Posted on 09/23/2013 3:05:50 AM PDT by Kaslin
Up until this week, Starbucks had been neutral when it came to its gun policy, which meant that the coffee giant respected local laws regarding firearms. This policy was widely respected among gun-rights advocates—a Starbucks Appreciation Day has even been organized at stores throughout the country for the past few years—but it also drew the ire of anti-gun groups and lawmakers who have been pressuring Starbucks to change its ways. Although the coffee chain didn’t reverse its policy toward guns, on Wednesday the CEO issued a statement essentially saying firearms are unwelcome (but not banned). Even though this wasn't surprising, it was still a big disappointment for Second Amendment advocates who felt the coffee giant was moving closer to the anti-gun side of the contentious debate.
Enter: McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts. After the Starbucks CEO caused quite the stir this week with his statement, Business Insider decided to ask some of Starbucks’ competitors what their gun policies are. Turns out, McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts are gun neutral.
Here's a statement from McDonald's spokeswoman Lisa McComb:
“We recognize that there is a lot of emotion and passion surrounding the issue of firearms and open carry weapons laws.
While we respect the differing views of all our customers, McDonald’s company-owned restaurants follow local, state and federal laws as it relates to open carry weapons in our restaurants.
For franchisee-owned restaurants, operational decisions regarding open carry weapon laws are made by the independent franchisee.
That said, as with all aspects of operating a McDonald’s restaurant, we expect our franchisees and their crew to follow local, state and federal laws.”
And Dunkin' Donuts spokeswoman Michelle King:
"Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins restaurants are owned and operated by individual franchisees who are required to follow all federal, state and local laws with regard to firearms."
Up until this week, gun owners celebrated Starbucks’ neutral gun policy, and increasingly came to use the coffee shops as gathering places. Now it looks like they’ll be frequenting Starbucks’ competitors a bit more often.
“I find no fault in this man.”
I wonder how police officers feel about Dunkin Donuts neutrality? I don’t think you’ll be seeing a boycott by them anytime soon though...lol
When there’s a psycho trying to kill, God is the man who carries. And BTW: Starbucks coffee literally gets me sick. One or two sips and 1st comes the hiccups then the vomit, every-single-time I’ve drank their coffee. It’s poison that stuff I don’t care what anyone says, like someone sprays their coffee beans with anti-freeze. I can drink any other coffee but Starbucks.
Starbucks is bitter and over priced, mickyD's and DD are ok if you are out and about, but not worth getting dressed and making a special trip for just a cup of joe.
No more Starbucks for me......for me, it is now Dunkin.
As McDonals’s says in their $1 drink ads: “Local participation may vary.”
Let’s not punish them by holding demonstrations carrying rifles and shotguns into their stores this time?
When I used to fly, I would always buy Starbucks coffee in the airport because it was UNIFORMLY BAD & BITTER and the others were unpredictable, only BAD & BITTER sometimes. Now I am retired and make wonderful coffee for myself.
I use Wally-World ‘great Value’ brand 100% Colombian coffee.
It’s damn good and only about $7 a large can.
I have never found a taste for coffee.
Tastes like burnt beans to me.
I love Starbucks coffee—it is quite difficult to find good European style coffee. Unfortunately, there are very few Starbucks competitors, and none of the competitors have the market coverage that Starbucks does. Peet’s, Seattle’s Best, and Java City all have comparable coffee—but have a limited number of locations. Furthermore, Starbucks bought out Seattle’s Best several years ago.
Most people who say they don’t like Starbucks coffee actually do not like dark roast coffee, which is Starbucks’ main product. Starbucks does make medium and light roast coffees, but people need to ask for it because they serve dark roast by default. I love dark roast coffee; to me, medium and light roasts have no flavor. Since Dunkin Donuts, McDonald’s, and the vast majority of other places that sell coffee sell medium or light roasts, I don’t get coffee there and do not consider them Starbucks’ competitors.
It is unfortunate that the CEO of Starbucks made the statement he did, even though he backed down right away and said that Starbucks respects all state and local laws on the subject. He needs a lesson on how to think before he says something like that that could alienate many of his customers.
I never understood all the hoopla over starbucks coffee.It is bitter and served by a bunch of farouts.No thanks.
25% of all coffee consumed outside of the home is sold by McD’s.... 42 cent senior coffee from Mickey beats Starbucks every day. Unless you want to be seen hanging out with a bunch of hippie-liberal weird people dumb enough to pay for overpriced coffee and chic drinks most of us can’t pronounce... double shot macchiato late over-easy, sunny side up...WTF?
That is good coffee. We use it at my house, too.
I was always glad to see them but that night I was extra glad.
I was at the dentist last Thursday. The assistant, a vivacious young woman, opined that she would be glad to have an honest person with a firearm present when she was in Starbucks or anywhere else. From the mouths of babes, “because some criminal with an illegal gun isn’t going to care enough about me to protect my life.” I’m pretty sure she was a serial Maobama voter based on other things she’s said.
Many McDonalds are anti-civil rights. Check your state organization’s boycott list.
The Second Amendment is the GUN LAW OF THE LAND.
Every other phoney "gun law" is unconstitutional and illegal.
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