I don’t patronize Starbucks very often, but I’ll be making 3 or 4 trip there on the 14th to show my support for their policy. Each time, I’ll be wearing a T-shirt, jacket or hat that identifies me as a gun owner and I’ll be carrying a Glock 26 or Glock 30, loaded, cocked and concealed, with a spare mag or two in my pocket.
Companies that support our freedoms need to be rewarded for it. Those that oppose our freedoms need to be punished.
I don’t drink Starbucks, I prefer Seattles Best or Tully’s.
But I will stop in on Valentines’ Day and buy a pound of italian roast.
I am thinking the same thing.
This guy must be a lot of fun to hang around. He probably wears a helmet to bed. Let's see how many shootings occur in Starbucks on Valentine's Day. There's more violence at Chuckee Cheese everyday.
I’ve never been to a Starbucks and there are none in my local area, but if there was I’d go there V day. Their policy is perfectly reasonable which is probably why the Rats don’t like it.
Buy something online or just send them an email of support. Starbucks gets a lot of bad press which they don’t deserve. However, one DOES tend to see more than the usual # of bumper stickers for The Massiah in the parking lot - maybe I’ll go to my local Starbucks and utilize my CCW on Valentine’s Day, hopefully to p!$$ off a lib.
I would say that Starbucks IS a socially conscious company, because they do follow local laws and customs. They do not pander to socially insensitive groups like the National Gun Victim's Action Council.
I’d like to boycott Valentine’s Day itself.
Makes me wanna barf.
I’m not a Starbucks guy either but I guess I’ll give them a little business on Valentine’s Day.
Off topic, but one of my daydream fantasies is to start some business, doesn’t really matter what, and call it a “socially conscious business” whose business ethics statement prevents us from doing business in sanctuary cities, anti-CCW states, ect., if for no other reason than to annoy the left. It also has to have the usual hopey-changey style advertising with birds and stuff, except advertising conservative social values. I just want to see the reaction more than anything.
Has there been a wave of shooting at Starbucks that I'm not aware of?
Maybe inner city Amish gangbangers just don't go to Starbucks or there would be.
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