Read The Full Letter From The CEO Of Starbucks Asking Customers To Stop Bringing Guns Into Stores

Business Insider ^ | September 18, 2013 | Joe Weisenthal

[WayneS]

A same-sex couple open-carrying might cause this guy’s head to explode.

[Red in Blue PA]

Open carry is stupid (”Shoot me first”).

Show me where this has happened to an armed citizen EVEN ONE TIME. You have the entire internet at your disposal.

[EBH]

Indeed, this is partially where I think we fail in the gun issue.

At one time having, carrying, and working with a gun present was pretty darn normal. We have lost the normalized gun presence cultural debate. The question becomes...how do we get it back?

Obviously as this letter from Howie demonstrates, we’re not winning here.

[Venturer]

Starbucks goes where the money is. I would imagine there are far more stupid liberals who are willing to pay twice what a product is worth than there are Conservative.

Working Conservatives buy their coffee at WaWa.

[MayflowerMadam]

Howard says, “I am proud of our country and our heritage of civil discourse and debate.”

Howard, Honey... What about “our heritage” when it comes to the Second Amendment? Just like all libs, you think the Constitution is a Chinese menu and can choose which parts you want to observe, and which ones you’ll ignore. And, like all libs, probably you have the same mindset when it comes to the Bible.

[WayneS]

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.

Telling people you don't want them to exercise certain of their rights, or engage in a legal activity, in your stores is absolutely NOT going to "give every customer a safe and comfortable respite from the concerns of daily life". So, it'll probably be for the best if law-abiding gun owners simply refrain from being your customers.

PS - Now that you've announced that you want Starbucks to be "Gun Free Zones", I wish you the best of luck with the NON-law-abiding gun owners who may decide to "patronize" your stores.

[MayflowerMadam]

I expect that Rush will discuss this on his show today, or soon. I expect that SB’s patronage tank to a great degree. Probably not as much as we’ like, since it’s mostly tight-assed, yuppie libs who freqent the place.

[stranger and pilgrim]

“”Open carry is stupid (”Shoot me first”).

Show me where this has happened to an armed citizen EVEN ONE TIME. You have the entire internet at your disposal. “”

I don’t have to prove anything. It’s a dumb idea on its surface. It’s just as dumb as posting a sign on your yard that says “NO GUNS IN THIS HOUSE.” Concealed carry provides a deterrent effect that ALL citizens benefit from. The idea is for the bad guys to NOT KNOW who’s carrying. As a result, they have no choice but assume that everyone COULD be carrying. Wearing your gun in plain sight removes the element of surprise and eliminates the doubt. They know who the target is. Why would anyone who is serious about security tip their hand. It makes no sense.

[Vinnie]

This all blew up over open carry.

Carry concealed, simple.

Particularly in the light of attitudes towards firearms today.
Yes, you may have to right to open carry. Yes you are inviting new repressive laws.

[WayneS]

I agree with you there. Perhaps a compromise position would have been for the CEO to ask that gun-rights advocates refrain from holding any more unofficial “appreciation days”, and that anti-gun weenies stop picketing.

I mean, “Can’t we all just get along?”

Or, apropos Seattle: “Can’t we all just get a bong?”

[Red in Blue PA]

I don’t have to prove anything.

In other words, you cannot find even a single example of what you claim. Because if you could, you would certainly throw it in my face.

People who argue against OC are like liberals using emotions rather than facts.....because the facts are not on their side.

[Red in Blue PA]

Particularly in the light of attitudes towards firearms today.

The only way to CHANGE people's attitudes towards guns is to let them see guns on the hips on law abiding citizens. How else do you propose to change people's views? Osmosis?

[WayneS]

I suppose you'd approach an employee of the store and say something like: "Pardon me, young hippie-like 'barrista', but I find the facial tattoos, pink mohawk hair cut and nose rings on that chap over there to be so unsettling and disturbing as to impair my enjoyment of this here $12 mango-lime double-espresso. Would you please be so kind as to ask him to henceforth refrain from entering the store in possession of such items?"

And then maybe the CEO will write am open letter asking people to leave the tattoos, pink mohawks and nose rings at home when they visit Starbucks.

...or maybe not.

[ontap]

From a strictly personal point of view I have never seen the wisdom in giving $6.00 for a cup of anything consumable! I have never frequented a Starbucks so this has no affect on me but if I was a customer I would make one last trip to inform them I was no longer going to give them my business. The fact is every survey I have ever seen ranks Starbucks well below their competition, last one rated McDonalds about six steps above them. So it appears they not only overcharge for their product but the product stinks!!!

[PapaBear3625]

Read what he's actually saying. He's talking about "open carry".

I'm as pro-2A as anybody here on FR, but I can understand and respect the desire of Starbucks to have people being comfortable hanging out around Starbucks, even people who are uncomfortable around open carry.

If you're going to Starbucks, carry concealed, and everybody will be happy.

[WayneS]

"Open carry is stupid"

Not as stupid as going around completely unarmed while one is, say, wearing shorts and a tee shirt to walk, play catch, ride bikes, etc. in park with one's young son.

[Sherman Logan]

Starbucks has every right to take a position on political issues.

They also have a right to insist others not use their property as a stage for their own demonstrations.

[momincombatboots]

I did read that. If you are not comfortable with open carry, you must be scared to death of concealed. I don’t do starbucks, think my dh attended the 2A day and bought one of their nasty coffees. I told him his taste buds must be dead or dormant to drink that. Infringement is infringement. I do, however respect a business owner’s right to restrict his clientele’s rights in his establishment. I just wouldn’t step foot in the door.... My Lil Smitty is well concealed, I hardly ever open carry, that’s why I have the Bodyguard.

[Red in Blue PA]

They also have a right to insist others not exercise their God Given rights.

Fixed it for you.

[ontap]

Your argument doesn't hold water. First most criminals do not want to turn a robbery into a murder so when they suspect the target isn't a pushover they simply head to another target. Secondly even if someone is open carrying the weapon is not necessarily visible at all times. Thirdly if there are multiple open carriers the perp is in trouble. In short if there is a gun known to be an establishment most criminals will go somewhere where guns are not welcome.